The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-09-24

in all countries with representative Govern
ments. The disparaging jokes about the
Congressman, or member of Parliament,
are as rife as those about the priest, the
lawyer, and the physician. They are
pleasing TO the amour propre of the lay
multitude. In Hawaii the legislator must
expect a share of criticisms and satire -
and must not be surprised if they are some
times as unjust here as they are elsewhere.
However, occasionally the sheer and ieer,
by a certain class of foreigners, about our
legislation, is excessive, and liable to be
injurious if unnoticed. They will descant
upon the farce of our legislative discussion,
and speak of our Legislators as affecting the
stability of their country by the absurdity
of their proceedings. Such talk is sheer,
u~nmitigated SANDER, as there is nothing in
the history of Hawaiian legislative pro-
ceedings to warrant such wholesale asser-
tions and furthermore, it can be clearly
demonstrated that the department of the
Hawaiian Legislators will compare most
favorably with the most enlightened repre-
sentative bodies in the world.
Glance at a recent scene OH the floor of
of the American national representative
Chamber. A representative, Mr.. Hooker,
was maudlin drunk. He made ridiculous
speeches, and was wholly beyond expostu-
lation and ridicule. For a while members
were amused. Then they gathered around
him, like needless boys about a drunken
man in the streets, and laughed. Such a
sight in the streets is sickening to most
people. On the floor of Congress, as in this
instance, it was doubly disgusting."-(Phi-
lddeLphia Tfmes.) Such a scene, thus par
ticipated in by the sober as we'll as the
drunk, was never witnessed in a Hawaiian
Legislative Assembly. If it should ever
take place, then the knell of departing
Hawaiian liberties might be croaked over
for the weak must not sin like the great
as we know that what is but ga choleric
word of the captain, is rank blasphemy in
the private"
The decorum in Hawaiian legislative
proceedings may be observed with profit
by any body of deputies in the world. But
it is contended that the Hawaiian legisla-
tive session of 1880 was the assembIage that
has especially sinned against decorum and
the political interests of the country so
that it is urged that the Assembly of 1882
shall be chosen with a view to Il" redeem the
character of its predecessor" This is mere
p~artizan assertion, without any foundation
in truth. The Hawaiian Assembly of 1880
was a patriotic and working body, and it
has no reason to be ashamed of its record.
1t discussed about 1870 bilIs,-about eighty
were passed; but barely one-half the num-
Der were approved by the royal signature.
1t provided amply for sanitary measures,
for the highways of the country, and to
promote it's independence. The bill pro-
viding for a capitation-taX of twenty-five
dollars OIL a certain excess of male immi-
grants one for a more equitable taX-assess-
ment another for the refunding of the pas
senger hospital tax in behalf of sick indi-
gent strangers and many others equally
wise and judicious were enacted by this
Legislature-but failed to become laws.
The Legislature of 1880 performed its public
duties reasonably well and needs no
~apologist to redeem the character of the
country, in consequence of its action, with
the guarantee powers"
But the slur on our Hawaiian legislative
character comes from the same source, that
says the King "must set his people an
example of the social virtues" What n
dastardly disloyal and untruthful insinua-
ton. King Kalakaua is an eminent Illus
tratisn of the social virtues, as all who nave
the honor to observe anything of the happy
relations between our King and his Consort
can amply testify. Then why these sneers
of certain critics Eliminating that the
country is in danger owing to certain legis-
lative and royal action of the past ? They
are sneers at the native government on the
part of those who want to agitate for change
merely for the sake OF. the advancement of
their private interest. But they will be
disappointed.