The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-07-28
GET Ar THE TRUTH.

GEC Al IhE TRUTH
II the Galicians. now in prison for
the violation OF their contracts with
the Oahu Sugar Company, have been
maltreated by the agents of the COM
pany, they should be released from
their contracts, under Section 1888 Of
the Masters and Servants Act. This
act provides for. their release for any
cruelty. misusagep0r violation of any
terms OF the contract. and the Dis
trict Magistrate ne authorized TO pass
judgment ia the case.
are informed that they have made no
complaint. before amy Magistrate, of
misasage and cruelty.
As the cases Of these men are now
made prominent. and may affect the
opinions of men in Congress regarding
the relations of the plantations with
their laborers, the government. should
take up the matter promptly and in
vestigate 1t. %,
II it appears. that there are no
grounds for the charges, those who
have made them should be prosecuted
promptly. as they may be doing an
irreparable injury to the planting in
terest. Every holder of sugar stock
has a monied interest in insisting that
justice should be done.
Whether there is or is not an intent
to backmail in proclaiming these
| charges is matter of no consequence.
The point in issue is simply this. have
these men been subject to treatment
that should cancel their contracts
Even the Statements Of irresponsible
parties may do, at the present time,
serious injury. When the crowd
either in Congress, or elsewhere takes
an idea, however unreasonable, no
human agency can quickly remove 1t.
One of the historians relates this story:
When Walpole was Prime Minister
of Great Britain. the relations be-
tween Great Britain and Spain were
strained on the question Of the right OF
search upon the ocean. Captain Jen-
kins who was master of an English
schooner, arriving home. reported that
while near the coast of Cuba he was
| h,.a nj ,ica hnR I ha
Spaniards cut off one of his ears, and
then let him go with his ship. Jen-
kins had carried this ear around for
some years wrapped up in cotton to
exhibit to audiences. The House OF
Commons took up the matter, and
Captain jenkins testified before its
committee that, when his ear was Gu,
off, he commended his soul to God
and his cause to his country. The
phrase took like wildfre. and all En-
| gland was in blaze. The Spaniards
vigorously denied any knowledge of OF
connection with Jenkins or his ear
Walpole, the Prime Minister, did his
best to allay the excitement, to have
the matter further investigated ant
to settle the trouble by diplomacy
Burke called the story, The Fable
of Jenkins Ear" Parliament, how
ever, by an overwhelming vote
promptly declared war against Spain
The war ragged for three years. /,
cost thousands Of lives, destroyed mil
lions Of dollars of property, and added
millions to the national debts upon
which the people of England have been
paying interest ever since. Peace was
finally concluded by the combined eff
forts of all the nations of Europe
Then Walpole, the Prime Minister, in
order 10 justify his opposition to the
war, made an exhaustive investiga'
ton to discover who had cut off Jen-
k!ns ear, but where, when and how /,
was lost, is still unsettled"
| There Is a moral in the story.
1