The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-07-22
YET MORE FOLLY.

ical folly is the call upon the Legis-
lative Assembly for an appropria-
tion of $50, 900 for foreign missions.
These missions, be it understood,
are radically different from what
church-going people understand as
foreign missions. These latter are
usually accepted as bona fide expe-
ditions sent out by enlightened COM
munities for the illumination of the
barbarous inhabitants of less fav-
ored regions. And apart from any
expression of opinion on the merits
of religious foreign missions in them
selves, there is this much at least
to say in their favor, that whether
their object be to gather focks into
the Protestant, the Roman Catholic
or the Mormon fold, they are organ
lied and prosecuted with definite
object in view. So much does not
seem possible to be alleged Of the
Hawaiian political foreign missions.
The purposes they serve in the
economy of international civilization
are about as indefinite as are
the investi cations of the Board of
Genealogy, and are practically
about as barren of results. Granted
that, as was announced yesterday,
with much gusto, by the ex-Minister
of Foreign Affairs, a warship was
sent here by the Scar of all the Rus
sias" to compliment this kingdom
by investing His Majesty with fine
piece of jewelry worth SIS, 900, it
does not follow that the Hawaiian
Islands are greatly advantaged
thereby. The mission cost the
treasury in the vicinity of $40, 900,
SO that the net value of the compli-
ment is represented by clear loss
of $4,000. Nor does it follow that
the present Assembly is called upon
to scatter 100000 of the public
funds over the face of the earth in
the form of diplomatic salaries.
And there are no indications that
any power is, at the present time,
angling for the distinction of being
officially recognised by the Hawa-
iian Minister of Foreign Affairs, or
that any further high compliments
are pending this vote of 100000.
If anything is calculated to degrade
this kingdom in the eyes of foreign
powers, it is such vote as the one
now proposed, to invest 100000 in
accrediting Ministers to fish for
compliments and glory. Taking
the Minister'S example of the bene-
fit accruing from the foreign mis-
sion business, it appears that the
country has to pay more for it,
whistle than the article is worth.
Among other enterprises in pros
pect to be provided for out of thi
100000 is mission to Samoa.
Hawaiian political instructor is to b'
sent to Samoa to elucidate in thai
benighted region the principles o,
constitutional government. The sub
lime folly of this scheme is Sc trans
parent that it has only to be men
toned to provoke the ridicule ant
contempt of every nation on tn
earth. Fancy the representative O
the kingdom of the Hawaiian Island
introduced TO the British, Unite,
States and German Consuls a
Apia, Samoa, and informing them o
the objects of his embassy, wha
would follow in case those gentle
men should ask the Hawaiian Min
lister to relate the story of til
appointment of the present Ha
waiian Cabinet? The unfortunat
diplomat would want at least twent
hours to consider whether he ough
to vindicate his country by perpen
dicular lying Or invite the risk Q
being sent adrift in the neares
canoe. 1t can readily be imagine'
the cold sarcasm with which th
New York, London and Berlil
papers would proceed to debate tn
question whether to vote the Ha
waiian ambassador fool or tn
Hawaiian Minister of Foreign Al
fairs q mountebank.