The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-01-16
Ghe IHilg 9 Illstin,
PLEDGED a. neifher Sect 10, ra,g
But Established for tbs BENEFIT Of Az.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16 1876.
TEMPER JUSTICE WITH MERCY


zens' Guard said that the BULLETIN
had made a mistake in advocating
moderation in the disposal Of pris-
oners. He had heard the sentiments
condemned by several OF those who
had borne arms in defense of the
Government. This paper would
likely receive a letter on the subject
this morning. What would have
happened had the rebels got into
town? Well, when morning came it
brought, not letter OF censure, but
one OF strong approval, which is
printed elsewhere. 1t is written by
lady whose husband and other
relatives have been strong supporters
of the Government from the begin
ming of its provisional existence un-
til now. The BULLETIN is not at
tempting to palliate the crimes with
which the men crowding the prisons
are charged. Until the evidence
comes out it is indeed impossible to
say how many Of them may have
contemplated a war OF revenge and
outrage. There are no doubt some
of them whose malice would know
no bounds il the movement had tenn
porarily succeeded. But there was
really little or no chance OF its sue
ceeding to any very serious extent.
The insurrectionary party were sim
ply mad in thinking that they could
overthrow the Government by means
Of an undisciplined and undrill-
ed force with sprinkling Of
native soldiers who had never
been in action and few foreign
veterans and men OF some brains
who were to jump in when the main
body of rioters had cleared the way.
The Government had the great ad.
vantage OF two years OF preparation,
with an ever-present expectation
that there would be a revolt OF
some kind. 1t had the tremendous
advantage OF possession OF the coun-
try's treasury; of means of defense
which had been accommodating for
many years under the monarchy,
together with formidable munitions
Of war acquired by itself; OF the
largest trained military force the
country has ever seen, besides an or
ganized body OF citizens skilled in
the use OF arms, waiting ever alert
these two years for call to the de-
Tense of their homes. The move
ment designed to prevail against
such strength was simply burlesque
of war, and both leaders aud follow
ers are as much in the category OF
fools as in that OF rebels against the
constituted authorities. There is
another consideration that should
have weight in the decision demand
ed at this critical hour. That is,
that for two years undisciplined
tongues and pens both have been
denouncing the opponents OF the
revolution OF 1893 as towards who
dared not risk their skins for
their sentiments. They were again
and again challenged to come out
and fight, and no pains were spared
to irritate them up to belligerent
heat. A war to finish was eagerly
courted and it came in way and at
a time almost unexpected, but while
it found the GOVERNMENTS sensi-
BILE heads OF the opposition had
anticipated and given warning of
whenever war was limited at--fully
prepared and able to protect itself,
it demonstrated that the natives
still had spirit enough to make at
least a show Of fighting for what
they doubtless believed to be- their
rights born OF the soil. There was
in fact a semblance Of war. The
gage of battle was thrown down by
the party Of Hawaii for the Hawai-
ians," and it was taken up by the
Government with swift effective
ness, and it was settled forever
that the native Hawaiians must
submit to be merely partners in
ruling with the foreigners who have
given their country a name and a
station among the nations OF the
earth, There having been a war
then, the prisoners taken in it must
be dealt with according to the mo,
dern example Of the most enlighten.
ed nations. Otherwise the good
name of the young Republic Of Ha'
wall will be stained to degree that
will damage it seriously with those
nations that have hitherto been its
good friends. AS to those who con,
trived the war but did not go into
the fight, it may be right to visit
upon them the extreme penalty OF
the law. Yet the old adage may
| ,ynll la ranarIal uyhinh oaus Il Of "a