The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-04-02
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Obertlser
Y, APRIL ?, 1881.

lands, is at this time, to all appearances, ques-
toned. \ large number of respectable citizens
and residents Of this community, moved by the
nOblest spirit that can animate our human
nature, a desire to rescue the errIng and unfor-
tunate having signed a petition, giving on as
surance. based upon general information, that
the case q a fellow man condemned to be hung,
deserves a farther and merciful consideration, are
a~rraigned before a tribunal, cross exam
ined in regard to all the information and motives
that prompted their generous action, and are
made to feel by the way in which they are sum-
moned, the manner in which they have been in
terrogated, that they committed a wrong in
making the appeal, and that the right of petition
may become here an annoying, if not a danger
Gus privilege of a citizen to exercise.
Why shall Justice, or rather the officers Of law
look beyond this natural aud noble expression of
human sympathy and mercy, for some supposed
concealed purpose or policy? When petitioners
prayed our revered and noble hearted Princess
Regent, that . the life Of a fellow citizen be
spared, " what malignity of spirit can attribute
to them the motive of considering only the ques-
ton Of race, with a view to its political effect ?
But such indeed are the views, the suspicious,
and jealousies of political partisans in every
community in the world. They endeavor to con-
ceal their own maneuvres and policy, by a cum
ming attributiOn of motives to others.
1t was proper, and indeed called for, that pc
titioners who had given an assurance that there
are mitigating circumstances d" now better under
stood than at the time of the trial. of the COM
demned man, should be invited to assist the ad-
visers of the Crown, to acquire a better under
standing of the case so that if reasonable and
possible, all officials concerned might be relieved
from the sad and execrable duty of strangling a
fellow being. And it would be reasonably sup
posed, that all officials, having any responsibility
or duty in the matter. would hail with gladness
the slightest assurance that there was an oppor-
tunity for the exercise of mercy.
But it is not proper and it is uncalled for, that
these petitioners for mercy shall be summoned
and a~rraigned and cross questioned singly, like
wrong doors and especially so by officials who
on the street and elseV here, have challenged
them in arrogant and offensive tone and with a
marked exhibition of temper, have demanded
their reasons. their motives, and the suspected
influences that led them to sign a plea and
prayer for i man : life.
We advocated enquiry into the case of the
convict POlua, although we never originated, as
~alledged, the movement in his behalf. We regret
to say, we cannot claim that honor. The con-
demned man Is an Hawaiian, in the middle prime
of life, and vOuched for as a quiet and Industrious
worker. In the midst of his Iabors and duties
an old friend, accompanied by his daughter, pay
him a visit. The girl and Polua become attach
ed; and when father and daughter are returning
home; the girl deserts her parent on the way, in
order TO join her lover. a young rival attempts
to disturb the peace of Polua for a while in
vain. But after a time, the girl yields and deserts
her old lover. She returns, cOnfesses, and is re-
stored. She is tempted away again, and now
braves out ner i~nadelity by hooking her old lover
within his hearing and observation. He is jeered
by his comrades and neighbors. He IS maddened
life becomes a torment he refuses food and rest,
and in this state of mind, be Stays the girl and
makes a determined effort to take his own life.
He does the killing openly, in the presence of
witnesses. He will not kill the rival, for fear he
would accompany the beloved one to a better
world, he Grapes his house in mourning, and
pours out a libation of pE based perfumes
around his couch, so that his y cause shall be
cOnsecrated, and his blood blended with that of
his loves. shall be offered up as a sacrifice.
The dying girl, with her breast gashed open,
gasped forth these last few words : Aole mea
c hama make Tau, wau vale no." No one killed
me, | alone did it. Alas, poor creature were
she living, and Of the same mind, in which she
died, and if we may suppose that Polua was now
to die for an intended murder she
would have been a foremost one to have signed
this petition, and would no doubt have been ar
raigned and questioned to give her reasons for
for a merciful consideration in behalf of
her once agonized, and then demented lover.
Who can see in this mad, overwhelming, de-
structive spirit of aroused and tormented passion,
the malice prepense Of the felOn murderer, who
Stays for plumber, for revenge, or t 0 remove some
hated obstruction? And who, after such an
agony, and such a self expiation. and immolation,
will seek with a bangman's spirit and blood
hounds relish to put the felon cord around the
neck of a poor ignorant victim of overwhelming
passion and misfortune, and strive to lift him up,
whom God had spared, as a writhing and dang
ing outrage on humanity?
We trust that any spirit. or policy that would
make a football of human life in the promotion
IF policy will be rebuked. We take our stand
or this man S life, if not for his liberty. We
count nothing more precious in this world than a
human life. We have, we believe, 40 enlightened
ippreciatiOn Of the work of the world; yet material
and all it's proud 81 oil and glory, are as
rash to our mind, when weighed against the
poorest and meanest life of this Kingdom. There
ore we honor the petitioners, who interposed
heir names and voices IN behalf of the life of a
elbow man, and their action will be approved
" the enlightened and generous of the world.
THE Gazette says that the statement
by a contemporary, that the uni
orm of Col. VIM. N. Armstrong, our Royal
Commissioner of Emigration, cost 500 is