The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-01-10
WHAT THE REFORM PARTY HAS DONE.

2. 1t has taken the subject of Leprosy
out of politics, strictly enforced the
segregation law without fear or
favor, sparing no expense for the
comfort OF the lepers; established
hospital for the scientific investiga-
ton of the disease and treatment OF
the patients, and pledges itself to
stamp out the disease.
The treatment of the leprosy question
by the old regime constitutes one of the
blacklist pages of Hawaiian history. The
law requiring strict segregation OF all
lepers is preremptory. Experience has
shown that in no other way can safety to
the community be secured. The lives of
the men, women and children of this
country depend upon the enforcement of
this law. In spite of these facts, with
ld-bloodedness that was nothing less
than fendish, the late administration
deliberately and with malice afore-
thought, treaded on the disease and
Hduc pOlltlCdl Capltdl VI IL.
Many native Hawaiians have no fear
of the disease, and oppose the segrega-
ton law. Taking advantage of this, for
the purpose of obtaining votes and sup
port at the elections, the segregation law
was allowed to become almost dead
letter.
A fouy uboco oococ hanop too Oofori
GUS, or who were politically hostile, were
sent to Molokai. Some semblance of
respect to foreign public opinion on the
subject had to be paid, and with great
flourish and parade station for the
treatment of the lepers in the earlier
stages was opened at Kakaako, within
ten minutes walk of the center of town.
This soon degenerated into physical
and moral pesthole of the worst kind.
Instead of being reserved for light cases
as originally announced, lepers in all
stages were kept there. Such lepers as
were removed from the community, in
stead of being sent to Molokai were re-
tanned here.
The rankest favoritism prevailed. No
one with any political influence thought
OF going to Molokai. His political ''pull'
was operated, and he was not sent. Per-
mits were freely issued to the inmates to
60 out and visit their friends by the
agent in charge, the President of the
Board, and even by the King. Shysters
made practice of charging commits
sion to obtain permits of release.
Meanwhile lepers publicly walked the
streets without molestation, the disease
steadily increased among the natives,
and the Board of Health turned out vol
umes of high-sounding literature on the
subject of the treatment of leprosy.
This was the situation when the Re-
form party came into power on the 1st of
July, 1887.
During the fifteen months from April
l, 1886, the beginning of the biennial
period, until July l, 1887, when the
Gibson regime came to an end, the Board
of Health records show that only twenty
eight lepers were sent to Molokai.
During the first nine months OF the
incumbency of the Reform party, from
July 1, 1887, to March 81, 1883, there
were sent to Molokai 293 lepers and
during the twenty-one months from
March 81, 1888, to July l, 1899, there
have been sent to Molokai 760, making a
total of 1858.
This enormous number; the expense
of removing and caring for which has
been cast upon the Reform party, is d.
rectly traceable to the policy of the late
administration of trafficking in human
life for political ends.
By the strict measures now adopted
the disease is thoroughly in hand. With
individual exceptions, the country is free
from lepers, and those at large are mostly
hidden away in caves and mountain
Businesses where they are practically
segregated.
New cases as they develope are i'm
Ineuldtely removed.
The Reform party, whilst strictly car
rying out the segregation law, has dis
played the greatest liberality in caring
for the lepers.
Since July, 1887, the Government has
spent over $4,000 in permanent i'm
provements at the Molokai Settlement,
in laying on water throughout the settle
ment, erecting additional hospital facili
ties, homes for the care of boys, girls
and unprotected females, and a large
number of new and commodious build
ings for occupation by the lepers. The
food supply has been improved in quail
ity, and the annual stipend paid by the
Government to each leper for miscella-
neous expenses has been increased from
Sc to $40 each.
In addition to this a station has been
established at Kalihikai, in retired
spot four miles from Honolulu, where
persons exhibiting preliminary symp-
toms OF the disease receive hospital
treatment free of charge