The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-04-03
SOME REMARKS ON ANTISHAMUS.

Ibis Or0aG OukuOWu, IL Is Ie1Ioou
ing to observe, is beginning to dress
his thoughts, if his eternal mono
logues contain such, in a new garb.
In his last utterances he pulls his
old rickety bones together and
ceases to wander aimlessly over the
universe of things. His former
gentle amble, most like to the in
offensive gait of missionary horse,
he drops. He is still the missionary
horse, but rendered worldly, as it
were, by a bucket full of oats. He is
now concise, pungent and somewhat
RACY.
Antishamus is, however, a horse
astray, and his modest title Stray
Notes." is no misnOmer The owner,
if he has one, would do we'll to catch
him and turn him out permanently
to grass. He cannot conceal age and
decay by cutting mild caper in edi-
torial columns.
The function of Antishamus we
may suppose, is intended to be that
of disinterested observer. If the
part is well taken it is worthy one.
There is, however, but one place
whence one can fruitfully and wisely
observe and comment on human
affairs. That is from Olympus where
the gods sit and watch, disinter-
estedly, impartially, with wide,
free survey, the contests and strug-
giles of mankind. Antishamus is
not, however, on this pinnacle and
his criticism wants, therefore, every
quality which could make it valu-
able. It wants the quality of real
disinterestedness.
If you, Antishamus, were really
on Olympus. we would listen to
yours, as to the philosophers voice,
the only true voice from heaven. If
you insist upon remaining upon
earth, we must assign you role.
You speak with a personal bias,
which your pungency underlines.
Your judgement of missionaries is
not that of history. It is not that of
sound criticism. It is not that of
Judge Deadly whom you willfully
misrepresent. It is simply that of a
clique which has damned the mis-
sionaries for sixty years, and which
you voice merely more elegantly
than the average loafer on the street
corners. The loafer agrees with you
entirely.
In this country, the question OF
the missionary in politics is a dead
issue, which nothing but spite cares
to revive. You think to make poll
tical capital out of the subject, ]
suppose, and in this you are like
anything but god on Olympus,
friend Antishamus. All is grist that
comes to your mill, if it can only be
bent to your purpose-let it be a
silly true story about Furnishing re.
volvers in peoples faces to induce
them to vote reform,-or a hint that
the festive fiIlibuster is the natural
ally of the wicked missionary, or an
intimation that the ministers are
tyrants and turn coats and spoils
men-what you will, you give cur
rency to it all. This looks more like
the maneuvering of an Office seeker
than the dispassionate utterance of
an Olympian critic.
It is not the missionary who has
been the curse to Hawaiian develop
ment but the INSCRIPTIONS foreigner
who has never scorned to play on
the weaknesses of the simple and
ignorant, who has stopped to SOW
the dragons teeth of jealousy,
hatred, prejudice and suspicion in
order that an army might spring up
to execute his purposes. This is a
character nothing new in Hawaiian
history. You are simply the recur-
renee of an old type, Antishamus.
Shame on you Antishamus, you
can write English intelli gently, you
seem to have wit, you can quote the
Pandects in English. You might
serve your country. Why will you
lend yourself to the business of cir
culating SANDER, giving currency to
unjust inuendoes inventing the
pseudo-criticism of which you your
self best know the hollowness. You
think you can ride better than the
gentlemen who now hold the reins.
Perhaps so, but get yourself into the
saddle by fair means.
ANTI-ANTIsHAMUs.