The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-09-29
AN iRREpRESsIBLE CONFLICT.

Honolulu's citizens have on different
memorable occasions proved that unit
ed endeavor 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 few heart TO heart talks,
elect general committee, organize dis
trict brigades, send out canvassers Tor
money-to effect almost anything
that the immediate safety or well
fare of the community demands 1t -
unnecessary to revamp the records OF
such local triumphs of genuine clVic
spirit, in stamping out pestilence that
stole n march on the town or enuihs
any other common menace.
Reference Is only made to EXPLOITS
of the past for service in discussing an
emergency of the present, the impor-
lance of which does not seem yet to ne
sufficiently realized by the mass OF in
telligent residents. Some people VINO
know Honolulu we'll might almost be
pardoned for wondering that there Is
a living and singing mosquito in town
today, after the time that has elapsed
since the citizens were called in mass
and slay," proclaimed against the pes
tiferous creatures. The reason for tne
slow progress made in the campaign Is
not hard to find, but 1t rests in Varl-
ETY. of facts. In the first place the eVll
sought to be removed Is not one that
has come upon the community with any
sudden and rousing impact. 1t mas
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 mitigapIe 10
some degree by various protective de-
vices Then the overwhelming num-
bers of the enemy have made large
of the people sceptical OF
success in any effort however great tor
it. Moreover, the evidence Is
that, apart from the Greet
hurt of the mosquitoes proboscls, the
pest did any particular damage TO hu-
is, the species having
here its habitat. 1T Is not the klnd
that spreads fever" is a dictum COM
monty heard.
The two lacking essentials for setting
Honolulu in action as one man against
he mosquito therefore, are those OF IN
formation and agitation. For the first, |
10 doubt the circulars scattered broad
EAST in several languages have done |
md are yet doing much good. AS TO |
he second, the movement Is gradually
having effect through the incidental
,fforts 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
warfare will shortly be adequately pro-
.ided by the freewil offerings of the
people. The results already made
manifest from the partial removal of
he causes of mosquito fructivity are
he most powerful factor in overthrow
ng scepticism of ultimate success.
Fever or no fever from our partIcu-
ar breed of MOSQUITOES, there is mo-
i've enough for universal zeal in the
from the mere interest OF
Iuman comfort. Public and private
money Is being literally expended for
he attraction of tourists and settlers
o these islands. There are clashes of
ounsel on this subject regarding the
Methods best to be employed. Yet one
roposition cannot be gainsaid and that
S that equal in Importance to bringing
,eople here is making for peoples COM
ort and pleasure after they come.
Hence, taking it from both the positive
nd the negative points of view, there
$ nothing pertaining to the adVertis-
ng of the Territory of Hawaii for |
'leasure health and profit more impor-
ant than the effort to have 1t capable
f being said with truth, There are no
mosquitoes in Hawaii"