Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-03-17

same lne-as GTant dtd.
In estimating our motive in stirring up the
leprosy question. we are neither so green nor
charitable as To suppose for moment that
the r. C. A,fpc,fiScr is mistaken when il says.
in its notice of articles which have appeared in
the San F,dnci5oo Ch,on,cl,, "ihc destruction
Of our Government, is the aim Of
our local opposition press" The whole com
muniiy know what our motive has been, and
we are not in any way alarmed at the prospect
Of that opinion being changed by any base and
unworthy insinuations that may be put forth
by journal so utterly regardless Of truth, and
so shameless in its advocacy of every iniquitous
measure that may emanate from lawless adj
ministration. We have devoted our columns
to the exposition Of Government abuses and
corruption generally, singing out for prom
nence, very naturally, such abuses as were
considered most directly destructive TO the
peace and comfort of the community and the
commercial prosperity and prospective indie.
pendencc Of the nation. Under such cifcum-
stances, we would have acted traitorously to
every human instinct and to every true interest
of these Islands, had we passed without notice
the actions Of the existing Board Of Health in
its mode Of dealing with the question Of lep-
rosy But, il truthful and considerate expo
sition Of the actual state Of affairs in this regard
has tended to create an alarm abroad which
may commercially hur, the trade Of these
Islands, ii is not the Opposition PRESS" as
the P,tmier'S organ would have its readers
believe, but the rondnd Of Gope,nmenf that is
responsible for the evils which have already
come and which may be in store. II ii were a
fact that murder and brigandage were crimes
common in our public streets, and that day.
light and the knowledge of the Executive were
no protection to the most innocent pedestrian,
would we be blamed in giving publicity to the
fact; OF be accused Of aiming at the dtSt,nf.
Ho1 Of the Go5r,0MeHt, because our statement
Of the facts had gained credence abroad, and
the warning voice Of foreign publications had
kept immigrants and travellers away from our
shoresr ? Most assuredly not There is a mani
fest analogy in the case before us, and the
spirit that would make the Opposition press
responsible for the effects Of truthful exposi-
ton OF official delinquency in one case would
only be acting in consistency with its own
principles to charge the natural effects Of ra-
pine and riot upon those who exposed theiI
existence. What we have done in this matter
has been simply TO relate the truth. Not one
OF our statements have been overdrawn, moi
have our inferences as to the tendency and
bearing of those facts been prompted by politi.
cal prejudice or exaggerated in the least par.
ticular. We have but voiced opinions every.
where prevalent among the intelligent foreign
portion OF our community, held alike by the
rich and the poor, the high and the low. But
in the execution Of so painful, yet SO maniies,
A duty, we have been moved by higher con.
sderations than those of mere money; by con.
| sderations before which those of commerce
and internal industry, or even a sense Of per.
sonal danger, pale into insignfcance. 1t is fol
the wives and children, and for the general
| safety Of the home everywhere throughout the
land that we have been impeled to speak
And it was only deep sense of fast multi
plying danger that could have led us to M
exposition Of facts, the effects Of which abroad
would be as heavily felt by the writer as by
the average business man Of this community
were those effects such as the Chronicle woult
desire, OF the p. c. Adoe,tisy predict.