Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1880-10-23
SATURDAY PRESS.
OCTOBER 90, 1880.

IT is very far from our wishes or principles
to attempt to depreciate or to detract from the
inherent abilities and good qualities of Ha-
waians of pure Polynesian descent Their
history for the last hundred years is the his
tory of a race marvellously teachable, adapt
able and capable of discriminating between
good and evil. But these qualities were most
conspicuously shown in the strong common
sense and determination of the Kamehamehas,
and their chiefs and people, to habtually ask.
and having asked to Loyalty adopt, and abide
by the advice of the most able men within
reach. Thus begun and tourished the admins
trations of such men as Judd, Wyllie &c. The
Kamehamehas neither lost, nor imagined the
possibility of losing any particle of independ-
ence or dignity, by seeking and accepting the
councils of such men as these. There were
no Morenos or Shepherds or little petty preach
ers thrust into high Offices then. Tho Kings
entertained regally without palace, and were
served loyalty, though without a crown other
than their own acknowledged ability Our
expressed preference for SOL called foreign Min
listers is nothing new. In ls45 Mr.. Jarves
wrote in the editorial pages of the Polynesian:
"1n regard to the Offices they the foreign
minsters) hold, the King and chiefs being
fully aware of their (own) inability to con-
"tend by themselves with the superior skill
"and knowledge of other nations in diplomatic
affairs, sought to place themselves as near on
can equality with them as possible, by Sc
touring the like skill and knowledge to their
"own service These they obtained from the
best available resources within their COM
pass. The high offices at present filed
"by the whites were not only unscught by
them, but urged upon them. They have
"served their employers with a fidelity and
"integrity that deties the sirictest scrutiny."
but the real facts are that the
"revenue Of the country is mainly due to the
"foreign officers. Until the finances were
regulated by them. not moiety reached the
"public treasury. They have created new
"sources Of revenue. ~ Still further had
" the chiefs secured at an earlier date the serv-
"ices of jurist and few public men and
accountants, hundreds of thousands of dollars
"would have been saved to the nation. The
population would not have been destroyed
"by thousands, by inexorable taxation and in
"judicious Legislation; nor its repourccs
"squandered in giving $500 for looking glass,
100000 for brass gun, and $4,000 for a
" gingerbread schooner, The catholic difficulties
"would have been saved no damages would
"have grown out of the Clementine case La
Places visit would have been averted; Lord
George Paulet would never have connected
"his name with these Islands, nor the King
"bsen 20 repeatedly dishoaored BY court martial
"tiecisions on hts debts! - = No friends Of
"the nation would rejoice more heartily than
the white officers TO see the natives them
"selves competent to fill every public situa-
ton; but until that period arrives, and while
=" they continue in the service of His Majesty
they will continue to do their duty firmly
"and faithfully, conscious that in he steady
"suPpor Qf The King and As Intelligent portion
"of the nation, they have the strongest assur-
"ances that their services are appreciated in
proportion 70 their merit" M
We have made a rather long transcript
from the Polynssian, but the words quoted are
singularly applicable to the present time.
There are men of native race capable, with
the assistance OF white colleagues, OF usefully
and honorably occupying seats in the Cabinet,
but Il s,snds 70 reason that IL the whole gov
erning power be vested in the hands Of u group
OF men anaccastomed TO business, unacquanted
with Parliamentary principles or practices,
rs understood in the great states Of the world, |
and unguided by those who have earned the
necessary experience, they will lead the
country into diaic1ltiss abroad and chaos al
home. Witness tho state of our foreign rela-
tions st present and our scarcely -averted hnan