The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-10-11
IS 1T FARCICAL? OR WORSE?


EDITOR BULLETIN: 81 have read,
from time to time, with great pleas
sure and hearty approval, your able
and outspoken editorial articles on
the policy and measures of the Ha-
waiian Government, as at present
constituted and administered. You
have characterized its proceedings,
in words not one whit too plain or
too severe, as ridiculous and absurd
legislation, travesty of the form
of representative Government, and
farcical beyond the power of langu-
age adequately to describe. But
while all this is plain, mdeniable
truth, is it the whole truth? Is
there not another, and a more sadly
significant statement that ought to
be made! Are the editorial utter
ances of daily newspaper the only,
or the adequate expression of the
intelligent statement of this COM
munity? Government is an institu-
ton, which involves rights and
duties that even any ones supreme
folly has no business to disregard.
Young people may get married for
"the fun of the thing;" but conse-
quences are involved that may be
anything but funny. Foolhardy
impiety may burlesque the solemn
sacrament of Holy Communion; but
what kind of man is he who can
witness such mockery, and only
laugh at it as a piece of ridiculous
folly? Legislation may be senseless
and shameless, but there are sacred
rights of life, honor, property, which
may be endangered by vanity and
folly.
have been looking in vain for
some strong, sensible, united pro-
test against the men and measures
that are imperilling the stability of
the Government and the existence
of the nation. My life and work
here among Hawaiians and for Ha-
waiians are of such character as
to involve, and perhaps sufficiently
TO indicate and guarantee my alb
horrence of the foolish and ruinous
course now being pursued. But
silence may be construed into acqui-
escence, if not approval. So far as
my individual name and utterance
may have any influence, / wish to
be put on record as in no way,
shape or manner, willing to give
even quasi recognition, or tacit
approval to the foolish and ruinous
course now being pursued. Ex-
travagance is not prosperity. Wreck
ing government is no more credit
able craftsmanship than wrecking
a railroad is honorable financiering.
The mere politics of the matter is no
concern of mine. Who may be in
or out of Office is not the vital ques-
ton, provided always that officials
are capable and honest. But man
who has been brought up under
government of laws wisely framed
and equitably administered, can
hSSSi 'Coo Caoy uhuSi IhC oChiai VI
loss of mans inalienable right to
such a government. He must pro-
test against personal dictation and
favOritism, as perversion and
abuse of constitutional government.
A Christian man, working for the
welfare of this Hawaiian people,
and having at heart their best inter-
ests for time and for eternity, must
forswear both his manhood and his
Christian faith, if he can see this
people rushed downwards TO de-
graduation and ruin, without making
every possible, practicable effort to
save and elevate them. For one, l
protest against irrational and ire
sponsible government as something
worse than farcial or ridiculous, as
both disgraceful and ruinous.
G. Nj. HYDE,
North Pacific Missionary Institute.