The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-01-03
THE WILCOX
LEPER BILL
Delegates Policy
Opposed by W.
O. Smith.

duced in Congress providing for the use
of the Leper Settlement on Molokai for
all lepers in the United States, finds no
favor in Honolulu. w. o. Smith. VIII
for thirty years was identified with
the affairs of the settlement as men,
Der of the Board of Health and otalr-
wise. feels a deep interest in the mat
ter. He said yesterday:
Il think it is a very wrong thing to
attempt. as think it would be great
injury and an injustice to the Hawaii
ans and others of the Hawaiian ISL
ands, who are now resident at the se--
Element. 1 think l gave my views N
detail on this subject in the Aive--
tiser the latter part of 1900"
Mr.. Smiths statement as published
IN the Advertiser OF November Il. 1900,
is as pertinent today as year agS,
and reads as follows:
Honolulu, IL. l.. Nov. 10. 1900.
Editor Advertiser: - The suggestion
which has been made from time TO time
In the past, and now seems to be receiv-
Ing consideration in certain quarters,
that lepers in the United States be sent
to the settlement at Molokai, seems to
deserve more than passing. notice.
1t would not seem that such a propo
sitiOn could be seriously considered any
more than the proposition to send all
those afflicted with any other disease
Several years ago, the suggestion was
made by the authorities of the State of
California that the lepers of that State
be sent to Molokai, and later the author
tiles at Samoa desired that certain lepers
there should also be sent. In both in
stances the consent was not given. and
the reasons for refusal are as potent now
as then.
To send the lepers of the United States
10 Moiokai would be n great wrong and
injustice TO them and to Hawaii. To the
great majority of the people of the Urit-
ed States these Islands are foreign
country. and to send persons afflicted
with disease to a foreign country, from
three to five thousand miles from home,
among a strange people, whose language
they cannot understand, with whose GUS
toms and ways and food they are unac-
quainted and unaccustomed. would in
any case be outrageous: but especially
with leprosy. a disease which in so many
cases gradually renders the person I'M
able to care for himself. and needing the
assistance of others, and with the de-
preston and woe that comes from the
hOpelessness Of the case.
1t would DO great wrong to these
Islands to make them the dumping
place for all lepers of the country, and
cause them to be looked upon as a pest
hole. And II would be a wrong to the
have people from foreign countries--un-
acquainted with them and their habits,
traditions and sympathies-forced upon
them and perhaps In considerable num-
bers. Furthermore, the introduction of
such people would doubtless become
disturbing element in that peaceful COM
munity.
The presence Of leprosy and the caring
for the sick has been n most severe and
trying experience to the Hawaiians and
people of these Islands.
Leprosy was introduced into these ISL
ands from a foreign country and spread
among the native people until measures
had to be taken for the protection of the
community. Tho problem presented was
very serious one. and In view of the
conditions of the population. the ways
and habits OF the people. it was deemed
imperative that the sick should be segre-
gated from the we'll, and after various
experiments, this spot on the Island of
Aolokai was selected for the permanent
settlement. and for thirty-hve years.
with great pains and at great cost. the
iepers have been gathered up from the
various parts Of the Islands and taken
to this settlement. Here cottages have
been provided for them; the home life
has been maintained as far as possible,
their wants supplied by the government
at public expense, and community Of
over u tnOusanu persons Is living tnere
In peace and harmony.
The separation OF familes-parents
from children. wives from husbands,
brothers from sisters-has been a terri
BILE experience and the result of disease
brought to this people from abroad.
First. large portion of the native peo-
pie were tainted by disease brought by
sailors and others. producing conditions
favorable to the production of other dis
eases.
In this soil the germs OF leprosy SEEM
ed to run riot and great curse came
upon the people. Over six thousand per-
sons have been taken to this settlement.
at Molokai since its establishment
There are now 1910 persons there affict.
ed with the disease. of the following ma
tionalities:
HAWAIIAN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $50
Chinese Observation-Disclosures. "a
Whites OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
other nationalities Observation-Disclosures. II
With the exception OF the Bishop Home
for Girls and the Baldwin Home for
Boys. there is no hospital at the settle
ment. The premistk cover an area of
land from three to Tour miles In length
and two miles in width at the widest
point, and the people live in cottages and
maintain the home life to which they
are accustomed, and form remarkably
harmonious and peaceful community.
In certain cases as the patient becomes
helpless from the loss of fingers and
hands, or paralysis. friends are allowed
TO go there to care for them. These are
called kokuas (helpers). and In very
many cases the misery and woe of the
final long-drawn-out end has been much
relieved and mitlgated by the mnistra-
tons of such friends.
Furthermore there Is weekly commu-
nlcation with Honolulu. and the malls
and supplies are brought; necessary ar
t.cles and comforts are sent by friends.
and all Is done that reasonably can be
done to mitigate the sufferings.
But what could a person from New En-
gland. or Louisiana. or the Northwest.
be he man or woman, young girl or boy.
do II brought SO far from home and
md Int