The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-02-12
An ELECTION POSTPONED.

The inspectors ofelection at Waimea Kauai, being
as they state intimidated by threats of violence ut
tered by Mr.. Kauai, one of the candidates, con-
cluded not to hold the election at all. 1t is said
that Mr.. Kauai, backed by a large crowd of his
adherents, had repeatedly declared that if the in
spectors refused to receive the ballots of his party
offered ,oithOut presenting tax receipts, he would
smash the ballot box. His speech was vocifer-
ously cheered. He is also reported to have stated to
the people that the law requiring the voter to
produce his tax receipt had been repealed, and
that it would be an imposition on the part of the
inspectors to demand it. Under these circum-
stances, and in view of the fact that a fight was felt
to be certain, the judge, who is President of the
Board, decided to postpone the election until the
authorities at Honolulu could be consulted. Let
tiers from Sheriff Wilcox and other prominent for
eigners, render it very clear that with the feeling
Of lawlessness and excitement that prevailed had
the inspectors attempted to hold the election and
carry out the law the trouble would not have
ended with the mere smashing of the ballot-box
as threatened, but that blood would have been
shed and perhaps lives lost. In the interests of
peace and humanity the course pursued was the
best.
The following is the letter of the Minister of
the Interior addressed to the Inspectors
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR,
Honolulu, Feb. Sth., 1876.
GENTLEMEN: l regret to learn, by your letter re-
ceived this day, that you postponed by public notice
the election at Waimea, which should have taken
place on Wednesday last. 1t appears that your
notice was dated February 2, 1876, and processes to
postpone the election, because of Mr.. Kauai having
said on the LIST February, that if you proceeded in q
certain way he would break up tue ballot boxes.
You do not indicate what the point was, which he
found fault with, and it does not appear that you
attempted to hold the election at all. You say you
did not do so because you feared O breach of the
peace.
All the reasons you give in your letter, are INSULT
cient to justify your conduct. If you feared q breach
of the peace, it was your duty to call upon the
Sheriff to keep order, aud by neglecting to open the
poll on the morning of the election day, each one OF
you has rendered himself liable to q fine of five hun
dred dollars $500, under the 18th section of the
Act, passed the Gath June 1865, to regulate the quail
tcation of electors for the representatives TO the
Legislative Assembly of the Kingdom.
Whilst, if Mr.. Kauai, or any other person, by any
threat of violence against you, or any of you,-or
any intimidation of you, or any of yOu,-Obstructed
you in the performance OF your duty, he rendered
himself liable to imprisonment for one year, or O
fine of $500, as by the 4th Section, of Chapter % OF
the Penal Code. Thus you see that whilst the law
protects you amply in the discharge of your duties,
It was your further duty to hold the election under
any circumstances. This you have not done, and
the next Legislature will take your case into consid-
Grafton, or not, as they may see lit. But in the
mean time you will proceed TO give q notice in ac-
cordance with Section T9S of the Civil Code, which
may read as follows:
"WHEREAs, by reason Of a failure to hold an