The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1871-12-06
go0rrospoaacaoe e the Sydney Herald J
Fiji.


In theory land according 70 the wording Of the
Consutuuonl theie is no difference as to political
rights, between Fjjian sGhjects Of any color
native born OF foreign born. But there has
hitherto been clearly understood distinction in
practice The Interests Of the white man and
Of the native have been discussed as il they were
politically distinct. When the Constitution itself
was uDder consideration and it was found that
she native chiefs were in the habit Of voting in
body, it was ooOlly proposed to deprive them Of
the power to vote at all This proposition was
sonsht be Justified by treating the right Of The
FQian chiefs 10 have any voice in the framing Of
Constitution for their country as romeihing
which the white settlers bad given" and could
take away. In the saue spirit there we've many
who did not seruple TO dispute the right Of King
{ ThakombaG 20 assume. even with the full consent
Of all the F0iaa chiefs aud people, the position
ana functions Of Constitutional Sovereign in
and over the Archipelago. They were disposed
to insist that be should remain. in perpetaty,
the arbitrary and irresponsible chief Ct the native
tribes leaving the whites to divide and conquer"
such tribes IS opportunity might of r; while at
the sane time, and until this desirable end Of
division aud conquest should have been fully at.
tanned he should take care to keep his subjects
well in check as regarded the whites SLOWING
the laues to do pretty much as they pleased. The
few who thus reasouei-for although ihey had
The most 10 say. there were bot few OF them
forgot that the white settlers we're, according to
well settled principles Of international law, bnt
I d" foreigners eommorant in the land. owing, for
the tine being, local allegiance or obedience to
It's ruler or rulers. in return i1r protection; and
. having not the shadow Of right to interfere in
I the framing Of Constitution or laws for sueh
land unless such raler or rulers pleased to confer
that right The settlers and their representatives
had. 10 dOnbt for the purposes Of this work, as
fail powers as the chiefs but only because their
c9-opeFation had been Invoked with 4 view to the
establishment OF enc government for both races
such government as would meet the wants
Of an advanced and advancing community, and
might hope to be internationally respected and
sustained. \ compromise vas made by the
s'ttH-s Of the chiefs being held in separate
Chamber. whsrs the measures before the Assem-
bly, Of white delegates we're to be discussed. and
any alterations 0r amendments Suggested This
separation af the chiefs from the elected delegates
Ess found 3 to the matter then in hand. to work
well enough and it has been PerPe,uated in the
Constitution. There Is to be an elected Legs
a,ive Assembly which il is evidently taken for
granted Is TO consist wholly Of whites, save and
except single representative Of the balfcasies.
The high chiefs are TO form Privy Council
which Is empowered to suggest amendments. &c;
bur the legislative power Of the State is ex-
pressly declsred TO be vested in the King aud
ibs legislative Assembly These chiefs, there
fore in Privy Cosncil assembled. can do 10 more
than advise and recommend aud their advice and
recommendations will o1ly command such attea-
liou as the elected representatives please to
aocor5- Tie Ministers must have seats in the
Assembly. snd will. consequently, have to be
chosen from among the members Of that body
b1t As such Ministers sre also made ex-ofieio
members of tie Pnvy Council. they viii officially
represent the high chiefs in the legislative Cham
bsr If az lbas anticipated. the Legislative
Assembly be, Vith the exception Ct the single
bslf-cesie msubar. composed Eholly Of White
men. while tie Priyy CosneI Il composed almost
wholly Of native chiefs. what Is more probable or
natural than that there nay be differences Of
opinion, and consequently heartbarnings between
the bodiss which msy be sprssi abroad and
erezie jealogsisz and III feelings bstsesn the two
RI.
people. Who VII Be rather disposed 10 imagine 1
sights. and attempts to take advantage or them.
Ehsn there has really been nothing Of the kind,
ibau 10 pass over With perfect coateatue1t and /
egua1iHity any sct1al disregard Of what they
nay conceive to be their bsss interests Agsins,
the creation IN this way Of hostile fssIiegs be-
tzesn the izo races. those Who msy Be at the
head Of s51irs n FIJI vii have TO be constantly
on The saieh. And Ibis risk Eil be continuous (
until the people q 18th rsees shall Be made to
understand and to feel that they are really Of one
cation. They must nos Only Be il thsory-but
mast b Convinced that they are in fzet-on
iegal and p0liticzi eqs3liiy. The natives vii be
rsry good eiiizsus when 80 convinced. When
.acss Ebo ere n0s yo1ug children shall have /
z-o=n Up to mans esiais ihzfs vii, doubtless 4
b f7saJ among them many Eho Eill take an 4
active FaIi ia tie dGiiez Of citizenship; bat very
Ezz ziil Be dss.r01s q dong - hoE. The men .
q ui55ls azs all simply obey the Government 4
foT the tue bsiug. Ebaisvst may Be It's form, and +
t9=srsr Il nsy be eoupossi. viibost trosb,ilg
themselves 20 discsss is measures or policy, pro-
r55ei hat s.cb G0TsrDnent has the confidence 4
q The clisfs sod q tb0ss Of the ~hi;es on
zbose vision a15 pro5iiy tie natiTss are aesas-
t0ze5 70 rely. There viii b 10 need for any
psczlisr eE5-ts 70 ssesrs the election 70 the
Lezzslzis-s q zhits 1en, f0r tie natives zilI-
i5r 3 loag tine 70 e5us- b ei~ays more disposed
70 reiasr zhi;s nza - their representative
ttz1 70 elset one e the1selTss- TIE fact that
TIE Cbrisiiaaiss5 Frjiaas have 10 pseaiisr wees
fr =keb s8y sFseisl l=zislation zil b seeessarys
vi natsrisay siwPEiy the task of governing
AID fzcili,ais The social equalization q ibe tzo
rzass Bs- there Eia be great and constant ne-
ssssty. nsrsrtbsless. for vigilance and cation.
ziih DE share Of Eruness Il proDer times-
Th= s5oPiion q the prisespis of responsible g0E-
s-ons1t-i tat i to ssy, q government by
Wfaistriss 5sps1dsnt Eor thsir te1srs q once