The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-08-08

-
CONSISTENCY does not seem to enter into
the calculations of the worthy Premier.
One thing to-day, another tomorrow.
Careless of honor, or respect or anything
reputable, ready to groyel in the dust be
fore what is more powerful than he, and
to hector and bully over any one that he
has himself the upper hand of, the Pre-
mier of the Hawaiian Kingdom does not
present a very pretty picture.
In 1878 MIR Gibson. member for La
haina. displayed an enormous amount of
virtue He was member of the Finance
Committee, and according to the report
now living before Us that committee had
faithfully examined s. all the books
accounts and vouchers Of the several Off
GERS of the Government and they added
that whilst it is matter for congratula-
ton # that no charge of positive en-
bezzlement OF rdcfalcatiOn could be brought
home to the present or any previous ad-
ministration of the Hawaiian Govern
ment;" vet they noted many irregularities
aud improprieties of administration which
deserved the gravest censure." The re
port then proceeded to give these in detail,
and to suggest reforms. We find it stated
ment were not closed at the end of the
fiscal period, and now after lapse OF
seven weeks are not closed. The Chief
Clerk on being requested on May list to
show a balance sheet If the books were
closed, and if not so, a trial balance
requested to have more time to adjust the
accounts of the Department. In connec-
ton with the Land Office the accounts of
the Department are singularly confused
and full of grave discrepancies one ac-
count for land patents, during the biennial
period. furnished your committee by the
Interior Office, as shown in Table j repre-
sents only 304 Royal Patents, for which
were received the sum of Sl,524, whereas
according to the report of Godfrey Brown,
Esq, employed by the committee as an
expert, and who searched the books of the
Land Office. there have been 4f9 Royal
Patents issued during the biennial period
for which the sum of S2095 has been re
ceived In view of these large discrep
ancies, and that the books are not closed,
yorlr committee recommend that an expert
be appointed by the Assembly to examine
the books of the Interior Department and
report to the Assembly" Experts We're
appointed. the accounts We're examined by
Messrs. j. O. Carter, John Patty and =. p.
Adams. This report is on record and
showed that the Department of Interior
had been conducted with gross negligence.
On the appointment of Mr. S. G. Wilder as
Minister Of Interior shortly afterwards, as
soon as he had had time to make himself
personally acquainted with the workings
of the Department the Chief Clerk was
l. ,TV,f. f.al
in his place. Now mark the consistency.
The very man whom Mr.. Gibson censured
in his report, the very man whom the
committee of experts showed as being
negligent, the very man whom, IN spite
of a kindly personal feeling, a feel
ing which We all participate in, Mr.. 5. G.
Wilder removed from the Chief Clerkship
on the grounds enumerated above, the
Premier has chosen as his colleague TO fill
the Office of Minister of the Interior.
Whatever kindness and good viii must be
and is felt on private grounds towards
Major Gulick, on public grounds the ap-
pointlhent must be regarded as nnsatsfac
tory. Is this the Premiers wayof advanc
ing the dignity OF the country? Is this
setting an example for young Hawaii to
follow? Where is the virtue which ami
mated the Premier in 1872 gone to the
winds: in fact 1t never existed. Were he
as virtuous as lie pretended to be the
Administration would not be in the con
dition it is hesystem of contracts with
out tender of wholesale rotteness which
has disgraced his government would never
have obtained. The good of the country
is not sought. merely the personal advant-
age Of the individual, the greed of power
of one man Is satisfied but the happiness
of the greatest number is not considered
for moment There are at times far
greater considerations to be regarded than
mere material prosperity: and Hawaii nei
has fallen upon those times. As matters
now are we have a more important cues
ton to be settled than the mere price of
sugar or whether the next crop viii pro
duce more than Tie last. That question
Is whether OF no we are to continue on the
downward course Of our national life until
even the treaty of reciprocity cannot save
u.s. tits whether leprosy shall be allowed
to stalk abroad, thievery and corruption