The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-04

acres involved in the bill, but a
Islander $50 absurdly glazing, so utter
ly inconsistent with the actual" facts
in the case, TO adopt the language of
the "Gazette' characterizing its own
millions" exaggeration, that cit
needs no comment" to place it where
it belongs, namely, among the
Opposition lies of the day, which
are formulated by its news
paper organs for political effect.
Will it say that these gentle
men placed themselves in scandalous
opposition to the moral sentiment of
the Kingdom, as they must have
done if it be the witness of truth?
But if it be not the witness of truth,
but malicious slanderer, at once of
the Administration and Colonel
SpreckeIs, what then? We leave those
high-minded gentlemen who are
identified with it to work out this
retributive riddle for themselves.
To show that the allegations in the
Gazette" article on this subject are
wholly outside the pale Of truth, We
refer to the reported debate on the
bill in committee. The Attorney
General, Mr.. Preston, gave a history
of the Crown lands and Colonel
Spreckels' connection Herewith, and
stated as a lawyer, that the cOmpro-
mise was good thing for the coun-
try, because Colonel Spreckels was in
q position to enforce his claim,
acquired by purchase from Princess
Ruth, to half the Crown lands. This
opinion, as the ADVERTISER pre-
viOusIy stated, was conceded in by
Messrs. Hartwell and w. r. Castle,
as well as by the highest legal talent
in California. Mr.. Cleghorn stated
that this matter should have been
settled by former Cabinets, and that
the present one deserved considerable
credit for dispelling the clouds which
had been hanging over the Crown
lands. Mr.. Godfrey Rhodes supported
the Ministers and deprecated the
attacks of the Opposition. He spoke
II the great wrong that had been
done Princess Keelikolani by making
her portion Crown lands, and said:
''Now we have gentlemen in the
Cabinet who desire to right those
wrongs, and they deserve praise in
stead of censure."
This remark ELECTED applause yet
the Gazette" says that the country
was filled with establishment, and
that great dissatisfaction existed
upon the island of Maui. What a
singular people they must have been
who were stricken with astOnish-
ment at simple act of public Justice
done by the Legislative Assembly of
Hawaii. Manifestly they were not
accustomed to such a spectacle, and
indeed both Mr.. Cleghorn and Mr..
Godfrey Rhodes bear testimony to
that fact. Yet that was in the golden
era of Hawaiian history. Judging
from the "Gazette' the establishment
of those persons has continued until
this day, many thinkers" among
them even 'doubting the constitu-
tionality of the law which quoted
| title to the Crown land, prevented
costly, protracted, and embarrassing
litigation, and righted great wrong
These thinkers" certainly must
stand behind the editorial trinity o.
the Opposition, and shape the policy
of the "Gazette," ''Press'' and "Bul
letin." They are as fertile of inven
ton in their newspapers as they are
lacking in the elements of truth
and fair play. Such as they are
however, it is our unpleasant anC
disgusting duty, as public journalists
to follow and expose them.