Nuhou, Volume II, Number 2, 18 July 1873 — IS THE COUNTRY BANKRUPT? [ARTICLE]

IS THE COUNTRY BANKRUPT?

Or even almost so? Our public estate is not hypothecated, our credit is good, our bonds among close fisted men at home are in demand; and if properly presented could no doubt be most favorably disposed of abroad. The country is more served than it has any need, and every officer is paid his wages, whether earned or not; then where is the bankruptcy? Oh, not the country in its organization as a government; but certain important interests are bankrupt, or almost bankrupt; and if not sustained government must tie up, and all the people go to the dogs. We cannot see this. The clamor here is like the clamor of great railroad interests in America. They mismanage and run down, and then lobby for "relief," and sometimes become the government of the country, or State. But we don't recognize any one interest as yet the government of this country. We would do everything to give reasonable aid to great industries; we would borrow money, negotiate for equitable reciprocity, and exercise all our intelligence and all our resources at command to procure labor, open new ways, and devise other measures; but we would not give up the ship, acknowledge ourselves beaten, and at the limit of our resources and beg for a chance for life by the surrender of a part of our domain. They say, "why do you contend for the sake of the kanaka, whose adhesion is but a rope of sand, and who will soon be all caged in Molokai? Oh, show not thus cloven foot! Your cold, merciless trading heart! But learn to stand by a principle, even if only the rights of dogs and not men, are involved*