The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-01

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is a copy of a letter from the
President of the Board of Educa-
ton and speaks for itself:
HONOLULU, H. l., Oct. s, 1896.
Mr.. ]. d. Paris, School Agent:
| Dear Sir:-It has come to the knowl-
edge of this Department that you have
refused to either fill out your census re-
| turns or answer the questions of the
enumerator, thus defying the authority
of the Department, and violating a stat
ute that has been in force for some 80
years.
This which would be highly objec-
tionable in any citizen, is especially so
in one who is the official representa-
tive of the Department under which
| the census is taken. Your condition is
not only in contempt of this Depart
ment and in violation of this law, but
is calculated to have very bad effect
on the people of your district, especial
ly the native Hawaiians.
Under these circumstances, it is not
considered proper that you should con-
tinue to represent the Department of
Public Instruction in the District of
Kona, your position as School Agent
will, therefore, terminate at the end of
the present month.
HENRY E. COOPER,
Minister Public Instruction.
The judges of the Supreme
Court have now given unani-
nous decision indicating the
school agent and showing that
he neither "defied or violated the
Census law" but only asked his
legal rights and that the Depart
ment of Education endorsed to
force information contrary to
law.
The question can now justly
be asked for what cause was the
school agent of North and South
KOna dismissed from office? And
if the above action of the Presi-
dent of the Department of Edu-
cation which was done without
the order of the board, Though
afterwards approved by them re-
presents the broad principals of
republicanism" and equal rights,
or that of the most absolute and
despOtic antOcrat.
/ will now give brief review
of how the census was carried on
in South Kona While the school
agent is removed from Office, be-
cause he did not consider the law
required him to give in his cattle,
horses and swine, as part of his
household, having filled in all his
family and those residing with
him age. nationality and sex and
at the same time accepts large
numbers of papers from others
with the same blanks untitled
shows how wOuld-be jealous they
were to carry out the law Gas they
construed it, and yet how unjust
and inconsistent.
All school agents, teachers and
others in the employ of the board
are required to take oath to the
Republic or be discharged from
office, and yet all the sub-enumer-
atOrs in South KOna who receive
their commissions direct from the
department were men who refuse
to take oath and said openly if
required to do so, they would not
act. Still held their commits
sions. and received the Govern
ment pay. White men who stood
by the GOvernmnt from the start
were given the cold shoulders.
Drunken judges, sheriffs, and
policemen can hold their posi-
tons undisturbed. Stabbing af-
frays. illicet sales of liquor at
public hotels, and on inter-island
steam boats 90 on. but no Mar
shall is ever sent to see that the
law is enforced. But if man
with Il clean record dare express
his honest opinion rs to his rights
under the law, without even a
hearing. or a notice of charge
made against him which would
be granted the worst of Grimm
ais. is dismissed from office and
the Marshal sent TO prosecute
him for fear of the effects on the
native Hawaiians.
The office of school agent was
never sought by me and if to hold
offices under the department re-
duires a man to abandon his legal
rights and become a dumb slave
to the department, [ gladly re-
tire.
Leaving to the public to decide
the Justice of the above action
and thanking you for your space.
/ remain. yours truly,
J. d. PARIS.
Kaawaloa. :. Kona, Feb. 10,
1897.