The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-04-15
What the People Say.
Rags! Rings! RnQs!

Mr.. EDITOR, Some little time ago the Minis
terial organ published a solemn and orachlar
warning against the direful consequences which
would ensue should this Government undertake
the unlimited support Of lepers." With a pen
dipped in tears, the editor called upon us 20
remember that the resources Of the country would
. bear a certain amount OF strain, and no more"
and ventured TO express q hope, evidently not
unmixed with fear, that a mistaken spirit of
philanthropy would not rush the House into too
large an expenditure" In the absence of any
specifications, the mind Of the reader was natu-
rally left in q state Of considerable perplexity.
One was puzzled to know what was meant by an
" unlimited support Of lepers, and what was
the particular expenditure into which Ga mis-
taken spirit of philanthropy " was going to
" rush the House." and thus strain T" the re-
sources of the country. But all is clear now.
An item in the last number Of your c~ontempory
has shed a flood of light on this dark place in
inspired journalism. We understand ut last Just
what was meant by an unlimited support
and the mistaken spirit Of philanthropy and
the 81 strain, and all that. 1t meant Rags
The line must be drawn somewhere, and the
organ and the organ-grinder propose to draw it
right here. l tremble when | think Of the fright
full ''strain " which would be put upor .
public purse by undertaking the unlimIfn fnthe
of rags for these Unsuitable lepers. tx S,-Ssupply
Treasury being unable to me ae Hawaiian
able demands Of a misty (ouch unreason-
would venture to suee EsSsr philanthropy" I
bao. and be 1a'iIr might be provided with a
or9nnd o. ~1Inted n committee Of one 10 90
anca GG(collect rags. Should he need assist
This labor of love, he could, doubtless.
f~>ofe the services of n number Of high pubIic
northumberland as the Attorney-G General. tbe
Minister of the Interior al interim, the President
of the Board Of immigration, &c. Such a body
would, no doubt, work efficiently and barmo-
nIousIy. 1t must be confessed that fine whole
thing does look a little queer. OF the amonnt
appropriated by the Legislature for Branch
Leprosy Hospitals, it is understood that less
IMAM haIf has been expended. 1t is hardly pro-
Da0le that the Ministry would run any serious
FISK OF impeachment by spending a little OF tbis
money for rags. An administration which can
send MIR. Carter to Portugal with leave 10 spend
a hundred thousand dollars, which the Leeisla-
ture never appropriated or authorized. might.
without any great difficulty, have found authority
10 spend the small sum necessary for the pur-
chase of rags. After this brilliant stroke of
economical craftsmanship, one naturally asks
what next ? The next appeal which our
thrifty rulers will make to e charitable nnbI;c
will probably be for collins in which 10 bnry
their victims. 1t is to be hoped that the coming
Legislature will show their appreciation of oup
Ministerial ragmen-by presenting each of them.
on his retirement from office. with n second,
hand rag baby. Should any of them dasira
public employment, after leaving their nresent
they might find congenial and appro-
pirate occupation as grave-diggers ut Kalawao.
BULL FRoGoE, ESQ.