The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-05-19
THE LOTTERY PETITIONS.
A Discussion of Mr.. Nordhof's Con.
struction Of Them.

EDITOR STAR: - In Mr.. Charles
letter to the New York
Herald, amid the or wd Of what he
would gently term misleading" state
ments, occurs a labored one about the
petition to the last legislature in sup
port Of the lottery bill
The "m sleadlng" element in Mr..
N)rdhOf's acc )unt is this He repre-.
scented those petitions as having been
signed immediately before the final
passage Of the bill, as expressing the
matured wish of the signers, and as
being the impeIlng cause Of the Queens
supporting and signing the bill. The
real facts are well known to the people
of Honolulu, and might have been
earned by Mr. Nordnof had he
chosen authentic sources of informa-
ton.
They are these: Those petitions
were signed prior to the first introduce
ton Of the Lott-ry Bill, which was
August 5oth-four and half months
before its final passage. The sigma
lures were procured by rapid secret
canvassjng, before publicity had been
given to the movement, and the Sc
called "missionary" element, whose
special function is to be alert on moral
issues, could call attention to the evils
of the measure As soon as publicity
was given by the introduction of the
bill, an intensely active opposition at
once sprung up, which resulted in what
was supposed to be the final Withdrawal
of the bill, after the first reading. l
beg leave here to introduce the account
of the situation which ! made in my
October issue of The Friend,
THE LOTTERY BILL.
The discussion of this evil proposition in
the Legislature was postponed by the Cabinet
complications 1t will probably come up at
an early date. Meanwhile the delay has
given opportunity for vigorousand very united
expression Of public opinion against the mi
guilty. None flour English da'lypapers have sup
ported it, and we believe none OF the Hawaiian.
a great deal Of forcible writing has denounced
the Lottery in the papers. The communica
tons in its favor have been few. The anglican
Church Chronicle and tn. Diocesan, which
represents the Anglican sentiment have con
tanned strong and intelligent articles against
| it. Pungcntly worded leaflets denouncing and
exposing its niquity have been circulated
among Hawaiians.
Memorials and petitions against the Lottery
have poured in from all parts of the Islands
The Ladies memorial to the Queen is else
where reported. The Chamber Of Commerc,
has protested against it. A large petition
from the great body Of our business men ha.
gone to the Legislature against it,
|
We are still not without some apprehension
as to the action of the Legislature. Although
the organization proposing the Lottery has
been denounced as a sham and flake, y thert
| is good reason to believe that they have
| large sum of money in hand and are diligently
putting it where it will do the most good.
| Unpleasant reports have been in circulation
about the attitude Of the Palace and of tn,
Cabinet towards the Lottery. We trust tn,
event will prove them untrue. We beiev
that while the Queen may possibly at the out
set have been misled by interested parties, sh
will have become enlightened on the subject
and will act worthily.
The favorable hope expressed abou
the Queens conduct was misplaced
As has since transpired, she was a part,
to the original conspiracy, months be
fore the bill was brought in. Sh,
foolishly regarded the subsidies to b.
paid by the lottery as a source o
revenue which would assist her govern
ment to become independent Of legiti
mate financial credit. The bill wa
suddenly revived al nearly the last da,
of the session, and rushed through anC
signed in the face of vehement ant
unanimous protest of the Chamber O
| Commerce, the reliable cabinet votet
out, and the coup d'etat attempted, al
component parts of one plan to corrup
and destroy honest constitutional gov
eminent. The woman was deliberatel
and consistently criminal, and no eX
teruation of her conduct is admissible
| refrain from suitably Character,zin
the defense of her which Mr.. Nordho
is hired by the Herald to come her
and make in concert with the men VIII
co-operated in her disgraceful conduct
S. T.. BISHOP.