Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-12-16

person Of admitted mental power, and there
fore fully alive to the cSigcnccs Of the situa
ton. lie prepared book Of sanitary in
for the native people and by pre-
tending grca, love for them he so successfully
played upon their credulily that they were de
ludcd into giving him their political support
aud lifting him 10 the position he had so long
coveted lie attained the place he had strycd
for ior years by successfully manipulating this
subject when every other device Of his scheming
brain failed.
Many foreign residents were deceived by his
false pretences, for his ability was recog
nilcd and even his enemies admit that II with
his other attributes he possessed uprighness
aud honesty Of purpose he would be well quail
fed for his position; but witness the sad spec
taclc with which an unfortunate and victimized
people are confronted. The present inefficient
board has been in power seven months, and
during that short period, the national curse has
attained such proportions that prominent ply
sicians tell us no one in the community is alb
solutely safe. hundreds Of confirmed lepers
mingle unrestraincd among the unconnmina-
abroad. and there is no sign that relief will be
offered by those who have il in their power.
What have the board done Z? they have prosti.
tuted the interests Of the nation TO their politi-
cal aggrandizement. They have appointed
physician at an extravagant salary, and have
Squandered thousands OF dollars worth Of in.
effectual medicines. They have scxtuplcd the
salary Of their secretary. They have made
debit unfulfled. They have under the lash of
public indignation, sent f1Otnty-nine lepers into
isolation. They have either turned loose upon
the community to increase the contagon and
danger, five lepers, or released from conhne-
ment FIVE persons who nfuer hal leprosy,
which? They have succeeded by their dupli
city and inaction in arousing the people to such
a pitch OF indignation that longer submission
to their notorious abuse Of public trust is out
OF the question, and in this latter respect they
have done we'll
There is but one way to treat the subject Of
cprosy, it must be isolated, and thoroughly.
Hospitals throughout the country for treat
ment of this disease, and "branch hospitals "
in Honolulu are useless in staying its progress
especially il they are to be conducted as is the
one at Fisherman's Point, where advanced
cases kiss and exchange pipes through the
fence with their friends on the outside, and
where but one paid guard is powerless to pre-
vent patients from going and coming at will.
There is no isolation about that, even if the
"powers that be" were not in the habit Of
granting permits for promiscous communica-
ton. No a radical change in the admins
native policy must speedily be effected, or the
life of the nation will be gone; there is no
middle course feasible. The present health
administration went into power under the most
favorable auspices for accomplishing health re-
forms. They had liberal appropriation given
them and they have earned nothing but the
distrst of the people.
A glorious opportunity is now afforded them
TO redeem themselves and deserve the conf
dence OF the public. A clnnce is now present.
ed to the Premier-president to don the raiment
of upright honest manhood and earn the re-
spect and gratitude OF the people. The King
can now prove his loyalty to the welfare and
perpeiuity Of his race. A thorough system Of
isolation must be adopted, even lift becomes ne
eessary to segregate and send into exile one
third OF the native people, and it must not he
delayed. Any other course will be false phil
anthrophy. Selfpreservation urges it, public
safety demands it. In every hamlet and dis.
irict OF the kingdom, rigid search should be
commenced, and all confirmed cases should
gently but firmly he segregated. A royal pro
clamation would properly preface and greatly
aid the success Of this new departure. The
healthy natives should be made to understand
that their life and happiness depend upon the
successful execution Of this plan, and the
afflicted ones should be assured OF gentle and
humane treatment. II does not follow that
the afflicted must be sent to kalawao, there to
unhappily avail, death. II necessary, whole
island should be set apart for these people
Perhaps in the fullness Of his love the Premier
president will donate Lanai And as a certain
physician suggested the other day, it would b,
well to appoint government farmer to instruct
in agriculture and assist the sufferers in being
sei.sapporing. They might have schools and
churches, and aside from the miseries Of thei
dreadful aiiliction, become comparaiivel,
happy colony, and their hyorite physician
could be resident among them There woul,
he no difficulty in procuring liberal appropria
,ions for such purpose, and for resolutel,
seeking TO reduce and conhne dreadful
plague the government would receive unquaii
fed credit at home and abroad Two prdPo
si,ions Of serious moment confront the lila
waiian government. via; That longer delay il
properly treating this subject must result "a
tally to national life, and tha, further disIegaIs
Of public safety on the part of responsible,
officials will not be submitted to by tn,
people.
As We said in preiaeing this article, il is ex
tremely unpleasant TO be forced into oonspicu
Gus notice Of this national curse. and to bsin,
into prominence many disgusting feature
which may be offensive to public taste, bu
desperate diseases require desperate reme
dies and le,s pronounced views have bee,
frequenily proven Intellectual. All right think
ing people will place The responsibility whsr'
I, belongs however. With reference to (oseig'