The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-03-07
Reflections ON the Riot.

1t is not until the smoke Of battle has cleared
away, and the funeral vOlley is fired over the honor
ed dead, that we can speculate upon tho causes Of
victory or defeat. It has been even thought that ac-
curate and philosophical history, cannot be written
until centuries after the events have taken place.
But an impartial observer of a drama III history,
familiar with oil the surrounding circumstances, can
generally form a more accurate judgment Of events,
than one who only sees them through the twilight
of time.
As an eye witness of the riot Of the 18th ult. and
as one who has watched the effects since that time. |
shall venture 10 draw some conclusions from the
facts, as they fell under my immediate observation.
Although there had been vague rumors Of violence
among tho oa@salitss same dass -prias-ta ilaa alsa--
tion, yet it was regarded as the result Of momentary
partisan excitement only. There were no~propara-
tions for any violent outbreak, no arming of any
thing like an organized force, nor was there any in
stance Of a single individual armed for any act of
violence. asa
The discontinued Queenites appeared upon the
Court House yard without arms Of any kind. Their
leading demagogues made inaammatory speeches and
famed the spirit Of excitement into a flame. Had Il
not been for these exciting appeals, the crowd would
have dispersed in quiet and no demonstrations would
have been made. The outbreak was evidently on the
spur OF the moment, the immediate exciting cause
being the barangues Of the Queenite speakers.
From the peaceable and law-abiding character Of
the native people, no person anticipated n violent
outbreak. During the half century in which the
Hawaiian people have been advancing on the road 10
civilization, there has not been n serious riot or mob,
such as almost annually stain the historical record Of
the most civilized and enlightened nations.
On the announcement Of the election of His Mai.
esty kalakaua, there were many vivas, and for a
moment all seemed quiet; but the innammatory an
peals OF a very few emissaries, in a most excited and
insane manner reused the eGnaiHe TO madness, aud
a surging OF the crowd commenced. Bat the whole
number of the rabble thus excited aud enrneed aid
not amount to one hundred. Indeed when the first
assault was made on the carriage Of Major Mocho-
nua, / could not count fifty, and ia the height Of the
excitement, in the Vandal-like assault upon the
Court House, they were not greatly augmented
Many yelled and shouted vociferously-amone them
excited women-who took no active part in The mat
ter, n mixed tumultuous crowd Of friends and foes
without a head or organization. All the weapons
were imprOvised as sudden as the outbreak.
Marshal Parke was active in the Performance Of
his duty as well as the sheriff. Mr.. Dayton. They
seemed almost ubiquitous and opposed The disturb.
ance wherever it appeared concentrated strongest
They made strong and energetic appeals and used
all the force at their disposal, and did all TINT mon
could do under the circumstances 10 arrest the mad
torrent. The foreign police and a few Of the natives.
gave the Marshal all the aid in their power, but the
greater portion Of the native police force, was either
paTalyzed with fear or sympathized with the rioters.
l have heard some words Of censure passed against
the Marshal, for not coming prepared with fire arms
and using them to quell the riot. Those who speak
in this manner have not examined impartialIy all
the facts and the result of the Marshal's action
1t may here be remarked that the night previous
to the riot, the Marshal called all the native police
force together and distinctly informed them. that
they must know no candidate, and take no part In
the coming election, but must be prepared 10 sustain
whoever might be elected to the throne and preserye
the public peace. That if there we're any who had
q preference or sympathies in favor Of either eabdf-
date that would overcome their sense Of duty, they
must retire-they must leave then and not embar-
rass him in his efforts to preserve the public peace.
They all answered that they had no prefcrence-no
sympathy and that they would use every effort 10
aid him in their power. The result exhibits what
reliance can be placed in their word.
After the riot, the Marshal again called the same
police force around him and told them that 20 make
amends for their lu-ke-warmness in preserving tho
peace, they must arrest the offenders. To this call
they responded with great activity. So it seems
they were mostly useless in preserving the peace.
but active in making arrests after the disturbance
was quelled.
Now that quiet is restored, no lives lost, the most
guilty Of the offenders apprehended and subject to
the punishment prescribed by law, is not such n re-
suit far better than to have proceeded to the last re-
and shed the blood of the misguided people in
the street, whose stain and memory never could have
washed out? Would not the shedding of blood
the circumstances have inaugurated an era in
the history of Hawaii mel, which would have been
marked by blood-stained periodical commissions, pre-
sided over and guided by the spirit Of revengeG A
glance at the history Of the past in nations Of the
highest civilization, will solve the problem.
The mild and humane exertions of the officers Of
he law, are deserving Of the highest commentator.
They prevented the stain of blood, which nothing
,ut blood could have wiped out, and the thanks Of
he whole community are due TO the men, who thus
iad the moral courage to do their duty, without the
sacrifice Of life. \
II is always best 70 avoid extreme measures, and \
he result in this instance shows that our officers
ucted wisely and with prudent forethought.
JusTfoH.