The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-09-30
LEPER BILL IS
AGAlNS HAWANANS

The leading editorial in Ike Kiai"
(The SentineD, OF this week, written
in the Hawaiian language, gives some
pertinent reasons why the Wilcox
Leper Bill should not be passed by
Congress- or given any serious thought
by the Senatorial Commission now in
Honolulu. A translation of the editorial
is as follows:
OH. SENTINEL, WHAT HAS THE
NIGHT?
The foundlings. the ones that have
been reared with care, and the loved
ones of the people. are to be given to
the stranger to be cared for.
\ QUESTION CONCERNING THE
LEPERS.
Delegate Wilcox has presented a bill
to the American (SenatoriaD Commits
sion asking that the care of the lepers
be taken over by the Federal Govern
ment. There was a bill of the same
kind presented to the American Con-
gress previous to this, and after the
news came the people were very much
opposed to IT.
Therefore, the Sentinel is very much
surprised at the action of the delegate
of the people. He well knew that it
was against the wishes of the people,
and also against the wishes of the peo-
pie confined at the Leper Settlement
of whom he spoke disparagingly to the
commissioners.
We think that the people that are
living at the Leper Settlement should
be consulted first, and If each of them
will consent willingly in a body, then
grant this.
| The Sentinel objects, and will greatly
object to have the dear ones of the peo-
| pie given over to an outsider to be
cared for.
| When DIR. Sloggett, the president of
the Board Of Health, was questioned,
one of the Commissioners said he
| thought il would be best to separate
the lepers, having separate places for
| the men and for the women. BY this
strange action the unfortunates will be
treated as prisoners.
Is this the right thing to do to the
| dear ones of the people during their
last days of suffering? No. 1t must
not be done.
1t is said that If they are passed over
to America TO be cared for they will be
better fed.
| Is this a fact?
Among the American soldiers that
have gone to war some of them came
from fine and honorable families of
their land, and had been accustomed to
eating good food, but when they be-
came soldiers they We're fed on salt
pork and beans, and in some instances
were fed on horse flesh and hard tack.
WIN our dear loved ones gain health
ON this diet while they are waiting for
the slow hand of death? No.
II is also said that II they are passed
over to the Federal Government, the
latter will look for scientific physicians
To treat them. II this is the case they
might be benefited
But II is only little while ago that
an American leper escaped here from
, America. He was taken to the Kalih
r receiving station and then returned &c
, America,
a was 1t because he was cured by those
, American doctors that he came? No
I This Is what we do know. There are
/, pest houses in the United States OF
, America for lepers, and for years they
, nave stood and are still standing, and
there are lepers confined in them. One
white woman, who Is a leper, left the
: shores of Hawaii for America with
thoughts of being healed. Until today
we have not heard that she was cured
or That any other person has been heard
OF that has been cured there. There
e has not been a single American docto,
who has endeavored persistently TO find
"a proper medicine or remedy for the