The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-08-24
THE LEGISLATURE.

The Legislative Assembly may be said
in all seriousness to have wasted yester-
day. This is precisely what it amounted
to aud tho --aa.eN Of it was the intro
duction by Mr.. Kalua of a lengthy pa
tisan document, styled majority report
of the Lanai Committee. 1t was read in
Hawaiian only, motion to dispense
with its reading in English having been
carried. But printed copies of the
document in both languages were cir
culated, and formed the topic for an
animated debate, until the rising of the
House at four o'clock on the motion of
Hon. Mr.. Cleghorn, who considerably
came to the relief of members, and az
forded them an opportunity of reading
and digesting the report and evidence at
their leisure. The debate on indefinite
postponement will come up as unfinished
business to-day, when no further time
than may be necessary to the regular
disposal of question should be. wasted
upon it.
When the original resolution was in
troduced by Mr.. Thurston the ADvER-
User contended that it should not have
been entertained by the Legislature. We
hold to the same opinion now, after
weeks of laborious and costly investiga-
ton, having also the inspired report of
three members of the committee before
US. We say advisedly that the proper
thing to do is to indefinitely postpone
the question and get rid Of it once for
all, first, because the conclusions of the
report are against the evidence; second,
because the report does not present any
cause for action by the House. Ii
Minister of the Crown betrays his high
trust and acts unworthily, the Con-
stitution specifies the mode of procedure
to be adopted. Let him be impeached.
But in this case no high crime or mis-
demeanor is alleged against His Excel
lency Mr.. Gibson, and the evidence alb
soIutely fails to connect him with the
grievances alleged in the resolution
which form the ground work for this
report. If the charges were true, which
does not appear from the sworn testi-
mony, the Civil Code provides aremedy,
and the judiciary of the Kingdom may
be trusted to enforce it even against a
Minister OF the Crown.
We are reluctantly forced to conclude,
therefore, that this affair originated in
personal hostility to Mr.. Gibson, on the
part of Mr. Thurston and his political
allies, and that it is the only attempt
that can be made 10 give effect to the
rumored threat before the late election
that they would send Gibson on the
reel" This threat, if made land the I
truth OF the rumor has not been denied |.
that we have heard), was not the ut /
terance of reason or common sense, /
neither is the report of Mr.. Thurston's /
Lanai committee, as most certainly his .
speech in vindication OF it was not. I.
Our space being too much occupied with I
more important matter to report this de
bate with any degree OF fullness, we /
refrain from critical analysis OF Mr.. |
Thurston's speech. Let us say, how /
ever. that it was delivered in the worst .
possible spirit; that it lacked logical
precision and force; that it was vituper
ative, prejudiced and aggressively per
sonal. and that in short it was Mr..
Thurston's most characteristic effort
during the session, and has done more
to hurt him in public estimation perhaps
than any other act or utterance OF his
since his entrance into public life.
We say this with regret, because al
though opposed to Mr.. Thurston in
politics we do not desire TO see him dig
ling his own political grave. He is
young man with a fair career before him,
mt he should remember that success in
,ublic affairs can only be attained by
ealing fairly by all men. His personal !