The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-22
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

| The nRnt SOOu III NleA-
wall began soon after the missionaries
landed and has never been brought TO
a conclusion. In the earliest times,
as soon as it was seen that the mission
aries and the natives had come togeth-
er to civilize the group and TO establish
il in righteousness, outsiders hurried
in and made efforts TO estrange them.
Among these adventures the names of
Rives and Charlock are prominent in
Island history. Both were able men.
both gained more or less political infiu-
ence or ascendancy and both came to
grief. That, in fact, has been the story
of their class from the beginning.
! In this generation the most distin-
gushed aspirant for the leadership of
those opposed to the religious and po-
Iitical welfare of the Islands was Wal
| ter Murray Gibson. who died in exile.
This remarkable mans life was full of
J incident. and among his achievements
was that of becoming a high dignitary
in the polygamous branch of the Nor
mon church. His residence here was
long. and he acquired the native
tongue. When he went into politics his
yiriIe powers OF intellect were devoted
TO leading the weak King astray and
involving him in costly and injurious
policies Gibson won high office, and
for a time was premier; but the in
evitable uprising came and he was
banished from the kingdom, dying soon
after in San Francisco, knowing that
he had played a great game and lost.
Those who drove him out are the men
who lead the good government party
in Hawaii today.
The career of the late Celso Caesar
Moreno was much more brief. He, too,
aimed at empire. was made premier,
continued as such for a few days, and
then was compelled TO surrender his
portfolio. He left here to lead an en-
Uttered life at Washington, cursing the
Hawaiian missionaries to the last and
plotting impotentIy against the we'll
being OF the Islands.
The Ashfords were next in evidence.
Both were young men of fine presence,
OF legal attainment, of large political
following and of anti-missionary spirit.
1t was believed OF the elder brother
that he aimed to be King. AS lately
as 1895. when the Queen thought the
Wilcox conspiracy might restore her
to the throne. she made out commits
sion for Volney Ashford as Chief JUS
tice. The younger brother. Clarence,
was once Attorney General. Both these
shrewd politicians delved and intrigued
for years; but the inevitable hour of
exile fell. OF their work nothing is
left save an increased vigilance among
good citizens for the public welfare.
Another would-be disturber was Ju-
lien Hayne. clever. INSCRIPTIONS
Englishman, OF varied and abundant
resources. who had an intermittent
career in Hawaii before his crimes
landed him in New York penitentiary.
1t was a token OF poetic justice that
he was sent there by young members
OF the good government party who
were called from their studies at Yale
to testify against him in court.
Perhaps it would not be out of keep |
ing with historical truth to speak of
Harold NJ. Sewall in the same connec-
ton. Rich and rising. member of the
diplomatic body, United States Minis
Ter 10 ftdWdll, anu +lIlc SpcCldi
agent OF his government. Mr.. Sewall
had a prestige which most of his am
bilious predecessors in the art of play
ing personal politics in Hawaii lacked. 3
His one great scheme was to become
Governor OF this Territory; to set up
machine; to reward friends
and punish enemies. 1t all went we'll
enough until he found himself con-
with the immovable. rock-rib-
white element here. That power he
beat against in vain. 1t conquered him
and he left here, baffled and enraged,
to indulge himself in petty conspiracies
at the Federal capital against those
who had rejected him.
Will history repeat itself once more?
Why should il not? The men who are
now sapping and mining at the founda-
tons of Hawaiian honor fall far below, I
been over-matched in the past With
records that have put good men on
their guard: with brands upon them
which all men may see, it is easy
.nought TO forecast the ruin which they
have invoked. That these men will
ever have their way in Hawaii is in
for there still stands in
this land as OF old, a stern, rugged,
bulwark of good citizen
ship. Against this wall OF defense the
raw Adventures who are among us
the authority of courts. will
spend their malice and their wiles in
vain.