Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-10-13

DufSfsrRtTION
II is indeed a dcplorablc state Of al
fairs when the king OF a country, in
direct antagonum TO the wishes OF the
majority of voters, both native and
foreign, persists in his resolution 20 cpn
tinuc in office such a man as Gibson
We, as journalists, have never blamed
the innocence of the king either iur the
appointment OF this man. or for hi rc
ten,lon in office after hc had proved
himself not only incompetent but
untrustwofthy ns to word aud honor
We have always held that Gibson was
appointed because the king knew his
man Every move since the appoint
mcnt of Gibson has indicated the cor.
rccncss OF our first opinion, until II has
become common remark that the
king has become determined to sink or
swim with Gibson Respectful rcsolu.
tions adopted nj public meetings, dcprc.
eating the GlbSonian mode of govern.
mcnt and defcrcutially requesting the
intervention oi the king ~ adopt n
style OF rule more IN consolincc with
the wishes OF his people, have upon
several occasions been either ignored
OF referred 10 the Objectionable official
for answer The meeting at the kau-
makapili Church, the planters meeting
protest, and also that Of the citizens OF
Waikiki, IN the way they were received
and answered, are but samples of that
OF which we speak. As things have ap
pcarcd, II would seem that the king has
long been aiming at absolute rule and
Gibson being man who is willing to
pandcr TO every royal wish, however
absurd il might appear, is best suited as
coadmtor and adviser toward that
end. Since Gibson's accession to office
things have had uniform tendency
that way, and the most unscrupulous
measures have been adopted towards
its iuilmcnt. FIRST we had the dis
graceful purchase of legislative votes by
means OF the distribution OF offices
among subservicnt members, festive
oaucuSes and so forth Then came a
measure which deprived the Supreme
Court OF function which 1t had
properly exertcd ever since the existence
of a constitutional government, that Of
appointing police and district magistrates
throughout the kingdom, vcsting the
same in the governors OF islands who
are the immediate appointees of the
king and subServent to his will The
majority OF a servilc legislature were in
duccd TO authorize the squandering of
the public funds in coronation absurdi-
ties to swell the expenditure of the
civil list out OF all proportion, to add
luXuries to the royal state never before
dreamed OF Under a pretence of its
expenditure upon public works, and for
the general benefit, an authorization to
negotiate an enormous loan was OBJ
tanned, which happily for the country,
was not obtainable to any great amount
After the session of the legislature came
the real work of the Gibson administra-
ton, and the spirit by which it was to
be guided was no longer hid That
spirit was tyranny and usuTlation, so
far as it dare be carried The several
departments were hunted and bounded
for the discovery OF such as were antago-
nstic to Gibson and bold enough TO
speak their minds. Mr. Godfrey Brown
OF the treasury department was ousted,
but soon after vainly sought again with
a profter OF office. Next came the
threatened dismissal OF MeSsrs. Atkin-
son and Hill for their connection with
papers indisposed to hide government
corruption from public view, An
apology saved one, but the other went
though not before whole board of
respectable men, who had long served
the country with zeal and ability and
without pay, had been unceremoniously
dismissed from Office. AT present.
places are everywhere being made for
men unfit to hold office, and appoint
ments to Office are entirely Independent
OF any such considerations as ability or
honesty except when n show of
deccrcy is made to cover some new
outrage Strong efforts are already
being made by the Gibson party, and
candidates in the field are not hesitant
TO declare themselves on the "Govern-
ment Ticket" The volunteer com
panies have lately been largely in
creased, undoubtedly for election pur-
poses, /, may be that they are in
tended to exercise double function,
that OF intimidation and of voting at
the same time. Soldiers were marched
in file TO the polls at the last election
policemen also At the coming one
the array is intended to be doubly i'm
pressve. Mr.. Gibson's son n-law, Mr..
Hayselden, is candidate As an
assessor he has visited almost every
native house in the district, and as a
consequence has had rare opportunities
TO electioneer the government ticket OF
the district nor, il the prevailing feel
Ing be just, has he neglected his oppor
tunities. OF the condition of the
treasury enough has already been said.
No sneA state Of affairs as al present
esisfs has eusy 6ej6ys been knoaa in the
hiSfoyy Of me f0anfyy.
IL IL hntal tb.ra ,,,,ll ka a c,u a,