The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-08-23
Portuguese Politics.

Mr.. EDITOR: Your version in yes
terday's P. @. A. of one of
my editorials, does me injustice,
inasmuch as it is mistranslated.
You make it conclude 'the general
elections are approaching. etc., and
we will see what will become of
Reform"
The idea conveyed is very diff
ferent from that expressed in the
original; which reads 'the general
elections are at hand, ETC., and we |
shall watch with interest the action
of the Reform party"
The translation is so glazing and
serious as to lead me to suspect the
hand of an enemy!
The English papers of Honolulu
have done me the honor of publish
ing occasional translations from the
Luso, an honor which [ am sure it
appreciates. But I submit these
spasmodic ventilations are some
times calculated to misrepresent the
views and aims of the Luso, even
when correctly translated.
I venture to say that three-fourths
| of your readers are unfamiliar with
the true interests of the Portuguese
community, which it is our aim to
promote. Treated to a translation
such as your columns supplied yes
terday. without preface or comment,
they will draw conclusions perhaps
very different from those produced
in the minds of readers of the orig
inal. I write from my point of view
and try to suit the capacity of my
readers.
The Chinese are our natural antag-
onists here. The Oriental element
threatens US even more seriously
than it does other white communi.
ties, because we are less indepen-
dent, and this is the only political
move we have ever agitated, for [ am
only fighting them at every step.
This has nothing to do with the
Government nor with Reform, ex-
cept that certain members of the
Reform party have appeared to play
fast and loose with US on the sub
iect.
For the enlightment of your
readers we will add few lines on
the subject you presented from US.
The Portuguese here think very
little and care still less about poll
tics.
The best interests of the country
are their interests, and they know it.
The only political movement in
which they feel and know that they
are directly interested, is Asiatic re-
striction.
They will al ways support an hon
est administration, Notwithstanding
much said to the contrary.
There was considerable disappoint-
ment at the defeat of the proposed
session; but the feeling has passed
off to great extent, owing mainly
to the relief afforded by the present
administration with regard to Chin
csc. We shall have reason to be
thankful if the present policy lasts.
Previous to the first elections
under the new Constitution, the Re-
form party, or rather some lnjudi-
cious agents of theirs, made promises
they could not keep, or were not
authorized to make. This resulted
in certain amount of ill-feeling for
some time after, but all that has long
since disappeared.
The Portuguese have every reason
to support the party now in power.
The reform Party" is to them but
a name, but they at least see it fruits
in the present administration, which
has done more for them, on the
whole, than perhaps any since their
emigration commenced.
OF the present Cabinet, the only two
members who were present as min
| listers at the debate on the Constitu-
J tional amendment, are Messrs.
Thurston and Ashford and both these
gentlemen supported the amend
ment. Mr.. Thurston especially dis
tinguished himself for the stand he
took on this occasion, and his words
are memorable. He has since done
all he could to diminish the evil he
could not uproot,- and he has sue
ceeded.
For the benefit of those who won
: der how the Portuguese will act at
the next election, I may say
they will vote for those (whites) who
can best satisfy them on the Asiatic
question. There need be no mystery
about this. They have no other
political issue at stake.
Thanking you Mr.. Editor, for the
space you so kindly allow me,
am, yours truly,
EDITOR O LUSO HAwAJIANo