The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-08-07
Duty Defined.

Duty Defined.
therefore charge you. gentlemen OF
tne gran jury, that II is your dutS
II refrain from permitting accused per
SINS or Their attorneys or witnesses 20
appear before you. and you are not 10
hermit suc'. persons or their attorneys
n, vitnes IS or any other person TO
SPEAK to you upon the street or else
where in regard TO such matters
NAV seem hard, and indeed IT is most
unfortunate. that an innocent person
should be subjected to indictment Tor
crime. consequent arrest, arraignment
and trial. but. such considerations,
where the evidence warrants an lndict-
ment in the first instance, are not TOT
Won gentlemen. AS human beings are
not perfect. their institutions must
necessarily be imperfect and II any ~
nocent person suffers an indictment ~
your hands you have the satisfaction
of knowing that such person VIII ne
given the opportunity Of fair and I'M
Martial trial by a court and jury, OF
meeting the witnesses against him race
TO face. and of cross-examining them.
of summoning without cost to himself
witnesses TO testify for him, and II
testifying in his own behalf And more.
you have the satisfaction of knowing
that your indictment after all is a
mere accusation which does not even
create a presumption OF guilt. for. de-
spite your indictment. the defendant
Is presumed to be innocent OF the act,
innocent of the intent, innocent of The
crime charged in all of its parts.
| desire to say 20 you. gentlemen of
the grand jury. that if this community
is ever afflicted with the conditions
described in the phrase we so often
hear now days. "A wide open town,
the grand iuries of this Island will be
largely IL not wholly to blame.
Must Act Fearles sly.
II the grand jurors fearlessly meet
the duties and responsibilities when
the law has cast upon them from
time to time no danger need be ap-
pretended from any element IN the
community which is disposed to be
lawless or disorderiy.
In this connection | desire 10 cali
your attention 10 an extract from an
address delivered some seven years
aro by President Cleveland before the
PRESBYTERIAN Board of Foreign Mis-
siuns in New York City. He said:
mo one charged with the duties and
responsibilities which necessarily
weigh upon your chief executive can
fail 10 appreciate the Importance OF
the religious teachings and Christian
endeayor in the newly settled portions
of our vast domain. Ii is there where
the hot and stubborn warfare between
the forces Of good and evil is constant
" invited In these days the vanguard
Of occupation in a new settlement IS
never without its vicious and criminal
element. Gambling houses and dram
shops are frequently among the first
establishments In 2 new community.
In must also be confessed that removal
from old homes and associations 70 |
new and more primitive ones has & |
tendency among honest and respect |
able settlers TO smother scruples and |
breed evil indifference to Christians |
ing and elevating agencies. These !
II unchecked and uncor- |
rected. fix upon new community by |
their growth and expansion charac-
ter and disposition which, while dan
serous TO peace and order in the earl
Ger stages of settlement. develop into
badly regulated municipalities, cor
rupt and unsafe territories and unde-
sirahle States"
No. an Old Community.
We should not rest content in the
thought that We are an old and set
lied community. and that our social
ana moral status is secure beyond at
tack. Rather let US bear in mind that.
while the country is old in point OF set
Element. syet. is is but an infant as an
American Territory. and that very
fact viii attract hither a horde OF adj
yenturuus spirits. who. having neither
the hostage OF property. or reputation.
or family ties. may seek 10 fasten upon
this community through persistent
clamor and demand. II not through |
open violation of the law, such condi
lions as may seriously affect our moral |
status and our integrity as 4 commu |
nifty. l charge you, gentlemen OF he |
fury. that in the administration II |
criminal. as well as civil law. there |
should be absolutely no determination. |
and as long as am on this bench in
tend 10 see that there shall be abso- /
lutely no discrimination. Before he |
law all men are on an equal footing |
without reference 10 race, creed, col /