The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-01-22

IT is very pleasant to note the contrast be-
tween things as they are in this little Kingdom
to-day. and the state of feeling which existed at
the time when this Journal passed into the hands
of it's present proprietor. At that time, the press
of the Kingdom, native and foreign, was banded
together in attack upon the King. A discourteous
criticism was freely INDUCED IN to bring him into
disrespect, and if the tone OF the press and the
loud talk in certain quarters could have been &C
cepted as the voice OF the nation, no country
could have appeared moresripe for revolt against
it's ruler. Those who had no sympathy with this
sort of thing had no organ. They are, for the
most part. men who take no part iI political aE-
fairs or discussions, content to follow their
avocations in peace in a kingdom whose %institu-
tons they respect and believe in. At this
~juncture we stepped in, determined that the
voice of a minority, however loudly raised should
not be mistaken for that of the nation. The
work we laid out for ourselves was to support
the institutions of the country against the scarce
ly yelled attacks which threatened them ; to sup
port heartily, yet with a discriminating spirit,
the King and his advisers to set forth the truth
of things in opposition to the garbled stories
which were everywhere being circulated, to ex-
pound Discriminatory matters which had~ex-
cited so much angry feeling and to arouse into
more demonstrative activity the spirit of loyalty
to the King. which we knew to be widespread
through the country, and as deep-seated in the
breasts OF the majority of our foreign as of our
native population. We took up the pen none too
soon, for the King and all his peaceably disposed
subjects could not fail to view with alarm the ex-
cited condition of the exponents of an adverse senti-
nent which seemed likely to carry them to
lengths, the fruit of which they would have Bit
terly to repent when too late. The King was
made to feel that scowling faces surrounded
him. to doubt whether or no his Throne might
be in danger-to believe that all his earnest pro-
jects for the welfare of his Kingdom and his Peo-
pie were about to be defeated, and the fruits of
long years of constitutional government on the
part of himself and his predecessors scattered to
the winds. And we confidently say that our work
was one Of peace,-we came forward to speak the
mind of that large but quietly disposed majority
of the nation, which viewed with the greatest
concern the angry feelings that had been raised.
How successfully, supported by the common
sense and loyalty of the masses of the people,
we have fulfilled that mission, the last few issues
OF the ADVERTISER have amply evidenced. The
acceptance of our respectful suggestion that His
Majesty should, before undertaking q journey
| abroad, visit the centres of population through
out the Kingdom, has happily proved the means
of demonstrating the loyalty to the Throne and
the affection for the King which pervades all
| classes throughout these Islands. The duty we
undertook was taken up at a moment when it
was evident that " the times were out of joint"
Our reward is in the results, and we desire no
other. We find it in the record which sc have
just published of the Kings reception on Friday
evening by many of the very men who were SO
hastily led away to disbelieve in him. Very
graceful was it on the part of His Majesty on an
occasion of distinguished loyal demonstration to
smooth over the past by a gracious recognition OF
a common liability to err. "Byegoues are now
byegones" and all Hawaiian subjects of what
ever birth JON. with us to-day in bidding God
speed to our King on q journey be is undertaking,
not for pleasure or in the spirit of mere curiosity,
but for the benefit OF the Kingdom over which he
has been called to rule, and of the people whom
be loves and who love him.
e The German steamer Qninta sailed from
| this port on Jauuarv 18th. for Hongkong.