The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-22
THE JUDGE AND THE GENERAL.

The issue between General King and
Judge Wilcox has nothing whatever
TO do with the guilt or innocence Of the
officers who have, we believe, commit
ted a serious offense for which they
should have been punished. The issue
between General King and Judge Will
cox is Unls: The Judge while on the
bench charged General King, who was
not before him on any warrant and
could not be heard, with the serious
offense of falling to discharge his duty
as an officer of the United States Gov
eminent. AS a specification of that
general charge the Judge repeated a
current report about town that the
general instead Of pursuing the offend
ing officers, remained in bed, could not
be seen, but gave a dinner party the
evening of the same day. This charge
is entirely separate and distinct from
the charges against the two riOtous
officers and the treatment accorded
them. The Judge also, from the
bench, publicly charged the military
officials with failure of duty in the
matter of instituting court-martial
proceedings. This charge has nothing
10 do with the disorderly conduct of
the two officers. 1t is a charge against
a high commissioned officer of the
Government, which will subject him to
punishment if he is guilty of it.
AS to the martial, General
King declares that he has done that,
and only that, which the rules of the
American military service require in
cases of the kind in view. AS to being
in bed during the day and attending
a dinner party Generally King fatty
contradicts the statement, and distinct
ly charges that the Judge has made a
public statement from the bench that
is untrue.
Whether the statement made by the
Judge regarding General King, that
he has neglected his duties, is true or
not, is not discussed here. We simply
present the issue in the case and say
that true or not the charge was unne-
cessary to the decision Of the case at
bar and should not have been made in
the generals absence.
The sympathies of the Advertiser are
with Judge Wilcox in his efforts to
keep order in town. We stand by him
whenever, and wherever he exerts his
lawful authority. We will go further
L ha a
General King is guilty Of the offenses
charged, though he was accused with
out any hearing in the case.
The Advertiser strongly insisted on
the punishment of the two disorderly
officers 1t does so still. It's COM
ments on the charge of serious Of
tense committed by General King,
made from the bench is an entirely
distinct matter
We also state that there are persons
and journals here mat will be delight
ed to see a conflict between the civil
government and the military AS one
of them said last week, you wanted
annexation, now you will get enough
OF 1t. AS there viii De an lHpoI lduI
army post here, it behooves the local
authorities, while insisting upon the
full observance of local laws, to avoid
in all possible ways, unnecessary fric-
ton with its officers.
1t is to be regretted that General
King takes such serious view Of the
case. At the same time, an officer who
is conscious of having done his duty,
will naturally make a serious matter
out of what an irresponsible looker-on
may consider very trifiing affair.