The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-11-23
SIX-PAGE EDITION
MONDAY,
THE BEAGLE AND THE POLICE.

AhO OO~S'V OP'oOOO hoo gwen
rise to great deal of public criti-
cism on the conduct of officials
which we fear the interviews with
the Attorney-General and Marshal
published in this journal, Saturday,
will not tend to satisfy. These
officials have furnished that kind
of explanation which itself sally
needs to be explained. 1t seems
superfous to say that the public is
not satisfied with the fimsy ex-
PLANTATION of the disappearance of
the photographs of Bloom and
Douglas.
The general impression, whether
correct Or not, seems to be that the
Beagle yachtsmen were under the
especial protection of the police
authorities, who spread over their
defenseless heads the wings of q
sheltering providence. This would
be all very we'll if the Police De-
partment were in name as we'll as
fact bureau for the protection of
prosecuted criminals. We do not,
of course, censure anyone for re-
speeding the rights of accused per-
sons. On the contrary, we cheer
fully admit that the care taken to
prevent anyone from being arrested
without sufficient cause is above
all praise. In the middle ages &C
cused persons were treated with
great harshness, thrown into prison
on a very slight occasion, not al
lowed the benefit of counsel-not
even furnished with copy of the
indictment. What an agreeable
contrast to all this cruelty is pre-
sented by our considerate officials.
In how different spirit has Mar
shall Wilson acted, and those of his
subordinates who were in the
"secret."
In the same way we are con-
strained to admire the extraordi-
nary caution which could carry the
photographs of the Beaglers to
Waimea for "safe keeping" Only,
was this caution carried far enough?
Ought not the Marshal to have
shouldered the Office safe and car
ried it off also for "safe" keeping !?
How could he know that these ex-
pert yachtsmen-who seem to have
had the run of the ofice-would
not go through it in his absence {?
Perhaps they knew the combina-
ton.
While, however, we praise with
out stint the caution and the tender
consideration shown by our Off
Gals, it must still be remembered
that these virtues ought to share
the field with others, and are not
entitled to an absolute monopoly.
After all, the object of the Police
Department is the punishment of
the guilty. Not "the quality of
mercy" but justice, is what is de-
manded from it. In this case there
almost seems to have been an exer-
else OF the pardoning power by an
ticipation. Now, the pardoning
power belongs to the Queen and
cannot be delegated. The exercise
of the Royal prerogatives by o
Marshal of the Kingdom, no matter
what his other privileges may be,
is something unknown to our laws.
tits very unfortunate that this
Beagle scandal should have arisen
when complaints of corruption in
office are so general as they are
to-day. Not even during the Glib
son regime were accusations of
malfeasance in Office, in certain
bureaus of the government, more
widespread than now. That these
accusations are in part well found
ed is shown by the low price of
opium. which points Enthusiastically
to official collision.
1t is o public misfortune that
persons holding positions of high
responsibility and public trust,
should not possess the confidence
of the people. The character of
every official should be itself a