The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-06-29
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MEDDLE AND MUDDLE.


policy of "Meddle and Muddle," has
precipitated most lamentable ira
gedy in the secluded and almost in
accessible valley of Kalalau, on the
Island of Kauai. AS is we'll known,
that valley has, for many years past,
been the resort and refuge of con-
siderable number of lepers, most of
those unfortunates from the Island
Of Kauai having sought that asylum,
except when intercepted by the Off
GERS of the Board of Health, and
brought to Honolulu for shipment"
to Molokai. For many years the
government of the day have silently
and tactly acquiesced in the use of
Kalalau as such asylum, where the
victims of that dreaded scourge
might end their days in peace, and
at their own and at their friends
expense, without charge to the tax
payers, or danger of contagion to
the community. In many respects
Kalalau is an ideal home for those
unfortunates, being much more elig-
ible than the Molokai corral, for the
purposes mentioned. Kalalau is a
wonderfully fertile and productive
valley, with a narrow opening upon
the ocean at the north coast of the
Island, and extending inland toward
the heart of Mount Waialeale, like
an enormous fssure in the face of
Nature. 1t is quite inaccessible by
sea during about eight months of
the year, because of the tremendous
surf which constantly boils at its
entrance, while it is walled in from
the rest of the Island by practically
unclimbable cliffs, rising sharp from
the bed of the valley to a height Of
thousands of feet. Thus situated
with ample food supplies in the pro-
ductive taro lands, and with almost
complete immunity from outside in
trusion over the cliffs, the residents
of Kalalau, leprous and non-leprous
have for years held their mild and
unoffending career, as happy and
contented as the nature of things
would permit.
But the maggot Of unrest seems
to have invaded the brain cavity (if
not the brain) of the provisional
President of the Board of Health,
as we'll, perhaps, as of others of the
Board, and it was determined to
goad and prod the unfortunates of
Kalalau, and to remove them to
Molokai, where they could be made
a charge upon the public purse.
Accordingly a posse of police, led by
Louis H. Stolz, Deputy-Sherif OF
Waimea, Kauai, was sent to make
arrests, as described in our local
columns. The lepers had often be-
fore intimated their purpose tc
fight for their homes, in case o.
hostile invasion, and on the occasion
of Stolz's landing they gave fata
verify to their threats. The result
was the lamentable shooting tt
death of Deputy-Sherif Stolz, {
brave and efficient officer, and the
disarming and expulsion Of native
officers by whom he was accom-
panied. The BULLETIN laments the
death, the needless death, of so gooc
and brave an officer, whose only
fault was the discharge of his duty
under instructions from his superi
ors. But we cannot avoid feeling
of regret that the victims of thu
lepers' "home defense" projec
should have been one SO innocent O.
all connection with the cause of th'
affray. If it be the pleasure Of thu
Fates that more victims shall be de
manded, we respectfully nominate
some of the official and officiou
gentlemen whose meddling disposi
tion in the premises is chargeabl
with the tragic sequel.
1t is impossible for men and VIC
men possessing the feelings O
human beings, to withhold thei
sympathy from the unfortunat
lepers, hunted and harried like brut
game, in their mountain walled Sc
clusion. Being driven to desper;
tion by the illogical and unnecessar
attempt to tear them from the
homes where their presence hurt
no one, and menaces no rights {
others, it were strange indeed
they should submit without a col
test. We trust this most ill-advise
attempt at their removal will be a
lowed to proceed no further, but,
it shall be further prosecuted, i
all means let the gallant PresideI
of the Board of Health assume pc
sonal command OF the expedition
reduce the fortress. At the san
time the murderer of the gallal
officer must be brought to justice
any cost