The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-07-29

y SHIP under full sail is in general accepted as
a fit emblem of a nation a ship of state, which
is guided over the smooth sea or through bolster
GUS waves on its onward course by wise statesmen
by n Ministry that direct its course and trim
its sails, { hat have studied we'll the charts and
know how to avoid the rocks and shoals that
endanger the life and property entrusted to their
care. Other nations may rejoice in the emblem
of the ship OF state, with royals set and studding-
sails out, carcering on in security and pride of
country over the ocean but alas, our poor ship
of state, Hawaii nei, that started once as hopeful
as any craft that leaves harbor, has been 80
roughly used in boisterous seas and become so
barnacled, that it had to be abandoned years ago.
Our fit emblem of state has become an iceberg,
loosened from the grip of the past and floating,
drifting, and always drifting, like an unmanage-
able log in the warm seas of the tropics. Yes,
Hawaii nei's emblem is an iceberg, melting and
always melting, till the base becomes lighter and
lighter and the grand old berg, that harbored an
independent nation, shall topple over and disap-
pear under the waves, which unheard may muir
muir their solemn requiem over a buried state.
Our people, our forests, our streams and rivulets,
our once green valleys and mountain slopes, our
AiAO1 IA BHOSENtNy
our integrity, are all wasting away, all disap-
pearing by slow but equally sure degrees. in the
dark sea of the past.
When our ship first started upon it's voyage
amongst the nations OF the world, there were
men at the helm who guided the proud little
craft with skillful hand through cross seas and
among dangerous shoals, satisfied with a modest
compensation, for an honest pride in their success
was ample reward for faithful and honest service.
A Ministry now sit at the helm of our floating
iceberg, thrice in numbers to those that launched
the little craft upon its voyage but it is a frozen
Ministry, unable, with their benumbed hands, to
firmly grasp the helm, or with their unthawed
minds TO direct the erection of jury-masts and the
hosting of sails whereby the frozen mass might
be waited from its onward course to destruction
towards a safe shore; and no stimulants poured
down their frozen Threats in the shape of salaries
can arouse them out of their a~pathetic state-ex-
cept to a craving for more.
improvements in or about the metropolis have
been made it is true and the post-ofice, the
wharyes, warehouses, hotel, stone walls and the
market house, testify to the taste and capacity of
this and former ministries to create improvements
out of borrowed capital. And there is the
grand structure of Aliiolani House, where a no.
BILE hall receives the representatives of the people
@ to bleat their age, age, at the tickling of a
ministerial rod whenever occasion requires, or
especially when the people desire to exchange the
frozen ministry for one that is alive. Honor and
integrity,-that were the banners which hung
over the entrance of the old forgotten hall where
the late DIR. Judd proposed and supplemented
but honest representatives, uninfueneed by gain
or promise of Office, spoke their hnala0,-haye
become tattered rags, not fit to defle the stately
entrance to the noble hall of legislature, where
under the present policy of state, Ministers han
die public moneys to suit themselves; where old
debts are paid by creating new ones and where
high above on the tower the clock marks off the
hours that increase the inevitable interest on
debts to be paid when the last remnant of the
iceberg melts.
The biennial meeting of the Legislature is
looked for by a patient and hopeful people, some
what as the inhabitants of Arctic regions look for
the coming sun during their long wintry night,
to give warmth and life, food and plenty, pros
perity and happiness. During our Hawaiian
night of two years duration, the people look for
ward to the opening Of the session as to the sun
that will give warmth and life to plans proposed,
to projects discussed, to dreams dreamt,-to seeds
gathered to await the suns warm rays. But
alas. the sun is cold and lifeless and without
warmth to call forth a single bud of promise
upon the blighted tree. We remain as we are,
drifting, melting.
The Legislature of 1874 placed ample resources