The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-02-05

IT DOES not accord with our taste to speak in
disparagement of any liberal profession so-called
but as these are liable, like all things human, to
degenerate from that type which was originally
the Specification of their worth and at the same
time the warrant for their perpetuation and en-
largement, there is therefore more or less room
afforded for the exercise of any moulding or cor
receive influence from those who are in a position
to make themselves heard and so we now offer
our quota to this end in briefly considering the
actual state in Hawaii nei of one of those profess
sions which, in the march of civilization, usually
holds a prominent position in the van. We
mean the profession of the law.
But we hasten to say at the outset, that our
comments and criticisms are directed to the ma
tive Hawaiian, and not the foreign members OF
the bar. As men in all times and all nations
have found it e~xpedient in the settlement OF
| claims before courts to select persons presumably
better able than themselves to place their cases to
the best advantage, SO with the Hawaiians, and
the extensive list of those licensed to practice in
our courts is ample proof OF the fact. Judging
from the maxim that supply is always governed
by demand, there must be an immense amount OF
legal work done. We must however remember
that excessive litigation among any people always
points to some cause, more than the mere desire
of this person or that to Cypress or injure his
neighbor and this may be bad laws, or laws
loosely administered or some extraneous moral
influence, which, though bad in itself, is not
comprehended in the list of statutory ofenses.
The latter of these is no doubt that which has
given to the Hawaiian his reputation as a litig-
ious man.
1t has often been a subject of remark that Ha-
waiian high-schools and seminaries contribute
more largely to the supply of petty-togging law
yers than to any other or useful profession. This
is no doubt strictly true; and yet we would not
be understood in saying so to intend any rehec-
ton upon those very necessary institutions. Ha-
yaiian law, as practiced in our lower courts, Is
rather a simple affair, and easy for any half
educated person to master and its being SO easy
of access to a lazy person is probably that which
governs the preponderanee OF taste that way
We need not 60 far for proof of the dlsreputaoit
character of some of these disturbers of quiet Ha'
waiian life men who for mere lucre would barter
even the liberty as well as the substance OF ther
felIow-countrymen, and who industriously scatter
broadcast the seeds of strife and dissension in or
der to reap for themselves q larger harvest o
fees. With this large class of pretended Scion
to guide and shape the actions of the more guile
less portion of the native community, it Is NJ
wonder that in many instances the laws intende'
for their welfare should have become almost
bane. If there is any influence, moral or other
wise, that can reduce to a minimum the numbe
Of these beralds of misfortune, it certainly shout
I be applied with all possible rigor. And we knoN
If none more able or better qualified to exercis
this influence than the judges of the Suprem
J Court, with whom rests the power of cancellln
I for cause any name on the roll of licensed pract
Il TONERS. We have known of native lawyer
, whose names were thus stricken from the roll &c
fraud on their clients, or extortion, but we hay
= subsequently, heard of their rcadmission to pra'
: tice; and this is rather q disparagement to oil
proposition, and certainly q line of action not ca
=. culated for the relief of the simple people upo
whom these ~vuItures prey. Some time since
J. step was taken in the right direction, whereby
ID law was enacted limiting the right OF appeal to
le Jury trial in civil cases to actions involving n
ne less than $50 in value. The avowed object
e, the act, (Which was understood to have ema
" ated from the Supreme Court) was to diseoural
nj the tendency to litigation among the peopl
OF Now to our minds, in rejecting upon this ia
III and the alleged intention, and again upon t
y fact of the readmission to practice of mischievo
y native lawyers above referred to,-there seems
= be involved q rather curious conflict of principle
y But we trust that the time will yet come VIII
7 the Court will clearly see and vigorously perfor
200 its duty in this particular, for the relief of t
Cd people from one of their greatest curses.
=,
,, "MECuANIC" ENGINE No. 2.--The following o
GERS were elected in the above Company on the
=, instaet:
mt John adams .Firs. Assistant Forem
- ~ 4 AIn-raM -Secnnl ASsistant EOrem