Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-01-19

that foreign mcn-ofwar lay in the
harbor ready to interfere. So now the
controlling public sentiment. with is
great social and financial intcrcsts.
looks on undiJurbcd. while the wreck
Of our civil institution makes hcadlonp
progress from week to week. knowing
well that diplomatic interference or
American policy will, when the cmcr
gcrcy arrives, render local revolution
unnecessary This outlook may not be
highly crcdiiable TO us, but think il Is
the correct view and that It account,
for much that appears like undue hcsi-
tation and indccision II is human
nature TO take the easiest way ont of q
dilemma.
Although the large majority Of the
community prefer the continuance NJ
an independent government for the
Hawaiian Islands, thcy have lost conf
dcncc in the existing government as
now conducted by kalakaua and his
ministers; nor are they able to discover
any evidences that It contains sufficient
latent vitality TO give it in the future
any desirable influence in affecting the
dcstinics OF the nation Therefore the
tendency is to drin. The few make
strong efforts toward reform in politics,
but they are not supported as they
should be by the many who understand
the situation, not for want of sympathy,
but because they do not think the ship
OF state, in its present condition, is
worth saving as long as there is a pros
pect that some friendly steam tug will
be at hand to tow her into smooth
water before she sinks. and gently
beach her upon a convenient mud-hat.
where she may be safely stripped Of her
figure head, rigging and furniture, and
her hull may be leisurcly Knocked to
pieces for frewood. 1t is natural that,
in these circumstances. those who still
have hope in the possibility of political
reform, should sometimes overstep the
bounds Of legitimate discussion.
have had occasion more than once to
regret the use of language by those
who were without doubt working dis
interestedly for reform, which could
only weaken their influence and injurc
the cause. But excessive zeal is better
than lukewarmness or timidity, which
are perhaps the most serious obstacles
to political progress in this community.
The independent papers show great
unanimity in criticising the crown MN
isters and their actions and this criti-
cism is carried on freely and fcarlessly
upon the whole Now this is good and
crcditablc as far as it goes. but
here comes in the curious feature
about this discussion. which leaves il
weak and incomplete the papers
with equal unanimity appear to have
agreed that the king shall not be
criticised except vicariously, so to
speak, in the persons of his minis
tiers. We have therefore the laugh
able spectacle of king, who is ig-
norant of the principles of his own
government, grossly mismanaging
public affairs under cover of and
through a set of subservicnt, thcoret-
ically responsible. ministers; of a
cabinet of ministers trying to cvade
responsibility on the ground that
they represent an, irresponsible
sovereign, and of press, professedly
earnest for political reform, moving
lin the field of moral responsibility.
and ccnsuring only the wrong doing
of ministers who are the mouth
pieces of the king, and observing a
noticeable silence toward the king
himself especially in his most cul-
pable and injurious acts. When the
! fountain gives forih L...-.- ~~..torA- :.
is useless to go down stream and
attempt to purify it. As a conse-
quence of this badly aimed criticism,
very little is accomplished. The
king escapes entirely and is happy,
the ministers in the capacity of buff
fcrs to his royal person, receive the
shocks of criticism and under their
theory of ministerial responsibility,
care little as long as their positions
and pay are not endangered, and
that is not likely to happen so long
as they keep up a reasonable out
ward show of mutual harmony and
Systematically and faithfully act up
to the dogma of royal infalliblity.
Now, my friend, if the professcd
advocates of political reform in this
community mean business, why
should not they hold the unassailable
position of sitting in calm and fair
Judgment upon everything that effects
the publicwelfarei If Kalakaua or any
one else acts for the public welfare let
condemnation be meted out to the
offender, utterly regardless OF
position. Only in this way can Jour-
nalism claim popular respect and
confidence, and become the irresisti-
bic engine of justice which is its
privilege. do not believe in vitu-
peration, but the fitness for public
men for their positions must be hon
cstly tested, for that. after all is said,
is their only title to place, and when
the public are convinced that such fit
ness does not exist, the official DAYS
of the occupant are numbered, be he
king or drummer boy.
Yours sincerely,
MAKAAINANA.
Listen to this from an American