The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-10-12
A Statement of Facts"

To THE Publishers or THE r. {. ADVERTISER -
A writer in your Tuesdays issue. who heads aud
signs his communication, with the rather d~ictatorial
phrase "Snow Your CoLoRs." gives (~probahly un-
Intentionally an incorrect statement OF facts
respecting the causes which led 20 the sale OF this
Journal in 1870. As hints TO the same import have
before been allowed 10 pass unnoticed, it seems
proper that | should, once for all, state the facts la
the case. more especially as the events Of 1870 will
probably form a chapter in Hawaiian History.
The PACIFIC COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER was pub
licly advertised for sale two years before Il changed
hands. and | had been in negotiation several months
for its sale, whit parties residing abroad at from Sl0,-
900 10 Sf2,000, but neither OF the parties came TO
satisfactory terms. When, therefore, an offer OF
$4,000 vas made. it was the opportunity long de-
sired, and the bargain was closed nc once.
The discussion Of the Labor Question in 1870 had
no influence whatever in its sale, except as Il secured
a better bargain than was anticipated. The with
drawal of patronage from ii, which your correspond
et magnites and dilates on. amounted simply to the
withdrawal Of the subscriptions Of ten or twelve
planters on Maui, who, it will be remembered, met
at Wailuku and passed resolutions not 20 trade with
any one employing the y. c.. ADvERrfsER as an adj
vertising medium. the design being to suppress the
ADVERTISER and destroy my business. These reso-
lutions were sent to Honolulu for publication, but
were suppressed. As the whole affair is now n part
OF history; 1T may be well to put on record the names
of the leaders in it: Capt. Jas. Makee. Can't. Thos.
ii. Hebron, Ambrose III. Spencer, w. Goodaie, Sher-
man Peck, Ed. Bailey, ST., VIM. II. Bailey, 8. I.
Alexander, Rev. G. b. Andrews, Rev. J. s. Green, Rev.
j. 7. Green, and others. The remaining names
were mostly Of persons who were Influenced 10 sign
the document, and did 30 reluctantly. To their
honor be il said, that several planters Indignantly
refused all connection with the lawless transaction,
and denounced it as such.
But one business card was withdrawn 10 sfIono-
lulu, and as an Offset to any loss, | was pledged by
responsible parties on Maui and In Honolulu, two
names Tor every one withdrawn, up 10 100 names,
should 1t occur. L state these facts TO show that
public opinion ,odS toih The paper, and would have
triumphantly sustained IL, bad i chosen 20 abandon
my long-cherished plan of Withdrawing from IL.
And you, Messrs. Publishers, doubtless know who
are your principal supporters f" to-day, quite as
well as your correspondent, and that no paper pros
tituted To the support of any single interest, or any
single class, ever did or ever will prosper here or
elsewhere. The only platform on which the PACIFIC
COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER has ever stood II " the
greatest good of the greatest number" A change
of base " from this broad and liberal platform, 10
suit your correspondent, or any other man, or class
OF men, is hazardous.
The attack of your correspondent on the new Cab
met partakes Of the same defiant tone which char
other portions Of his communication, mot
outstanding his disclaimer of any such intention.)
Although the present Ministry, with its one vacant
seat is not, perhaps, fully up 10 the requirements
Of the nation, His Majesty has doubtless endeavored
to make such a selection as will reject the known
Of his people. while at the same time IL
guarantees harmony, and, what is OF more import
ance, the unity, independence, and pcrpetuity OF tho q,
race and Institutions. &
1T is idle to discuss tine increase Of populations
winch Is just now attracting 30 much attention, until
our labor system and the laws relating to IL are more
in harmony with those Of the leading civilized nations.
system is opposed to the spirit Of our Constitus
ton and otherwise liberal laws and institutions. Labor
like capital, is extremely cautious. and seeks employ
ment wherever it can find the largest reward and tho
security. We may, by misrepresentation. entice
laborers to come here, as we can capital; but labor,
and capital thus obtained are the dearest and most
unsatisfactory in the end
Until the people have become thoroughly aroused
to the absolute necessuy Of more population mot
simply laboring men, but men, women and ~children)
all interests are ready to unite for the public
good-until the administration can be induced to
work in harmony with the public sentiment. ex-
pressed, not in packed assembiages, but openly,
clearly, and without notwithstanding can be ac-
,omplished. and every public and private interest
must suffer. Till then our exports will continue 10
iecline, accompanied with q reduction Of shipping
md increased financial stringency; while as for our
census, no one can foretell the picture which it
will exhibit. Respectfully yours,
II. M. WHITNEY.