The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-24
THE SHIKINA OF JUSTICE.

What her spotless reputation is to
maid, a thing as holy as it is delicate,
upon which not breath even of i'll
tongued Islander should or could rest,
such is it's reputation to the judiciary
of nation, a state or a territory If
the maid chooses to put herself into
equivocal position, to consort with
either men or women whose regulations
are by no means spotless she must
not be surprised if her own suffers. If
the judiciary of any place acts in
manner which arouses suspicion as to
its motives, or employs officers whose
regulations are smirched in public es-
timation that judiciary must not be
surprised if its motives are challenged
by public opinion and it's reputation for
fairness suffers. 1t is an old proverb
which says you cannot touch pitch
and remain undefiled."
1t has been the pride of this commu-
nifty in the past that it's founts of JUS
tice We're pure and unbiased. A line
of honorable men commencing with
Chief Justice Lee established a reputa-
ton which was an enviable one and
which the people of Hawaii regarded
with just satisfaction. Though distant
from the centers of the world, the re-
putation of our courts spread and they
were held in high repute and comment
ed upon by jurists as far distant as
even London.
Rightly or wrongly there is today a
distrust of a certain portion of our
judiciary. 1t is regarded as biased. 1t
is regarded as using it's power for poll
teal purposes. Is is charged with en-
ploying as baliff a man whose reputa-
ton is none too good here, and who has
the credit, rightly or wrongly of a
much darker reputation at the coast,
and lastly through it's bailiffs, it is
claimed that it can pack a jury as it
pleases, and thus can hold a sort Of
legal reign of terror under which, no
man, who disagrees from that portion
of the judiciary, will be safe, because if
accused he cannot expect a fair and I'M
biased trial
The Star does not say that these
charges are true. What The Star does
that many people believe them If such
is the case, and there would be no need
of comment if such We're not really the
case, it is most deplorable condition
of affairs for any community to have
reached, and the most serious blame
rests upon those who have brought it
about. 1t may not be possible to mete
IN Ia,
founts for some time to come, but no
one does wrong of this kind that does
not eventually suffer FOR it, though
present success may seem to warrant
glorying in the muddy pool.
There is nothing of more vital i'm
portance to a community than the JUS
tice which is meted out. The courts are
the corner stone of the fabric of our lit
tie commonwealth, as they are of the
great commemorative of the world. The
executive may be corrupt, and though
it does harm, it can be repaired. The
legislative branch Of government may
be corrupt, and there still can be hone.
But let the courts be corrupt and a
blow is aimed at the very foundation
of the social system and it is shaken
from end to end.
The right to live freely, to express
ones opinions freely, to call for justice
when it is required, is undoubtedly the
most precious possession of the Ameri-
can citizen. If he lose any of these he
is losing what is his birthright, or what,
like the Centurion who guarded Paul of
Tarsus, he acquired "it a great price,
and great price need not necessarily
mean money.
The carrying of politics into the judi
ciary is one Of the most harmful of
acts to a community. 1t saps at once
the confidence of those who are opposed
to the political judge, and It raises a
contempt for law m those who are his
henchmen. The forms of law may be
observed, but the essence of justice may
be completely lost sight OF.