The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-04-02
" AN OBSERVER. y
TCommunicated.1

! SuducluS 10 pick up copy OF the
Bulletin a few days old, my eye was
caught by an article appearing over
the above pseudonym, and purport-
ing to deal with the subject of
"Oficial Dignity" Glancing over
the article in question. 1 was sur
prised to find the gist of it to be q
set of ideas, which 1 supposed had
been discarded and buried in every
English-speaking community, long
before any of the present generation
saw the light. The substance of
these ideas is that men holding pub
lie Office are above criticism, and that
the manner in which they may be
spoken of, is in no way affected by
their personal character, or their
official conduct.
This probably respectable, but GER
tainly very absurd person, tells US
that he is more than surprised at
the laxity of respect shown by some
people in this city, for those to whom
are entrusted powers aud ermlne of
government. And further on he
says every blatherskite thinks that
the most priceless privilege of his
citizenship, is the right to hurl in
vectives, neither choice nor refined,
against those to whom offices are
entrusted. To the ears of a foreigner
such conduct is not only disgusting,
but abominable."
Here we have very good iIlustra-
ton of the hopeless muddleheaded-
ness and inability to see facts direct
ly before his eyes, which is character
istic of the ultra conservative fossil.
TO the ears of foreigner such. con-
duct is not only disgusting but
abominable." One feels like asking
what is meant by such conduct being
mot only disgusting but abomin
able" to the ears of a foreigner, when
the foreigners themselves are the
very parties whose conduct is com
planned of.
IAN Observer" represents himself |
as stranger, q member of com
where the respect due to
Office is strictly enforced He can
not therefore possibly be familiar
with, or refer to the slangwhanging
of a portion of the native press
against the Government, and can
only have in mind the things spoken
and printed by foreigners. Truly the
mental process which with this kind
Of people passes for logic, is wonder
full and past comprehension.
Perhaps we may be little free
and easy in our way of treating and
speaking of our public officers, but
if We are, there are some very de-
,ided advantages connected with the
habit of independent thinking and
.ree speaking which seems so shock
ng to this poor man from over the
sea. At all events it is simply una
in small community where
We all, or at least all old residents,
NOW one another pretty thoroughly,
90 well in fact to afford much field
or that awesome and unquestioning
altitude Of mind and manners which
5 so earnestly commended to US. In
more populous countries, the prince,
he senator, or the judge is, to a vast
majority of the people, a more or less I
abstraction, known and I
egarded almost entirely in his Off
ial or titular relations.
Here it happens that the honor
BILE, the excellency, the judge, the
oyal highness, and even perhaps the {
ing or prince, are people that we c
ave known all our lives. We got |
heir measure long ago, and very I
mall measure it was, in some in S
tances. We know that they are v
eople Of like passions with our /
elves, and some OF them consider
bly, more so. We know, not by re- L
ort, or from the newspapers, but by I
ersonal acquaintance, that people t
18th high resounding titles are some
mes made of very common clay. '
t is impossible that we should go
own on our marrow bones, either b
terally OF fguratively, or speak with S
owncast eyes and bated breath of v
7 to people that have lived in the
anne small town with US all our c
YES, that we knew as boys and girls, i
18th whom we competed success g
llly for prizes in school, whom we |,
ave beaten at peg top and marbles, :
HON we have perhaps thrashed
oundly for their juvenile impertin-
nee, and cut out of the affections of :
neir best girls.
Vo 1ri1I obov +bo Iorre ,ro Ill