The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-27
THE SIMlAN LEGISLATURE.

True to it's characteristic to the last
the First Legislature of the Territory
of Hawaii is at the end of it's sessions
For more than four Tnenths-of working
time itsS members have sat thinking
of wonderful things they would do, "
and accomplishing just as little as pos
sible. Such opulence of opportunity,
such poverty of performance rarely has
gone hand in hand in the history of
American stateeraft.
Into the hands of these men was
committed the launching of a new life
for our Territory. But so intent has
been each upon the playing to his gall
lery that the ways were not prepared
and poor little ship, with motley crew,
it was wrenched and twisted in being
fioated. and now rolls dismally, over
loaded with appropriations and lily fit
ted with machinery of revenue.
Some one has said that education
consists in receiving mental discipline
The education of our voters has begun
certainly with degree of discipline
which should leave it's impress, for the
effects felt already can but spread as
time passes. The man who reviews the
legislative session and then can find
words to express commentator or
even excuse has fiexibility of con-
science that may be admired though
not commended.
The people" the common people"
in the words of one of the lachrymose
haole leaders of the Home Rulers, sent
the majority party to the Legislature,
placed suoh power in their hands as
seldom is given to one party. What
more to be expected than that the peo-
pie would be the care of the majority?
Square miles of atmosphere have been
chewed into denunciations of Glasses
against masses" yet what of the ac-
tion which followed words? Increases
of salaries for the men whose high po-
sition brought them into daily contact
with legislators, reductions for the
workers. the men with the hoes and
brooms and shovels- While the 81, 500
chief is earning his augmented salary,
the $40 workman was compelled to
face cut OF a discharge. The clerk
is not working for less money; in fact,
several more men have been placed at
desks in an already over-administered
Territory, but. the actively working
men, whose efforts are for the comfort
of the people, must be reduced. The
hardest part of it all to bear is that
tile ilitil WIZ art illus lOTCSO Out are
Hawaiians. The irony of 1t all Is that
the reductions were proposed by Home
Rulers, carried by their votes, and
not by those of Republicans. Consist
eney, thy name is not Emmeluth, Ka-
lauokalani, Prendergast, Beckley & Co.
There is no need to call to mind fool
ish and time-wasting debates upon in
consequential affairs. A jest was ever
more popular than an argument; there
was always time to listen to harangue
and always a ready haranguer. 1t is
past. No more will their playful
gambols entertain and their ridiculous
capers disgust. Back to their noun
tains they will go to play amid the
branches, dreaming of wonderful things
they'll do at an extra session, but never
mind, the story was good and the
cheer better, the luau frequent and
Colonel Mazuma not always unkind or
hard-hearted. The value of the I. o. U.
was never greater, the danger of press
are for repayment never less.
The Mountain of Aesop groaned and
the people gathered to see what would
be produced by the labor. The legisla-
tive mountain Of Hawaii spouted and
f9ared and the people wondered and
eted great things and 10! as did the
produce the mouse so the latter
las sigen UP the monkey.