The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-05-24

"Section -. No officer of the Government hold
ing a commission from His Majesty the King, shall
leave the Kingdom unless by permission first obtain
ed from His Majesty, with the concurrence of a
majority Of the PriVy Council"
Mr.. EDITOR THE above cited section is not found
in the Code, but recent events have shown the want
Of it. The article in Tuesdays Nuhom on absence
by Royal permission, contains the substance of your
correspondents thought on this subject. and antici-
pates though it did not suggest it, but as it is only
the more valuable because the opinion of many
minds, 1 60 on to speak briefly.
You say in your last issue, with quite nh air Of
authority, that the Chief Justice has His Majesty's
gracious permission to go abroad, and the RESPONSE
bility of this much censured absence is thrown upon
Him. The above cited section would relieve His
Majesty from o responsibility He may well wish not
to bear. When the Kings most confidential adviser
advises that he, the adviser, go abroad for An alb
sence which is not very strictly limited, and may be
expected to be a long one, His Majesty is placed in
an embarrassing position, especially if the applica-
ton is made TO him in the confidence of some cosy
social moment, face to face, and not with the formal
iy which even unimportant public acts require.
Would a permission so obtained justify in conscience
the Chief Justice of the Kingdom in absenting him
self from duty? In such applications in the Privy
Council, length and faithfulness Of service, previous
csNhSt NS PASSShN ASiAhShiChASO - tHC PNOhS SUI
vice, length of leave asked. and the question
whether, under all circumstances, the leave should
be with or without salary,-would be considered,
and permission to travel abroad would be asked only
when such favor could be reasonably granted.
My section provides only for those high officers
such as Judges of the Supreme Court and members
Of the Cabinet, who hold commissions from the King,
for ut present there is no occasion for q restriction
on those who hold office under Departments. 1 do
not know that it ever happened that, for instance, a
clerk of the Supreme Court suggested to the Chief
Justice that as his work was complete, he would
take n years leave of absence, drawing his salary,
and received q gracious permission to go. Let it
not be thought that 1 would deal with O gentleman
in high and honorable position in any narrow and
mean way. He should not be reckoned with for his
working days as We keep the time Of q laborer.
Long and assiduous labor in public departments de-
serves the reward of vacation,-nay, if this poor
country could afford it. of pension at retirement
but these rewards should be fairly distributed and
Justly earned, and Of this there should be deliberate
consideration.
Nothing can be more admirable than the princi-
pies laid down by the Chief Justice himself, as
quoted by al. o. c." in your last paper. They
will bear repetition until they become familiar:
Every man in public Office is under obligation TO
attend to its duties, and it is often in restraint Of his
wishes, but no one thinks that IL lmpaIrs his liberty.
The Court is of opinion that it is immoral to fail TO
ful6ll a contract without a reason"
II would be easy to make q long letter of this, but
I viii not, for it might tempt to unpleasant remarks,
and it will be useless, too. The officer referred to
will take his departure when he is ready, and will
remain abroad until it is agreeable to him to come
back. He Will believe that the united voice of the
press is but the uttersnce Of a few bilious and en-
vious individuals. He will not be told to his face
for it is the kindly way of the world not to speak
unpleasant truths, especially to high oficials,-that
the community generally, including the most moder-
ate people, and many valued personal friends, are
surprised and panied at bis desertion of duty and
abuse Of privilege. Perhaps the legal fraternity are
pleased OF the prospect of a vacancy in the Bench
which Will permit them to hang up cases by appeals
which cannot be heard, while they demand the re-
freshment Of more fees but business men and citi-
zens generally. so far as l hear them speak of it, are
all dissatisfied. And it is a matter of regret too,
that a gentleman socially so much esteemed, Of such
honorable principles, and with so fair an official
record, should forfeit or diminish his reputation in
his later years, when perhaps there is but little time
left. even if opportunity be given, for retrieving it
by faithful and patriotic services hereafter.
CITIZEN