The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-03-21
THE GAZETTE AND THE MILITARY


Before charging upon our subject let us say
that we fully appreciate the difficulty of the posi-
ton the Gazette finds itself in, amidst the changes
of the past fifteen months, as the mouth piece of
two Administration The public cannot expect
a nice consistency as to details of policy; but
upon principles a too sudden conversion to oppo-
site opinions may cnate surprise and invite criti-
cism. On "Wednesday last we are told that the
Gazette does " not think it necessary to comment
on the disarmament of the old Household Troops"
We can understand that the necessity does not
exist Just now, because it is but six short months
since it commented in the following sensible
manner
1.-THE proclamation of the King, issued to-day, dis
banding the Household Troops, will meet general ap-
probation throughout the Kingdom. 1t probably re-
quired some nerve for His Majesty to abandon the old
hereditary right which has been transmitted from
time immemorial, to keep and parade a body-guard,
which of late years has been of little use, and often a
source of yexation. In old times, when the claims of
rival chiefs and clans could only be met by a force
which would compel peace, it was necessary to main
tain an armed retinue. But those days have passed.
The Kingdom means peace now, and it is the interest
Of all to preserve peace. There are no rival chiefs
anywhere throughout the group disposed to set up
claims OF sovereignty; and If there were, 1t would be
the duty Of all citizens to unite and put down overt
49, SJ
Kingdom. Every man possessed of property, be he
native or foreign born, is in duty bound to aid in
maintaining law and order, whatever changes may
take place.
1--WE are not advised whether it is proposed to pre-
pare a law similar to the militia law of America,
which is probably the least offensive that can be en-
acted, or a more stringent conscript law, such as pre-
walls in France and Germany. But it seems to US
that neither of these is suited to our wants. We'll
drilled volunteer companies of infantry, cavalry and
artillery-equipped and armed at the public expense
seem to be all that are required here. These, with
the excellent band we now have, all kept under eff
cient drlll-masterss will Gel We Tor State VCoaslUus, ant
impart a feeling of public security. The money
which has been spent in attempting to initiate thC
pump aud SLvu Vf IuVre powerful nauUus, may uUW
be diverted into channels where it can do much more
good. All honor to King Lunalilo for the noble stanG
he has taken in this NATTER
We have no doubt but that the writer of the
above quoted article was honest IN his convictions
in September last, and, perhaps equally homes
now, only yielding for the sake of holding his in
Huence with the Sovereign of to-day, under thu
flexible policy of expediency.
We infer, unreasonably perhaps, from the tenor
of the Ga2eIe's article of Wednesday last, as thu
pOmp and circumstance of the department of War
&c cannot be abolished except by special legisla
ton" that when the Assembly meets that paper
will oppose the appropriation of funds for the de
partment, and thus deprive it of its sinews. W.
await farther developments with some little inter
est and, We may add, many doubts.