The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-05-29


The Official and semi-of3eial game
better known as the Thurstonian con-
spsrzey 10 descredit the courts OF the
Territory and work out personal spite
against the First Circuit Judge goes on
apace. Every day that passes brings
additional acts on the part OF the
executive all directed towards the de-
feat OF justice and defiance OF the court
that cannot be controlled
First came the executive charge that
bribery was extant In the Legislature.
Then followed the refusal Of execu-
tive officers to give testimony before
the Grand Jury relative to bribery Of
members Of the Legislature.
Close on the heels Of the officials fol-
lowed Thurston with information"
he refused 20 divulge. For this refusal
Mr. Thurston was cited for contempt
OF court
Then the Chief Justice steps in and
allows Mr. Thurston the privilege of
his chambers and finally aecedes TO the
request TO issue a writ OF habeas cor
pus.
Mr. Thurston again occupied the
stage by proxy when the editor of his
paper was brought in by the Grand
Jury. Without seeking continuance
the attorneys for the editor-who have
been known as opponents of the First
Circuit Judge and political friends Of
ThurstOn-offer an insulting and SLAM
derous affidavit for which they were
justly sentenced for contempt of court.
AS a part of the by play the Attorney
General. the prosecuting officer Of the
Territory, takes hand by ordering his
stenographer to prepare a copy OF the
insulting affidavit for publication in
one of the official organs.
Then comes the Acting Governor Of
the Territory with pardon for the
attorneys held for contempt of court.
These pardons were delivered at prae-
tieally the same time as the mittimus
committing the attorneys to jail.
And the attacks upon the court
through the recognized and accepted
official organs of the officials and semi
officials are continued with increased
bitterness and disregard for the truth
Acting Governor Cooper asserts that
he had good and sufficient reasons for
pardoning the attorneys who took it
upon themselves to offer direct insult
to Territorial court He fails to state
these reasons and it is safe to say never
will state them except within the secret
conclave of the compact ring of which
he has shown himself the ever ready
tool.
The only reason the Acting Governor
could have for his action is his per-
sonal antagonism for the court and
the fulfllment OF the old official COM
pact policy that the king can do no
wrong" In the administration of this
| Territory the executive claims for it
self all the prerogatives of monarchical
station and casts its protecting robe
over the various satellites that bow
the cringing knee to its personal beck
and call
Immediately sentence was passed
iron the offending attorneys, it was
common remark among the people that
these attorneys would never suffer the
penalty imposed by the court.
Why?
| Merely because this ring has so long
warped justice and honesty, when SO
required TO serve their own ends, that
the people were confident that some
officer OF the Territory would debase
his office to serve the ends and aims
of the ring. This degradation OF high
official prerogatives the Acting Cover
nor has been found ready to perform.
II can reflect discredit upon none other
than the high Office ne holds. The
readiness of the response to defeat the
order Of the court simply goes to prove
the personal character of the Territor-
/ ial administration and strengthens the
demand for American officials in Ha-
| wall.
In the midst of all this SANDER. at
tacks upon the court and bitter strife
carried on to reek Thurstonian ven-
geance on an appointee OF the Presi-
dent it is well to look back to the
source of the struggle. This source is
none other than the charge Of bribery
/ launched against the Legislature by
the Governor of the Territory. When
called upon to prove their charges, the
Governor through his ofhcial associates
and appointees has used every means
within his grasp to defeat the investi-
cations Of the Grand Jury and has yet
failed to prove that this serious charge
was based on any more positive
grounds than hearsay. This side play
that has come up in the courts is in.
teresting as bearing upon the motives
that prompt our executive officials anC
the manner OF their action when deal.
ing with American institutions ant
called upon to deal with affairs OF great
Importance TO the Territory.
Thus far the acts OF these officers
have been along the same old lines Of
Rule or Ruin" They find they canno'
rule They seek to ruin Up to the
present they have succeeded in running
nothing more important than their owl
regulations. Every step taken By Ii.
Judge whom they assaIl with slandel
and bitter inyective has been within
the law and according to the demanS
for justice.
The Bulletin is disposed 10 let tn