The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-09-28
AN lRREpREsslBLE CONFLICT.

Honolulus citizens have on different
memorable occasions proved that unit
ed endeayor is powerful as faith when
a mountain has to be removed. They
have shown that they need only put
their heads together, hold mass meet
ings, have a few heart to heart talks,
elect general committee, organize dis
trict brigades, send out canvassers for
money-to effect almost anything
that the immediate safety or well
fare Of the community demands. 1t is
unnecessary to revamp the records of
such local triumphs of genuine civic
spirit, in stamping out pestilence that
stole a march on the town or ending
any other common menace.
Reference is only made to exploits
of the past for service in discussing an
emergency of the present, the impor-
tance of which does not seem yet to he
sufficiently realized by the mass of in
telligent residents. Some people who
know Honolulu well might almost be
pardoned for wondering that there is
today, after the time that has elapsed
since the citizens We're called in ma SIS
meeting with the watchword, GO forth
and slay,'' proclaimed against the pes
tiferous creatures. The reason for the
slow progress made in the campaign is
not hard to find, but it rests in vari-
ETY. of facts. In the first place the evil
sought to be removed is not one that
has come upon the community with any
sudden and rousing impact. 1t has
been endured for SO many years by the
older residents that they have become
resigned to it as a matter of course.
the annoyance being found mitigable to
some degree by various protective de-
vices. Then the overwhelming num-
bers of the enemy have made a large
proportion of the people sceptical of
success in any effort however great for
routing it. Moreover, the evidence is
inconclusive that, apart from the direct
hurt of the mosquitoes proboscis, the
pest did any particular damage TO hu-
manity-that is, the species having
here it's habitat. cit is not the kind
that spreads fever" is a dictum com-
monty heard.
Honolulu in action as one man against
the mosquito, therefore, are those of IN
formation and agitation. For the first,
no doubt the circulars scattered broad
cast in several languages have done
and are yet doing much good. AS 10
the second, the movement is gradually
having effect through the incidental
efforts of the sanitary inspectors
There is ground for believing that the
inertia of the community is all but
overcome and that the means of the
vided by the freewill offerings of tbs
people. The results already made
manifest from the partial removal OF
the causes of mosquito fructivity are
the most powerful factor in overthrow.
>Hg scepticism of ultimate success.
Fever or no fever from our particu.
lar breed of mosquitoes, there is mo.
tive enough for universal zeal in ths
campaign from the mere interest Of
human comfort. Public and private
money is being literally expended fcl
the attraction of tourists and settler!
to these islands, There are clashes O
counsel on this subject regarding III,
methods best to be employed. Yet on,
proposition cannot be gainsaid and tila
is that equal in Importance to bringing
people here is making for peoples com
fort and Measure after they come
Hence, taking it from both the positiv,
and the negative points of view, ther
is nothing pertaining TO the advertis
ing of the Territory of Hawaii 70