The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-10-16
CORRESPONDENCE.

We are not responsible for opinions expressed by cor
respondents. our columns being open to all for the ds-
cussion of public affairs from every point Of view
Correspondents will please observe that all letters
must be authenticated by the names of the writers, not
necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee OF good
faith.
/ To the Editor of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser.
SrR Whoever looks over the local newspapers of
the day cannot fail to observe the fact which is every
where made apparent of a universal feeling of dis
trust. an ineradicable impression on the public mind
of a most unsettled and unsatisfactory state of Haw-
allan affairs.
To select one instance, read and think over the
article in the Gazette of the 18th. commencing An
acquaintance of ours" What can be made of it?
What is intended? What is the meaning Of the SEN
tence .sstrong thinking is against what they are
pleased to regard as their princiPles?" Evidently
much more is there meant than expressed. 1t
breathes revolution. 1t is redolent of war and blood.
If strong thinking is not evil as well why should 1t
be opposed to principle? If strong thinking means
the preparation of violent deeds when a favorable
opportunity occurs ; if the principles CT peacaPie
men and even of old women are to be outraged aud
set at naught by those who are not encountered with
such old fashioned im~pediments to action, 1t is pretty
plain that the country. if not in q state of revolution,
is not far removed from it; and it behoves those who
are threatened. particularly those who are response
BILE for the maintenance of the public peace, and the
security of the lives of themselves and other old
women SO derisively spoken of to take warning by
the muttered thunderings. and provide means either
to ward of the political storm. or if it should break,
to ensure that the following devastation and ruin
fall, as much as possible, on the originators of the
mischief; that the engineer be hoisted by his own
petard.
In the same paper appears a lengthy article on
Immigration from British India,t the desire apparent
ly existing Of entering into . new discussion ON the
subject. ,. ga..t
Now it is the opinion of some people that that
matter has already been sufficiently ventilated, much
more so in fact than has been considered desirable
by those who, with little intermission. have held the
reins of government since the commencement of the
present reign; and that for any useful purpose a
further discussion would be vain, a mere waste of
time. The measure is, as intended. permanently
shelved, and if what Mr.. Rhodes has said about the
offer of the British Government to send Mr.. Wode-
house to India to promote that immigration be true.
that man must be endowed with a tolerable fund
either of innocence or assurance who would again
approach the British Government on the same sub
ject whilst the present cabinet continues in office.
This brings ne to another article in the same
paper. II is significant that the Gazette siigmatises
as I" crimes :" certain acts described by the gentle
man just named in previous numbers OF this paper,
without defining them by any peculiar title or name.
Now it must be acknowledged by every one privi-
legged with the acquaintance of the accomplished
Editor that when he undertakes to say anything on
the subject of law or the application of its terms aud
definitions, he knows perfectly we'll what he is I talk
ing about, and that it is not likely he would, with
out good reason, turn round and lay himself open to
attack by the friends he has hitherto 30 ably de-
Tended.
The fact of his having done so is suggestive. 1t
leads one almost to believe that he has been travel
ling in a wrong direction; that n new light has
dawned upon him, and that hereafter, as becomes q
good citizen be will espouse the cause of right against
wrong. bring relief to the oppressed. and merited
censure to the wrong doer. Indeed that one little
word signifies as much as Lord Burleigh's nod.
To return to the article on Immigration a subject
be it remembered vital to Hawaii and her people.
The writer speaking of Chinese. South Sea islanders,
and Portuguese, says L" of the former we have more
than enough
Now certain residents. amongst whom are to be
found all three of the gentlemen now in the Cabinet,
have informed a Chinese company that twenty-five
hundred coolies could find employment here. have
sent for q thousand or more, and in case women come
with the men are willing to give board and lodging
free to one woman for every ten men. And yet the
same paper finds it right to say {" No better choice of
q Ministry could be made "A Cabinet which
will have and deserve the unqualified confidence and
respect of the whole country in spite of the un-
denied and undefended exploit of London. and the
Chinese horror SO hateful to our friends across the
water and nearly every individual, native or foreign.
in this community, fed and fostered by these same
gentlemen.
The Saturday Press thinks 8 the present is no
time for such people ~(natives) to be in the Cabinet.''
And yet a few short weeks ago a Cabinet of which
two of these people were members was all that could
be desired, and enjoyed the fullest confidence of the
ountry-according to the Gazette.
Is it then admitted that the Government by
natives is a failure! If so what remains but an
appeal to the great powers who have such large in
terests here to take under their protection both SOW
ere'g1 and peoplef Such an appeal to be enter
tanned must come from those in author ity. Who
will make it1