The Daily Bulletin

FIVE DOLLARS.

EDITOR Bulletin:- It is a maxim in all places—or ought to be—that those who support a Government, by tax-paying or otherwise, have a right to know for what purpose expenditures are made, and also for what reason obstructions are placed in the way of the natural development of business progress and interests. Therefore I think it was perfectly right and reasonable for you to ask, in behalf of your readers and the public, why an attempt was made to collect five dollars per head on Chinese immigrants to this country, and it seems to me very small business in any firm to reply to so proper an inquiry by ordering a discontinuance of their advertisements in your paper. That is a species of punishment for the freedom of the press, with which the writer has been familiar for many years. It is as short-sighted as it is ineffectual. Who supposes that it will have a tendency in any manner to satisfy the public, or stifle inquiry? If the object of the five dollars was to discourage Chinese immigration to these Islands, it was easy to say so. If the object was to pamper the appetite of a hanger on of the Government, or his confreres it might not be as easy to say so, but a frank acknowledgment would be better than a bare-faced attempt to punish the inquirer. If the object of recent measures has been to obstruct the immigration of Portuguese laborers—which the great planting interest desires—to make way for an overflow of Chinese males—which the planters do not desire—in order to raise a bonus for any purpose whatever, the public mind is not to be quieted short of a full explanation of the whole matter.

No sagacious observer can have failed to see, for some time past, that the whole tendency of administration has been to build up an irresponsible oligarchy, in what is supposed to be a constitutional monarchy and a liberal responsible Government. In all Governments, except the most absolute monarchies,—of which few are left, and they are rapidly becoming 'beautifully less,' those in authority are amenable for their acts to those who are governed. An attempt to establish a contrary order of things, will only be tolerated in a Government too contemptible to be noticed, and where material interests are of no account whatever. Is our Government thus contemptible? And have the people of Hawaii no material interests to be subserved?

OBSERVER.