The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-01-19

Supply Company, AYERS that some
thing like this is the programme OF the
Government party Similar allegations
in irresponsible newspaper articles
might pass unchallenged, but when the
planters incorporation, through its rec
ognized organ, puts them forward
authOritatively the case Is different. |
We deny the truth of these allegations,
and protest against resort to systematic |
lying in politics even by the planters
Monthly organ.
Those who talk SO glibly of "the tax
payers and their wishes and purposes, |
do not embarrass the Treasury by the
amount of their contributions to the pub
lie purse An examination of the assess
ment and tax collectors books would
disclose a very remarkable state OF
things.
Dull rOgues affect the politicians part,
And learn to nod. and smile, and shrug with art;
Who nothing has to lose the bewails.
And he who nothing pays at taxes rails.
Would the ''tramps" and their financial
hackers inform the public what has be-
come of the $4,000 corruption fund sub
scribed by the Opposition party to carry
the election We have pretty straight
points as to the destination of a good
many thousands. For example, $3, 500
went to Hilo and has been used to cor
ruptly influence voters. Four thousand
dollars went to Wailuku and is being sim
ilarly used. 1t is also rumored that $500
month has been promised to caudi-
date not thousand miles from Hilo for
working the oracle" in his district, said
payment being intended to defray his
expenses when attending the Legiala-
ture. A more corrupt or disgFaceful
contract never was entered into.
One of the great offenses of Colonel
| Spreckels, as working men understand
it, is that he was the first man who fur
nished decent living rations to his planta-
ton hands. Salmon and poi diversified
by poi and salmon, with plenty of hard
work and very little pay, formed the di-
! etary scale and rule-of servitude upon
! Hawaiian plantations till his advent.
| Accustomed to more generous methods,
and understanding that it is folly to ex-
| pect good work upon low diet, he intro
duced liberal scale of living, and other
! plantations were forced to follow his eX
ample. This has been standing griev-
ance ever since. Higher wages followed
higher living and everything went
wrong, SO to speak.
But the condition of the labOFers was
improved immensely, and they can now
live in comfort working half the time
that it took to keep body and soul to-
gether under the old system. Should
the Opposition get into power again plan
tation laborers would soon comprehend
the meaning of the political change. 1t
would be deplOrable misfortune for the
natives, whose generous impulses and
carelessness of money would very soon
transform them as class into bond ser
wants of the planters, working out a
hopeless load of Indebtedness, from year
to year, through small advances periOdi-
cally made.
And still the ADVERTISER lives. This
is very consolatory, inasmuch as a direct
blow was aimed at it's existence yester-
day, when Messrs. Hackfeld & Co. with
drew the advertisement of the sailing
notice of John Elder & Co.'S steamships,
the Australia and Zealandia, because of
its outspoken comments on the deliber.
ate attempt which is being made to
drive the American flag out of the Ha-
waiian trade.
The ADVERTISER not only lives; it is
furnishing; gathering strength from day
o day by reason OF its independent
course, free from personalities or preju-
dice of any kind If in the course of its
patent duty it opposes any interest in
the Kingdom, private or corporate, it is
because it is incumbent upon it as
guardian of the public interest to do 50.
, In this particular case the duty was
) imperative. We recognize i'll Hackfeld
, & Co. honorable and high-minded mer-
chants, but that does not blind us TO the
} fact that alien shipowneEs are engaged
r in an enterprise which, If successful
will eventually ruin the planters interests
in these Islands. Knowing this we pre-
sented the facts in the case upon their
merits, without reference to individual
firms or dread of the consequences that
might accrue from it. Messrs. Hackfeld
& Co., as agents for the Australia and
Zealandia, had a perfect right to with
draw the advertisement in question; but
we invite our readers to consider well
the drift Of this interference with the
national Independent press by leading
Opposition firm. 1t is patent to the
meanest understanding, and need not be
enlarged upon in this place.
, If anything were wanting to prove the
timeousness and propriety of our warn
ing note regarding the danger to the
Treaty it will be found in this act
trifiing i'll itself, but very significant. Al
} we said yesterday, we repeat to-day
'cHawaiians and Americans, who are in
terested, call the watch"