Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-10-21
GIBSONKSHt

GIbNO4NIN4Ht
\ very meek editorial leads the columns Of
the i. {. H. in its issue of the roth instant,
where the sympathy Of "a large and influential
body about to assemble" is sought to be gained
in favor Of the Ministry. Here this large and
influential hoiy are reminded that the present
ministry, having recognized the great Importance
Of the subject Of immigration which vitality
concerns the planting interests Of the islands,
are represented A. the only available medium
through which "a large appropriation for
that object could have been obtained They
are also reminded that "a previous ministry
had, as is well known tried to secure this OBJ.
ject, but had failed, but that "by patient and
earnest work, the present ministry succeeded in
securing the neeced appropriation and author
/ ity TO take the necessary measures to provide
for it,.
The truth Of this allegation is not denied it
is true; but, when We examine into the merits
Of the case there is little that will favorably
recommend to any thinking man the compar.
son sought to be established. The failure "oi
a previous Ministry to secure majority vote
in the Legislature in favor of immigration ap.
preparations, or other measures, and the great
antagonism displayed toward them by the Leg.
isla,ve body was the direct result Of the un.
scrupuous efforts of the present Premier to lift
himself into office at any hazard. First, by
playing toady and sycophant and exciting by
specious, but dazzling representations, and i'm.
possible promises, plausibly made the natural
predictions Of the king toward pomp and
glitter and eSalting, by the most unworthy
and absurd comparisons, the sovereign's ideas
Of his own importance and power as ruler,
and thereby representing himself as the best
person to elevate to power in order to the
achievement Of those things for which he had
succeeded in creating desire in the royal
mind, he succeeded in accomplishing the
overthrow Of the previous ministry and in
placing himself in power. The means used to
manipulate the last Legislature were notorious.
j, of a most degrading nature, and the present
Premier was the prime mover in every scheme
to debauch their reason and capture their vote
and that he succeeded in his nefarious work is
certainly no ctfdH to the man. 1t was not his
paramount skill or ability, as few may claim,
that led to his great influence over the legisla.
ture.
The secret of the support which he acquired
lay solely in the fact of the venality Of the
Legislature and in the fact of his known sup.
port by the King. Whatever the King asked
and by or through whom-that Legislature
meant to give and when it was authorize.
lively signihed to them that Gibson, and his
stripe, were become the royal choice, and that
the Ministers then in office, had ceased to
please HIS Majesty, it was no difficult matter
to guess what the transposition would be, OF
that upon the Legislature would devolvc the
allotted task of worrying out of Office the
obnoxious cabinet, and welcoming in their
place the tools OF ne'O o,aey.
The policy of the Gibson Ministry is too
GU, every trick has been used to gain some
sort of backing, even to the lowest of all-tha,
OF fostering inharmony among Heterogeneous
community, and encouraging follies that must
detract from the dignity of the throne. Cen
tralization of power, and personal gain, hav,
been the objects to which, all other consdera
tons have, as far as possible, been subordin
ated, until society has quaked to think
what the result might be be. But beginning
now to realize themselves, the dangerou.
nature OF their own game, and the powerful
and universal opposition they have raised, the,
would ian make last attempt by fawninl
approaches and insduous speech to gain the
confidence of body whom, though they have
before treated as worthy of little consideration
they have now found to be an Influential and
powerful body" And we are not at all sur
prised, considering the present outlook, to FIND
the organ OF the Premier assuming in the pre-
sence Of the planters organization, very
anxious, if not submissive, attitude-ev evidenced
by such declarations as the following
We shall be glad il in the. deliberations o
the gentleman to whom this is so vital ques
ton timmigration) any practical suggestion
develope themselves, which will assist then
in the course before them" But we are no
afraid of any sensible body of men ever bein,
captured by such chafi, or being hood -winke,
by man who has been notorious through lif
; for nothing but as the originator Of selfsl
schemes whose transparency he has possesse,
not even the ability to hide.