Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-01-31
THE TRUTH ABoUr LHPRosr.

L
OF the 18th inst, in which you say "T have
been made to understand by the PLANES, OF
plain language that my course in the considera.
,ion OF that topic tLeprosy) is generally con.
demned, and must confess that the revela.
iion therein. contained occasioned me both
surprise and indignation. Surprise that the
policy Of the paper in this matter should have
met with condemnation from any large proper.
ton Of that class whose appreciation you deem
worth having, and indignation with the
numerous friends Of the paper, myself included,
that we have not more enthusiastically shown
our sympathy and approval Of your course
during the long and plucky fight which you
have wagcd against that foul monster which is
pouting the land and gorgne itself on the
best Of the aboriginal blood OF Hawaii.
| can readily understand that "your course
is generally condemned" by the par,isans of
the corrupt existing government, and | can
imagine the more sordid and mercenary Of
shop.keepers and others Of kindred occupations
crying peace Peacel" in the fear that their
profits may be affected should the tide Of travel
from foreign lands be diverted, but I find il
| hard to believe that any who expect to make
this country their permanent home; who enter.
tain hopes and aspirations for the future Of
Hawaii who believe tha, this land is destined
to maintain healthy, vigorous and contented
community, should condemn your course and
endeavor to persuade you to lay down your
arms and make an ignominious retreat. No,
the paper has done noble service in the cause
of Truth, and for one should be sadly dis.
appointed to see it "le, up" for a moment.
l should prefer 10 see it redouble its efforts
and make the hgh, more fierce, and press on
to that victory which undoubtedly awaits II.
The contes, may be long and tresome, but
Of the result there can be no question.
As has been said before, the existence and
frightml prevalence of leprosy (among the
natives) is by farthe most serious evil with which
| the Hawaiian nation has ever been confronted.
All other questions dwindle into insignifcance
before it, In my opinion, every citizen and
the public press ought TO agi,atc and rest not
until the government is compelled to take such
measures for the stamping out " Of the evil
as sanitary science and ordinary common sense
would dictate, or il this be found hopeless,
until the presen, government be overturned
and replaced by new one whose great aim
and policy shall be "7At Extinction Of
Ltp,osy." Any government which makes
sincere and practical efforts for the suppression
of this curse will receive the support and appro.
baton of all good citizens, whatever its policy
may be on matters Of minor Importance, while
the government which temporises, and panders
TO ignorance aud folly in this question, will re.
ceive execration and contempt KAUAI.
January al, 1884.
The above letter does not need the
weight of its writer's signature. 1t car
ries its own weight. If these islands
had a thousand citizens of the same
fibre as he, the leprosy question would
be settled. 1t can be settled-by
united action. 1t cannot be settled
by cowardly subservience. The truth
is dangerous weapon. 1t is an edged
tool that sometimes wounds those who
WELD it. And TO Hawaiian who dares
tell the truth about leprosy need hug
the delusion that it can be written
about, lectured about and talked about
without prejudice to this kingdom.
That is inevitable. But it is better
that public opinion should be aroused
by having our pockets touched than
not to be aroused at all.
Let us consider, briefly. who do
oppose the leprosy agitation. Three
principal classes prominently appear.
| ~ The government sympathizers, who
either hold the success Of the admins
tration to be greater than the health of
the nation or are ignorantly blind to
the extent of the evil (a) The abso-
lutely careless, who take no sides either
in political or other public questions
who are satisfied to make living and
enjoy good health, and who look upon
agitation as "a BORE" and upon all
newspaper statements Except those
verified by their triteness) as "news
paper lies" (3) The cowardly and
dishonorable few Qet us hope very
few who are fully alive to the perils of
the hour yet object to agitation "6e-
cause it a0iW dtp,eeiafe my property and
u'anf to sell omf and get array"
"Oh damned be those equivocating
rogues who palter with us in double
sense !" They want to leave. They
want to take away their families beyond
the fear Of contagion. But they want
to sell oNt first; and take either men's
money for property their fears have
made valueless. Cowards and worse
than towards Knaves and worse than
knaves Their "good intentions" are
paving an Hawaiian Hell that we pray
not only they but all of US may escape
from.
Look on that picture and then on
this Other men, as keen as they, see
also the peril ahead. They love their
families none the less. They love their
homes none the less. They appreciate
the worth Of the almighty dollar none
the less. But they are brave men,
are menI They do not purpose to
sneak away to California after they
have sold out at the best obtainable
price to some victim. They do pur-
pose to remain and fight leprosy until
it is put down. They are not pre-
pared TO add the crime Of fraud to
the ignominy OF cowardice. They are
men Of the stamp Of him who wrote
the above letter.
But there are men who are not less
brave and outspoken than our Kauai"
correspondent yet who object to even
qualified endorsement of LAWYER David.