The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-23
THE TEAPOT CRACKS.


is a feature of storms in tea-pots which
has happened here on several occa-
siOns. But Madame Tune the wife Of
Old Mortality, the gentleman with the
hour glass, comes along and sweeps up
the mess, and after a space it would be
difficult for any one, not well acquain
ted with the floor to find the spot where
the upset took place.
There is no doubt that a very strong
feeling exists between two sections of
the community at the present time 1t
is unfortunate that it should exist, and
upon those who have forced the issue
will doubtless come the recoi. The
boomerang is apt to be a very unfor-
tunate weapon in the hands of an I'M
skillful man.
1t may be we'll at this moment to
pause and consider how the question
at issue came about. Charges of brib-
cry in the Legislature have been made
freely about the streets. Attention had
been called to them on the floor of the
House by Senator Russell and had been
freely commented on both orally and
in the, press. Representative Emme-
luth stated in a letter published in The
Star that he thought he had located
$4,000 of the brides. Whether Repre-
sentative Emmeluth really had done so
has not yet been officially stated. The
report of the grand jury may make the
matter clear when it is made.
Upon these charges of bribery the
executive, in the person of the Attor-
ney-General, apparently went to work,
and gathered certain information. A
grand jury was called by the First
Circuit Court to investigate these same
charges The Attorney General refus-
ed to give the evidence he had discov-
cred to the grand jury, contending that
the communications were privileged,
and that to give his evidence at the
present time might practically spoil his
case. This in a nutshell seems to be
the bone of contention. No one charges
the Attorney General or any one else
who has refused to give testimony
with giving brides. But there is a
clash of authority as to whether such
testimony which is going to be used by
one set of men, in one way, must be
given to another set of men who may
use it on similar lines on another.
Legal aspects of a case are totally
different from moral guilt. In a clash
of authority such as is now before us
neither side need be looked upon as
either immoral or criminal An honest
difference of opinion as to jurisdiction
may bring man within the pale of
the law, and he may be perfectly will
ing and ready to encounter it's pains
and its penalties without in the least
degree losing the respect of his fellow
citizens. Indeed their respect for him
may be increased, because he is taking
upon himself the citizens duty of, in his
own person, suffering for his rights.
and thereby securing upon a firm basis
the rights of others.
If the clash had to come. it is lust
as well that it should come now. We
are new Territory, but an old COM
munity. 1t may be that it is a case of
putting new wine into old bottles. The
effect is somewhat disastrous both to
Inc wine and to the. bottles according
to the New Testament. But the bot
ties" were wine skins and could be
sewn up, and used again for a less
heady and fermenting fluid. while the
new wine must have been irretrievabIv
lost.
In new Territory, with considerable
change of method in executive and
judicial and Legislative procedure there
is bound to be friction. The history
of every growing state in the Union
shows that this must Inevitably be so
There is the initial time of unrest and
when that is over there comes the time
of rest and progress. But we are ne |
culiarly situated. We have not to
struggle for prosperity, because pros |
perity is at our doors Growing Terri .
tories have to devote much time TO the
mere struggle for existence. With that
prosperity right in our midst we have
yet to struggle and work out our own
political salvation, which in other Ter
ntories is worked out during the pro-
cess Of material evolution.
1t is unfortunate that the present
clash has taken politics into the Judi
ciary. But it is what we may eXpect
under the change Of system. For years
the judiciary Of the monarchy. what
ever the monarchial failings may have
been was as utterly exempt from poll
tics as any judiciary in an ideal Utopia. J
But If the question Of politics in the
Judiciary has to be argued out, and +
even suffered for, it may just as well
come first as last. It is a very interest I
ing question to us. It matters very
little to other people, who will hardly :
give our storm" a thought but it is I
a very vital matter both to our liberties ,
and our personal comfort which is now Z
being argued and worked out.