Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 403, 4 March 1892 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

"E Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono."

 

KA LEO.

John E. Bush.

Iuna Hooponopono a me Puuku.

Friday, March 4, 1892.

 

Raw Material for Sovereigns.

            We have had somewhat to say of late about the Hawaiian monarchy.  We have explained its transient nature and shown on what a slender thread the present arragement hangs.  So far as our remarks have been in any way personal, they had reference to the present dynasty only.  Outside the very narrow limits of a reigning family, what do we find?  Pratically nothing.  Let us explain our meaning.

            The constitution requires that the sovereign shall be a native Alii.  It is also provided that, failing a direct heir, the King or Queen may, with a consent of nobles, appoint a successor.  Failing such appointment, the vacancy, when it occurs shall be filled by the Legislature.  The old chief lines are about extinct.  It is well known that, aside from the person already proclaimed that there is no one of either sex that any legislature would be likely to appoint, or that any considerable portion of the people would be willing to accept.  The person who combines the constitutional requirements as to birth with such personal qualifications as could alone command respect or enlist effectual support does not exist in this country.  Any one who cares to assert the contrary may be safely challenged to name his candidate.

            The late King, in what may be called his political will and testament, went into the question of the succession somewhat extensively, expressing his desire that it should fall to the following persons in the order named; first, his sister Liliuokalani; second, his niece Kaiulani; third, his widow Kapiolani; fourth, her sister Pomaikelani; fifth, her nephews, David and Cupid Piikoi, the sons of her deceased sister Kekaulike.  This formal expression of Kalakaua’s will have, of course, no legal force or effect whatever.  It can have no moral weight, and no influence in shaping the future beyond what reasonableness and expediency may be found therein.

            Of the persons named, after the present Queen and heir apparent, Kapiolani combines by far the most elements of fitness, and would undoubtedly be the most generally acceptable.  Her unimpeachable personal character, her kindness and amiability of disposition, her moderation and reasonableness, not without firmness in occasional emergiencies, together with her fine presence and dignified bearing are all strong elements in her favor.  But her lack of any known aptitude or taste for public affairs, her imperfect knowledge of English, and especially her shattered health, all combine to put her practically out of the race.  Of her two nephews the public know very little of them.  They are good looking, well behaved, and pleasant voting fellows, but their claims to royal honors are too attenuated to deserve any serious consideration.  As for making a Queen of their aunt Pomaikelani, the idea is too ephemercal to be entertained for a moment. 

            Outside of those mentioned in Kalakaua’s will there remains one representative of the ancient Alii stock, who is currently reported and generally believed to be a direct, though not a legitimate descendant of the first Kamehameha.  If the current belief as to his paternity is correct, both his father and grandfather were kings, and he ranks far higher by blood than any living Hawaiian.  On the other side of the house also, his progenitors were chiefs of no mean rank.  But unfortunately, at least for himself, his personal character and habits are such as to effectually preclude his advancement.

            We will not undertake to go into details; in fact it is altogether superfluous.

            So much for the possible or probable candidates for the throne.  We have gone over the list carefully, and considered the claim and chances of each one fairly.  The conclusion of the whole matter is simply that there is nothing in it.  The weakness of the present dynasty may be accepted as a matter of common notoriety.  When that comes to an end, and no one can tell how soon that may be, the bottom will then and there drop out of the whole royal business.

 

“WARRING OVER BILLETS.”

            The Bulletin has discovered that “there is rumored to be war in the Liberal Party’s camp.”  Strange that the Liberal Party are not themselves aware of it, but it illustrates the old proverb about going from home to hear news of yourself.  It is true that appointments have been made by the Road Management – whether by the Board or the Supervisor or both we do not say; of men who are not only objectionable to the Liberal Party, but to the community as a whole.  We could challenge the Bulletin to mention by name two or three of the men – outside of the Supervisor and his deputy – who are the appointees of the Board and defend either their public or private characters or their business ability.  The bare fact is that certain officials – we use the plural for convenience – who have no moral quality which the public could exteem them for, have a certain “pull” which is variously set in motion, and just now a certain high mucka muck in court favor has thought fit to show his hand and play a well known court card; to spite as his parasites say, and show his contempt for the Liberal leaders and party.

            If the Bulletin has got on the track of “a horde of billet-farmers” in the Liberal camp we expect that paper to do its duty and give the public the true inwardness of the business.  The Bulletin is well aware that it can go a heap beyond the bog in which it choose to deposit its lame inuendo of Wednesday last.  Such platitudes as indicate “element that engages in politics simply and solely for what they can get out of politics” don’t hurt anybody in this country.  We have given the Bulletin the cue, if not the test for something more pointed, and all we can say at present is, read on and we will follow-suit.  The Liberals are for EQUAL RIGHTS – not spoils.

 

GEORGE LUCAS, SR.

            In the death of Mr. Lucas, another good man has passed away from our midst.  He died about 2:30 P. M last Wednesday, at over the alloted period of time, from heart trouble.  His death will be regretted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintanances.

            Mr. Lucas settled here in 1856, with his family, arriving in July of that year from San Francisco, where he had resided five years and a half.  Soon after coming here he entered in business as house builders, under the firm name of Lucas and Wiggins, at the corner of Rose Lane and King Street, next to Castle and Cooke, from which time he has been steadily engaged in business.

            Among the many familiar faces of our city the genial and benevolent countenance of our fellow townsman will be greatly missed.  His benevolence and charity was boundless, and was done in a true Christian spirit.  Many who were well acquainted with Mr. Lucas, knew him as a man of sterling worth, and of unselfish disposition.  More especially in these hard times will the loss of men of such character as Mr. Lucas be felt.  May his ashes rest in peace until the general call when all will receive their reward according to the deeds done in the flesh.

 

ON DIT.

            That the Queen Dowager’s luau next Saturday will be given in the real old naive style, and that admission is only 50 cents.

 

            That Mahope will use his dredger for extracting the fertilizer to be found in the Nuuanu stream opposite the Chinese wash houses.

 

            That the Pali has got to be fixed in proper shape and that the Liberal Party will do their best to get a sufficient appropriation for that purpose.

 

            That the iron fenee to be erected on the top of the Palace wall is a paltry cheap affair, and that the gates especially are not a patch on the entrance gates to Bishop’s House on Emma Street.

 

            That in future the Bulletin should make its corrections in a place where they can be seen, in the Daily Bulletin for instance which is occasionally visible to the naked eye about 6 or 7 o’clock P. M.  But who ever sees the weekly Bulletin?  Give it up, ask us something easy, will you!

 

            That the whaling Captains are coming ashore now a days in order to enquire about the price of the “mechanical purposes” stuff, which is to be had at the S Corner Stone.

 

            That the Bulletin has discovered a @@re’s nest when it speaks of a fight among the Liberal Party, and that the only fight we know of at the present time is between the Mahope’s paper and the P. C. A. as to which shall secure the Government pap in the coming session of the Legislature.

 

            That the pushing drygoods houses know where they get value for their money – see our advertising colums.

 

            That the public shed tears of joy on reading the Bulletin’s essay on the young A-, we mean, Hinglish writer.

 

            That the designer of the railways for the Queen’s palace must have been studying the iron gratings to be seen in the upper story windows of Chinese stores on Nuuanu Street.

 

            That one chief cause why the Liberal Party is hated is because it is against all trusts and monopolies, no matter of what kind they are, and that Hawaii nei has been and is still suffering from the grab all policy of greed monopolists.

 

            That a petition was filed yesterday by John Ross and fifty other petitioners, Noble voters of the Island of Oahu, to the Chief Justice of the Snpreme Court, praying that for certain causes therein specified the election for Nobles for the Island and Division of Oahu, shall be declared in valid, null and void.

 

            That the “forlorn hope” took over a year to get up his census report about the 90,000 inhabitants on these islands, and that at the same rate of progress, it would take the white kahuna more than 700 years to finish the U. S. Census.

 

            That if there is going to be a reduction in taxation values this year, that it will have to take place on all kind of property; and that the sugar barons and tax assessors will not be allowed a second time to meet in secret conclave and agree among themselves to a 25 per cent reduction in sugar plantation valuations, leaving the poor natives and workingmen’s property at the same old high figures.

 

            That some folks have taken Dan’s advice and gone into “diversified industries.”  Here’s a few of them.  Raising “trust” meat smuggling dope, selling sandpaper gin on the sly, dealing in kuleana mortgages, breeding ostriches, diving for coal, brewing okolehao, studying at the bar – Cunha’s, stamp collecting, pimping, making log sausage meat, looking for the Beagle sovereigns, playing euchre, shaving “notes” at 60 per cent interest, selling genuine “antique” curios, loafing on Merchant Street and sich like.

 

Platform of Principle

OF THE

HAWAIIAN NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY.

 

TAXATION

            4.  A more just and perfect system of Taxation must be inaugurated, to abolish the present inequalities, by which the property of the poor is excessively taxed, while much of the rich man’s goods are under-valued for assessment or entirely escape taxation; we shall therefore demand the passage of laws that will more effectually subject the property of corporations and rich citizens to their just proportion of public burdens, while granting more liberal exemptions to the poor; and as a means of discouraging the locking up of large tracts of uncultivated lands, a differential tax should be levied in addition to the usual assessment on valuation which should be in proportion to the fertility of the soil.  We shall also favor the establishment of a graduated income tax, and thus expect to obtain ample funds for conducting the government and attending to all necessary public improvements without any further calls on the masses.

MONOPOLIES

            5.  We shall use our efforts to obtain laws by which all favoritism in the government and all monopolies, trusts and i@dvileges to special classes shall be rendered impossible, by full, definite and mandatory statutes.

PROTECTION TO HOME INDUSTRIES

            7.  We are in favor of encouraging all home agriculture and industries, and all our native products, like rice, coffee, wool, tobacco, etc. should be protected and fostered by proper tariff regulation; and also it must be the duty of the Gov-ment, in its contracts and other operations, to give preference to national products over imported ones.

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

            8.  We desire a more liberal policy towards the different Islands of the Kingdom, outside of Oahu; they should receive a fairer proportion of the public moneys for the developmentof their resources and the satisfactirn of their wants.  In fact, the principle of local Self-government should be extended, whereby giving localities may choose the most important of their local executive officers, and levy taxes for the purpose local improvements of a pubjic nature.

 

PUBLIC SERVANTS.

            6.  Better laws should regulate the Civil Service.  The principle of the election of officers of the government by the people should be established, and no man should be allowed to hold more than one office of profit, whilst salaries should be adaquate compensation for the sarvices rendered.  All excessive salaries should be reduced and all sinecures or superfluous offices abolished.

 

PROTECTION TO THE LABOURING CLASSES

            9.  We shall endorse all measure tending to improve the condition of the working classes, and consequently, without injuring any vested rights, we will advocate laws to prevent all further importation or employment of contract-labor of any kind, upon conditions which will bring it into a ruinous and degrading competition with free Hawaiian or white labor.  We shall also, in the interest of the better protection of the poor, ask for more liberal exemption of their property from forced sale on execution, and from seizure in bankruptcy proceeding.

SMALL FARMING AND HOMESTEADS.

            10.  The wealthy fraction of our population have hitherto prevented the development of an independent class of citizens; the public lands have been acquired and have been tied up in a few hands or parcelled to suit favorites, and small farmers and planters have been driven ont by corporations or combinations of capitalists; but as small farming is conducive to the stability of the State, it should be encouraged by a new and more liberal Homestead act, by whch the ownership of small tracts of land and the settlement thereon of families of our present population, - and especialily of the native Hawaiians who have been left almost homeless in there country – should be rendered possible.  To that end, the Government and Crown lands, (in so far as can be done without invading vested rights) should be devoted as soon as possible to homesteads, and conferred upon bona-fide settlers free of taxes for a limited period.

            It should be the further aim of government to, at once, so far improve the means of transportation, - local, national and international, - as to provide, in all the districts, cheap means of conveying the product of the soil to market.

ELECTORAL RIHGT.

            11.  We hold that upright and honest manhood, and not the possession of wealth, arbitrarily fixed, should consti- the right to vote for nobles as well as representatives, and no more power should be accorded to the ballot of the rich man than to the ballot of the poor man.  The discrimination in favor of wealth now made in our Constitution is contrary to all the eternal principles of right and justice and must be abolished.  To this end, we will favor a leveling of the present distinction of wealth and classes which blemish our laws with respect of the right to vote for nobles, thereby restoring to the native Hawaiians privileges which pertain to them in their own country, and of which they have been unjustly deprived.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS

            12.  We favor the expenditure of sufficient means to secure a number of needed public improvements on Oahu and other Islands; school, railroads and harbors and wharves, public light, and also a thorough system of reservoirs and water-works, not only for Honolulu, but through-out the other Islands.