The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-11-20
THE SITUATION.

The state of affairs in Hawaii only
differs in degree to-day from what has
existed for many years. Power and
privilege are Of the same arbitrary char
acter, and are called into play in a
similar manner, if not by the same
agencies, as before What a portion
Of the press is solemnly descanting
upon now, as if great revelations had
been made in San Francisco, is all
familiar to the readers of the indie
pendent press of Honolulu. The recent
facts adduced are but developments of
system of backstairs government that
gained power for harm chiefly under
the fostering care of those now raising
their voices loudest in its denuncia-
ton. Probably, if all the truth were
known, there has been no point blank
attempt to force the hands of the
supreme power since the effort that
ended in the discontinue of its authors
shortly before the close of the legisla-
tive session. 1t is to be hoped that
men having stakes in this country will
not be content with simply noting
what they believe to be true and what
false in the San Francisco discussions
of Hawaiian affairs, but unite heart and
hand in the effort to save the reputa-
ton and credit of this country abroad
by adopting means Of putting an end
for all time to every occasion of scandal
and disrepute upon this Kingdom. A
great deal was lost when the oppor-
tunity of the last election was practi-
cally ignored by the people having the
heaviest interests at stake, with one
notable exception and that one alive
and active on the wrong side,as the con-
Germ in question has found out to its
bitter cost. Still, all shouldnot be regard
ed as lost, however unpromising the out
look is for the moment. BY unanimity
and calm but persistent endeavor the
property-owners may be able yet, even
before the next election, to oppose an
influence that cannot be contemned
against an administration that is tend
ing to reaction, improvidence and
national ruin. There is Ministry in
Office now, the largest part of which is
all but untried, and that part, while
likely being popular with the native
electorate, may be and probably is
amenable to reason, Certainly the
three members of native extraction are
all esteemed in the community, either
for intelligent ability, fidelity to duty,
or strict integrity according to their
light. Before giving way to panic and
despair, or to lackodaisical submission
to anything that may happen, the
owners of large interests here should
make an attempt, that they have here.
tofore not adequately made, to amalga-
mate their influence and press it home
in behalf of better government.
Let the native members of the Cabinet
understand distinctly that there must
be change for the better, radical
change, from the policy recently and
still being pursued in public affairs.
Let all the Ministers know that they are
not going to be permitted to squander
the revenues, legislation or no legisla-
ton for their authority. The nations
solvency and its independence are at
stake. Desperate diseases require
desperate remedies, If the Govern
ment, taken as whole, will not be
wisely advised, it may be rudely
awakened from all the luxurious and In
fatuating dreams that now seem to con-
troll state polity and threaten to allure
the Kingdom to financial and political