The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-01-10
WILCOX ON
DEFENSIVE
Home Rule journal
Explains Leper
Bill.
THE HAwAIIANs are being infu

! LEGATION of editorials in the paper of
Mrs Wilcox, in which the statements
are made that the condition of the un-
! fortunates at Molokai Is due primarily
to the greed and inhumanity of the
Board of Health, in that there is made
no effort to secure the cure of the lep-
ers. The following shows that the Ha-
waiians are being urged to give their
support to Wilcox for the reason that
the national government Will support
and cure the lepers. while now the peo-
pie are sent on to the island when there
is only some slight irregularity and not
any evidence of the disease at all. The
editorial is from Mrs. sWilcoX's paper
of January 9Th, and follows a publica-
ton Of the full bill
+ THE main purpose OF this law upon
leprosy which has been presented by our
| Delegate to the Congress of the United
States of America is that this bill ana
law will greatly help us of the Hawaiian
race.
For these reasons. that from the time
the laws for lepers first became effective
in Hawaii mel, period of nearly forty
years. not a single leper or patient has
ever been released (meaning cured), from
Its place of confinement, and all that has
been seen and known by us Is that they
Uhe lepers) have been caught and put In
their place of segregation.
1--WE think tnat no cure was to be ex-
pected, or q medical course of treatment
would be received at the hands of this
Board of Health. Had anything been
done toward an effort to effect a cure of
those having the disease, We all could
say that our money. which the people
have SO literally given for this land of
unfortunates, was well spent. But l do
say, your writer, that we of the race are
the best to judge in this matter. 1t is OF
no value or benefit to us, and 1t Is of
value only to those now in power in this
department, with filed pockets, gained
during their incumbency.
"And to us the Hawaiian UahuD, it Is
of no value or benefit; they are huhu
over this bill and laws for 1t viii place
the management of the settlement into
the hands of the Federal government:
the lunas will be all discharged. Then
there will be no more selling of "weevi-
ly' flour and rotten hard bread. Their
pockets will be empty; this is the reason
why they are huhu.
Here Is another matter: the patients
receive no med cal treatment If, under
j. ederal control this law directs the Sec
rotary of the Treasury to prepare
statement to be presented to Congress
showing the total cost for the mainte-
nance of the settlement including med!-
"
ing those stricken with the disease. FroT.
time immemor.al this class of disease
has been known. cared for and treated
by medical men to the present age with
little or no hope of a cure. But we VIII
see that II this bill becomes law. the
Federal government will then erect and
establish an experiment station for the
purpose of ascertaning the foundation
and causes of this disease. When this Is
known, the right kind of medicine Will
then be found. If not, then people will
be receiving medical treatment to relieve
their sufrerings
This will give us, the Lahui, that
longed for spell of relief for those of our
loved ones, as the love OF husband for
his wife, Il wife for her husband. parents
for their children, which we see and are
now suffering, under the existing laws
for the control of lepers which was In
force from the time of the monarchy
down to the present time The Delegate
well knows this, and the great sufferings
of the Lahui who voted for him. and for
the benefit of you, Oh Hawaii. caused
him to present this bill before Congress
Here Is another subject: Some of
these haoles and Hawaiians are greatly
huhu over this bill. 1t is claimed by
them that We viii! be flooded here with
lepers from America 1t is only worthless
dreams. for all of the lepers in the whole
|, VI hHti''a WIN NV NC WV WY ""i -
IN number. and they are a very large
nation OF haoles, numbering nearly
eighty millions OF people, It Is very
strange that they have not more iepers
there than there are in Hawaii. Why Is
It that there are not more lepers there?
Is 1t because that the doctors OF the
Boards OF Health there are more VIDE
awake, better supplied with the right
. knd OF medicines, ana that those VINO
are anlicted with the disease are peter
, treated ana cared Tor and their heaith
, restored!
IF this Is the case, would II not be
; much better to let America handle this
disease and care for them, as this Is
Territory of America?
Here Is another fact; that the tax.
payers OF the Territory VIII be relieved
of very great burden, as 1t takes
very large sum OF money TO care Tor