Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 191, 17 August 1894 — LIBELS. [ARTICLE]

LIBELS.

Libel suits are uow tlie on.lcr of tlie day. lt is pleasing thougli, to notice that tlie «utiquated libel law is now being used against Japftnese newspapers, by Japanese residents. An expert will ®ventually have to be einployed by the couits, for eaeh ditiereut uutionality to decide if the expressious complained of, would be considered insulting nud damaging in the eomplainants owu couutry. A Portuguese editor was arrested for libel, because, he called u eountrymau a “nim.’’ A Portuguese jury woukl have convicted the . offender, while an American jury woqklnt have been very shocked over tho epithet. A Japancse editor calls a couiitrymau a “Chiuese,’ and while a jury of Portugueso, uudunbtedly woulu have acquitted tho accused a Japauese jury, would have given him the utmcst penalty of the law. An editor of an £nglish paper insinuates that a gentleman in towu, corresponds to the Suu Francixo ChronicIe, and is promptly arrested. rortngaese, Japanese or Chinese, c.m see no otiense in the insiunation, but an Ameiioan jurv will consider it a libel of the very worst kind. It would, under theso circnmstinces bo proper for the Conncils to amend our lihel laws to suit tbe jieculiar circumatances m Hawaii, and at the $amo tirae, ! mukfr them appropriate for the | hn de sirde. Wo dosire here to ; extend our deep felt condolenoe to our esteeraed morning eon- ! teraj>or!iry who, by an intelligent f “republicau” jury has beeu made to dig np ?500 cut of its govern- I ment-gotten gains. A Chinese | i jury woukl have acquitted oar j E. C. * [