The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-06-17
PRACTISE ECONOMY.


On the evening Of the 3lst Of last
May, on board the steamship Aus
tralia, then lying in the port Of
Honolulu, and at supper where
the multifarious nationalities, inter-
ests, and enterprises Of the King
dom were represented, Colonel
Claus Spreckels made speech. 1t
was q remarkable speech. Not
remarkable for eloquence, oratorical
ornamentation, or power Of deliv-
cry; but remarkable for its brevity,
its point, its straightforwardness its
appropriateness to the country and
the times, and its Observation-Disclosures.
The Colonel was evidently not
trained in the school Of Talleyrand,
who taught that words are intended
for concealing thoughts. Contrari-
wise, he employed words to reveal
thoughts, and words that revealed
his thoughts with unmistakable
clearness and definite meaning-not
words Of insinuation, but of positive
assertion. The diction may have
been slightly Continental, but the
Saxon could not have been beaten
by Gladstone. The Colonel said he
''liked the country, the climate, and
the people. The people are mild,
generous, and open. But they have
one fault-they are extravagant.
Take my advice-practise economy,
be independent, have money in the
bank, and care for nobody" This
is the quintessence of brevity and
clearness: everybody can under
stand and remember it.
Colonel Spreckels' estimate of the
people of this country is pretty
accurate, and his charge Of extrava-
gance has a wider application than
merely to the aboriginal Hawaiians.
Planters, tradesmen, mechanics,
and clerks have exhibited propen-
sity for gold chains, gay equipages,
and whiskey cocktails, which we'll
informed people are accustomed to
regard rs indicative Of leaning
towards the insolvency court. To
intimate that the Hawaiian Govern
ment has in any way evinced the
same reckless spirit in the distribu-
tiop of the public purse would be
constituting this humble sheet a
"chronic growler" and exposing it
to the danger Of being "killed"
along with "the Opposition as a
partyl" We claim the liberty, how
ever, to endorse and reiterate the
advice to practise economy. BY
systematically and steadily follow
ing this advice, many people will
find it easier to pay their quarterly
or monthly accounts than hereto
fore, besides having fewer to pay.
Should the Legislature and execu.
tive deem the advice Of any interest
whatever to them, we could indicate
q line Of retrenchment that would
lessen expenditure without impair
ing the efficiency of the public
service. Begin by tossing all mere
ngure-heads overheard. Reduce thu
number Of employees, and make
those who remain work for theil
pay, instead Of doing no other worA
than drawing their pay. Ease uE
ON gun powder, rifles, and bras:
buttons. Employ conscientious mer
who will give the public treasur,
the benefit of the commission
allowed by tradesmen on purchases
instead of putting them into thei
own pockets. And be sure to avoi'
sending commissions to Washington
and St. Petersburg on wild goos
chases, who can show nothing effect
ed for the good of the country il
return, but bill Of expenses TO
Mr.. Dole's mud-spattered taxpayer
to defray. The rigid and unremit
ting exercise Of economy in tn
directions briefly outlined woul
leave respectable unexpende
balance of the country's revenu
for the construction of roads
bridges, wharves, and other publ
works, for the development of ou
latent resources, that would brin
prosperity and contentment to tn
people.