The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-05-25
The Political Prospect.

\ letter from another island inquiries = What
are the political prospects,? The Legislature has
now been in session over two weeks; what has il
done or what is it likely to do for the country?"
Candor compels the answer-Ril. Absolutely
nothing has been accomplished beyond the pas
sage of a couple of triAing amendments to the
Civil Code, Of doubtful good, and the accommo-
dation OF the people of East Maul by granting
them a session Of Court at Wailuku. Not a sim
gle measure Of a nature 20 arrest public atten-
ton, a widely affecting for good or Ill the nation
at large, has been brought forward. The Repre-
sentatiyes, as a body, have displayed far less than
the average ability of any of the previous gather
ings even under the present Constitution, end we
look and listen in vain for the vigilant eloquent,
- tribunes of the people OF ten or more years
ago. Decadencc, instead of progress is plainly
written upon the Legislative Assembly. The
apathy Of the people, generated by the Tetrogres-
siye policy of the Government, shows plainly
and painfully in the character of the Legislature.
This was forcibly and sadly Illustrated ID the
stolid manner in which the Representatives re-
ceivod and summarily voted Town a proposition
that was crudely presented, providing for a sepa-
rate vote by the estates. Worse than apathy
ILSE6 II no ldCh vi TIC cNiuSLCS On III III eiu
of insolent arrogance of conscious power, at
times cropping out into open contempt or a
covert sheer and on the other a humiliating ex-
hibition Of an unquestioning assent to whatever
may be the dictation of our masters. Such is
the situation and as to what the Legislature is
likely to accomplish for the country at large,
there is surely no ground for the anticipation Of
anything being brought about that Ministers do
not favor. As a sop, and for the sake OF making
things look cheerful and surrounding themselves
with u momentary halo of popularity, the Minis
tiers will probably consent to q number of appro-
priations on paper for public improvements on
the other islands, which they will have no idea
whatever of expanding, and SO the Honorable
member for Kahoolawe will cheerfully vote as be
is desired to, without clearly understanding what
it is about. Has not the great Minister affably
told him sit is all right that Minister who
condescends Occasionally to notice him of Ka-
hoolawe on the street, and who has expressed n
great interest in the project of connecting the i'm
portant island of Kahoolawe to Haleakala with a
bridge? In short, our friends in the country
will be disappointed if they have anticipated
that the Legislative Assembly of 1872 will make
its mark for anything like progress in the history
of the country, unless it shall be a progress back
ward. The whole thing would be amusing, were
it not too serious and humiliating to the true
lover of Hawaii nei. The one consolation re-
naming for individual members who are indie
pendent as well as intelligent, is found in the
fact that they have the opportunity to make a
record for the future appreciation of the country.
We have thus endeavored briefly and truly to
answer the inquiries of our friend who writes
from the country. A month hence, and the AS
sembly will have probably got ready to adjourn,
and then we shall give a summary of it's history
the great things which it shall have accom-
plished,-among which We may count already
with confidence, the bad precedent of sanctioning
the Hotel bonds, the appropriation of some
where about a half a million more than the pos
sible revenue, and permission to increase the ma
tional debt ad Hbitum. ViUe Ia bagateHe!