The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-17


your issues Of last month there appeared
letter signed /" Medicus," in which he
gracefully charges me with falsehood be-
cause I stated that Ieprosy does not pre-
vail amongst the general population OF
the Hawaiian Islands, and that SO far as
[ knew no European settlers had been
attacked by the disease which the pre-
ponderance Of medical testimony declares
not to be infectious or contagious. [ pre-
sumo " Medicus," considers himself a
friend of Hawaii, and the lie direct which
he gives with such extreme good taste
reminds me Of an anecdOte OF Theodore
Hook, who one day meeting friend en-
dowed with more zeal than common
sense, was thus addressed: Sir" said
he, e have just had occasion to defend
you-a despicabIe said in my presence
that you were not fit to black his boots. "
" What did you reply" said Hook.
Sir" he answered, 81 most unheslta-
tingly declared that you were" This IS
the kind Of defence which 4" Medicus
sets up against a mischievous statement.
1t is clear-as l presently shall show
that certain Mr.. Wall, member Of the
Legislative Assembly Of New South
Wales, who, ''GIedicus," says, is better
posted on Hawaiian affairs than | am,
made a most exaggerated and alarming
statement in relation to the extent and
increase of Ieprosy amongst the general
population in the Hawaiian Islands, and
called for an enquiry (Which has since
been refused by the Government with
the evident intention of restraining free
commercial intercourse between the two
countries l not only deemed it my
duty, but was urged from a very high
quarter, to write Il re-assuTing letter to
the press on the subject. | stated that
Ieprosy did not prevail amongst the gen
eraI population to the knowledge OF the
authorities because when cases became
known the unfOTtunates were sent to the
leper settlement where they were well
CARED for by the Government, and that,
so lar as l knew, this terrible disease did
not attack the white settlers in the coun-
try. l further pointed out that notwith
standing the constant communication
between the Islands and San Francisco,
the United States authorities imposed
no restrictions on Hawaiian vessels or
ships arriving from Hawaiian ports,
which demonstrated that the disease was
not believed by practical people to be
either infectious or contagious.
For this, "Medicus" makes a vulgar
attack upon me. He says have written
a misleading letter because [ like to see
my name in print. He kindly advises
the Hawaiian Government ." to have
nothing to do with man who cannot
speak the truth" He charges me with
having had to take back a nis-statement
which Imade during the late revolution of
which am quite unconscious and chal-
lenge him to the proof and he winds up
his letter in the tail of which is the sting
CATER the manner Of certain creatures
described by naturalists) in the follow
ing words: My reason for asking you
to insert this is to call the attention of
this Government to the fact that they
have representative who misrepresents
matters and does more harm than good.
Let us be rid of this wandering Jew Of
the Gynberger legation
This precious literary production ar
rived in Sydney on the 14th instant, and
it evidently inspired Mr. Wall with fresh
courage, for on the following day he re-
newed his attack as you will gather from
the annexed extract from the Sydney
Morning Herald, . of the 10th inst, which
describes what took place in the Legis-
lative Assembly on the occasion in ques-
ton:
MOTION FOR JOURNMENT-LEPROsY AT
HONOLULU.
Mr.. Wall moved the adjournment of the
House for the purpose of calling attention
to the existence of leprosy at Honolulu
He read from Honolulu newspapers re-
port which had been applied for upon the
subject, and a letter replying to one writ
ten in the Sydney Morning Herald in
October last by Mr. A. Hoffnung, Charge
d Affaires for Hawaii, from which he Mr.
stated some months ago, leprosy was
very dangerous and contagious disease
and considering the number of steamers
calling at Honolulu and arriving at Syd-
ney, he thought it very desirable that this
Government should at once institute in
quiries as to the nature of the disease and
the probability of its being introduced
here.
The motion was negatived
1t is evident that fortified by your cor
respondents letter, Mr. Wall now openly
declared his object and demanded strin-
gent action against the introduction of
leprosy into this Colony from the Hawa-
ian Islands, but the Government relying
upon the better INFORMATION which it
had in the meantime obtained. refused |