The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-04-27
The Session.


Next Tuesday. the Both instant, is appointed
by Royal Proclamation for the opening of the
Hawaiian Legislative Assembly, an event that
occurs once in two years. But the fact that the
law-making power Of the country is about to
convene for the purpose of consulting upon
measures for the Welfare of the nation, evidently
awakens but little interest. outside of Govern
ment officials AMI Representatives elect. The
truth is, that only a small fraction of the COM
munity feels that degree Of interest in the affairs
of the state as now managed, that is necessary to
the formation of a powerful public opinion. This
is but a natural result of the revolution of 1864,
whereby the Constitutional lights of the people
were suspended. The mass of the people have
no voice in the affairs of the nation. Let a per-
son have nothing to do for his country, and he
will soon cease TO care for it. Ours is a good
despotism of Ministers, whereby we mean that
it is a Government in which there is no positive
oppression by it, but in which all the collec-
tive interests oil the people are in reality man
aged for them, thsir own actions and energies be-
ing dormant, under rule. Everything lis, per
force, left to Government, which is like leaving
all to Providence. and is synonymous with caring
nothing about what may come, and accepting
disagreeable results as visitations OF nature. The
| general feeling is that the Ministry is strong, and
can make itself entirely despotic, at the cheap
price of appeasins such a number OF the Repre-
sentatives as are capable of giving trouble, by a
share of the spon. In fact, that the only fruit
produced by our national representation is, that
in addition to those who really govern, there is
an assembly qua-tered upon the public, and no
abuse in which a portion of the assembly are in
terested is at all likely to be removed. The
price, however, may be worth paying in consid-
! Grafton of tie publicity and discussion which
are Il natural accompaniment of a Parliament.
The condition of national representation under
which we find ourselves is held by its promoters
and advocates, we are we'll aware, as being the
best suited for the condition and capabilities of
the Hawaiian people. While We utterly deny
this position with regard to the native race, which
was recently rapidly progressing under IL free
Constitution, we opine that it will not be for a
moment contended by ministerial reactionists that
the foreign element in the country is incapable OF
being entrusted with the rights and privileges of
the freest constitutional liberty. That element is
already large, and yearly increasing, and its ma
terial interests are paramount. Will freedom
loving Englishnen or Americans, with permanent
interests anu lnulSSOiuDle Ties OF Ialnly mere, De
always content to live passively under a system of
ministerial Government in which they have prac-
tically no voice whatever? They are part and
parcel of Hawai- nei, its interests are theirs, and
they are intelligent enough to know and feel that
the best and safest system of Government for the
country is thatin which the supreme controlling
power, in the asst resort, is vested in the entire
aggregate of the community, every citizen having
a voice in the exercise of that ultimate sovereign
ty. For the accomplishment of that desirable
condition of Government every true lover of Ha-
waii nei, everyloyal subject Of the crown, must
heartily pray.
At the coming session of the Legislative As
emily several questions must come up for dis
cussion and acton, which, while we entertain no
doubt as to Their final disposition by the unscru-
pulous exercis, of power by the Ministry, will
present ample opportunity to show in strong and
unmistakable Clors, the true nature of the polit-
ical institutions of the country, and prove beyond
a shadow OF doubt, if indeed there has been any
doubt entertained, of the eminent business of the
structures which have from time to time quite re-
Gently appeared in this journal under the headings
of "The Legislature, - ''The Hawaiian Govern
ment," and The Constitution and the Royal
Decree"