The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-01-16

election Will be no chllds play. Ihe IRE
nier. whose policy has been so vigorously
combatted by the Opposition Press and
whose acts have been 50 sternly criticised,
not from personal dislike, but from an
honest and honorable feeling that they are
dangerous to the prosperity of the coun-
try and that they are politically vicious,
has on the one hand the full support OF
the King, whose power as a sovereign IS,
comparing small things with large, consid-
erably greater than that Of any Constitu-
tional Monarch. and, on the other hand,
has the avowed support of Col Spreckels,
with the great wealth and influence which
he wields.
But need the Independent Party be cast
down because il has formidable opponentsI
We think not The strength OF which the
ex- Mormon Minister can boast Is not so
real as II seems to be-He has obtained
an ascendency over his Royal Master by
wandering to whims which a more patriotic
Minister would have thwarted. He has
the support Of Colonel Spreckels because
that gentleman believes that certain state
ments which have been made to him by
the Premier are correct: but he Will be
quite as ready as the most ardent reformer
amongst us TO assist the opposition when
he finds that those statements are not cor
rect. That some OF those statements are
not correct we propose to show; that
strong indictment can be brought against
the present cabinet we propose to show,
and when we have done that. we expect
and we have every reason to expect that
Colonel SpreCkels, though he may still dis
agree with us, will own that the opposl-
ton to the present government Is not
based on merely personal grounds, but IS
founded on legitimate causes for dlscon-
tent, and that as such he will give II his
respect if not his support.
-
First and foremost of the things that
the Independents complain Of is the mis-
OF the lepers. We may grow
rich and we may become poor, we may
succeed or we may fail materially, but as
long as we have health in our homes we
can at least be content and get some hap
piness. When however. we have dread
disease like leprusy menacing, not only
the bread winners, who have to take their
chances in the battle Of life, but crawling
towards our children, it Is not
to be wondered at that we should denounce
those. who having the power in their hands
TO protect us from the disease. either do
not exercise it or else only use IT in such a
spasmodic manner as to make 1t practlc
tically worthless. And before proceeding
further we must at once lay down that 1t |
is no paliation Of the conduct of the pres /!
nnt cabinet that they have done no worse !
than their predecessors. Two wrongs do |
not make right, and the argument some
lines used, that other ministers have been |
careless affords no screen for these men to |
hide behind.
1t is fact, proved during the Fitch vs..
Thrrlm libel suit, that school mistress was |
lnown to the authorities as a leper, and |
vas permitted to continue teaching.
II is a fact acknowledged by the gov
,nmcnt physicians, that segregation at |
lakaako is farce. DR. Fitch has himself |
complained of the inadequacy of the ar
However much We may differ |
rom DIR. Fitch as to his theories, we must |
i've him credit for good organizing capac
ty. and had his plans, with regard to a
louble fence been carried out, the people
Il charge Of that asylum would have had
ono chance OF being able TO do their duty. |
jpun the President of the Board of Health
csts the blame. and inadequacy of funds
annot be pleaded by him as an excuse
or not having performed his share of the
uty.
But it Is not only in this that the Presi-
ent of the Board Of Health has erred.
We are informed. and our information
oes not come from the mere hearsay of
he street corners, that permission has been
iven for a patient to leave the hospital
'hen physicians have said that the man
'as in condition dangerous to those with
'hom he might come in contact: and that
hen this was represented to the Presi-
ent of the Board Of Health, he sad that
Z would assume the responsibility OF let
ng the man gol
Taking these few facts and numberless
thers might be adduced. we ask, has the
overnment done its duty in the matter of
,prosy7 The answer can take only one
lrm and that Is Mol To those of rs whose
1t is cast in this country. who have to
ring up our children in its schools, who
ok forward to our sons and daughters
larrying here and bringing up in turn
.cir children. tins matter of leprosy Is a
ital one. A mothers blood turns cold
hen she thinks of her little ones being
xposed to even the bare possibility of
lntracting this dread disease; when she
nows that only few days ago, out of one
our public schools a leper child was taken,
hen she looks around and sees homes
nat have been rendered desolate by the
lsidious destroyer. who kills not swiftly
nd suddenly, that is merciful, but by
lches. changing what was fair and lovely
, what is repulsive and loathsome and
laking life one long agony! And the
lood of every father and mother must
oil when they are told that the man who
Ills himself President of the Board of
.ealth takes it upon Lis rcspoasi6ilhy 70 ld
dangerous lger %! Is this protecting the !
eople9 Is this conduct which merits sup
ort from any one who is humane and
no has children of his own, and therefore
IN enter into the feelings of mothers and
lthers7 We say no! Thousand times
o. 1t is conduct which cries aloud for
probation and for punishment and the
en of the Independent Party ask that ,
nprobation and punishment be visited on
IS head d,
We had intended to go fully into the
nancial matters of the government, but t
-, l.., -, A., l,orIe ~ p5,fcilorc ay-o sniff 7