The Hawaiian gazette., 1872-01-03

1AAl u AAt ASl-uNS OF tue lCluC OCeln. y tllru
class would have liked to have left the manage
ment Of all native affairs in the hands of the
native ehieitains, and to have had a separate
quasi muneipal-governmen for the whites
but besides the great difficulty Of working out
such scheme, the basis for the white mems pro-
posed government was wanting. They could not
give any municipal powers to themselves, and the
native rulers, not having any recognizable position
as Princes capable Of granting charters Of incor-
poratiou, could not confer such powers All
parties would have been glad to see some great
Power step in aud take possession Of the whole
archipelago. But none Of the great Powers felt
inclined to do anything Of the SORT especially the
Power towards which the most hopeful eyes
were cast-Great Britain. And here let me
pause for an instant to say that the most extra
ordinary misrepresentation have been persever-
ingly circulated as to facts materially affecting
English interference; sometimes through igno-
rance bat often, it is to be feared. with au intent
to lead the British Government into a task
which once undertaken could not be abandoned
1t was constantly assumed and declared-l That
Thakombau was King of FIJI. p That as such
King he was ready and willing to cede the whole
country to Great Britain, or to any great mari
time Power which would accept the sovereignty
in short, that the Kingdom of Fiji was going
begging. B. And tha, FIJI could, at very little
troube aud expense, have been converted into an
orderly British colony and the Fliians themselves
- chiefs and people in peaceful and law
abiding British subjects. Now, the facts are
l. That Thakombau has never. until very recently
indeed within the last week or SOY been King of
FIJI de j,Ts, but only King Of Ban and that he
is not even now so far King of FIJI de facto, as
that be could cede the whole Archipelago to a
foreign Power. 3 That Thakombau had never
had the slightest intention of ceding even his own
dominious in such a manner as would make them
British colony in the true sense Of the term,
and would make himself and his people British
subjects; bet has only, when under pressure from
without, been desirOus Of invoking proteetorate
which should recognize aud support his authority
as King Of Bau, keep the white men in ORDER
and aid by its influence and wealth in the material
progress OF the country. 3. And that nothing
but merely Protectorate Government would at
any time have been possible - that is to say,
without 4 sacrifice Of blood and treasure which is
not to be thought Of for although the FJiaus
might have submitted for time to the legal
restraints Of British colonial administration, it
would certainly not have been for long. An
efficient Protecioraie Government, TO which all
the ruling chiefs would have submitted, could, no
doubt, have been very easily formed, and very
cheaply maintained but if the British Ministry
were not prepared to accept supremacy in FIJI on
these terms. they did quite right in refusing it.
But let Us retGrn TO the present state Of things
II being felt on all hands that something must be
done; that this something must be initiated BY
regarded as the ,prSaeipals and leaders were too
busy to undsrtake the work. it was boldly, though
quietly, entered upon b. others. Thakorbau
being undoubtedly sovereign chief and the only
such chief who could become the head Of Con-
stiiutional Kingdom. with Leyuka for its eapital.
il was resolved to rely upon his authority for a
basis. One fine day. therefore, and with but very
short notice the Levukans we're told that it was
the pleasure Of King Thak0mbag to found Con-
siitutional Government in and for his dominions,
and that for this purpose, he had appointed
certain gentlemen to certain high ministerial
Offices. Popular indignation was aroused to a
great extent. especially at all this having been
done SO quietly and without any public meetings.
The new Government was not only scented at as
seli-constitated, (which no doub, it was bat vas
made the subject Of formal protest to the Brit
ish Consul and was denounced in all manner Of
Eays Is Z sham if not something worse. In
the meantime, however. the - Ministers went
steadily OF. engaged atEo-ztoried wooden build
ing. fitted it up neatly for Government Offices"
engaged fsE Civil servants ,ihs easiest part Of
their task, thsre being plenty Of eanddates,l and
began to organize executive machinery. Now
that tie thing vas done, many Of the best men
IN the pllee cane in and gave It their support,
s5rle Of them taking once, although leaving the
originzt0rs of the movement 70 DO most Of the
work. It vas the same with maay Others Who
buried 10 Ls7uka from their plantations. and
zho were opposed. perhaps. more to the leaders
than 70 the movement itself On inquiry, they
f5aai the thing E-s being worked Oat IN al in
teiligsat, practical way; that foundation had
been laid upon which al efficient government
night Be- b1ilt up; AID that il woald be rsak
folly Tot 70 TT s1d work il out. The Ministers,
too. vent the proper Wy to work to disarm op-
position, By Eammoning g c0nveuiiOn of delegates
from all Parts Of the Archipelago to construct a
Coasii.sii0a- Tie delegates we're elected, bot
tie gsasTzl feeling seemed still against the Gov
eminent In sons plaess-in LeTaka, especially
-tbe nosi determined resistance vas spoken Of,
and 6ercs attacks upon the Increment itself, aod
al Sho Supported It, appeared ia the newspapers.
Bai the delegates chosen we're, upon the zhoIe,
3 s1psrior sst of mea-pers0ns Ebo zoald Be
REGARDED as sseh il sny Azs;rsliau Legislature;
zad ibgy lad lot i0ng net ere the aspect Of
,hings began 70 ehasgs- Il Ezs felt b. them, a.
Il I'D bss1 b. oilers. that Thzk0mbs8's advis-
rs we're acting ia periectly good faith that
ibsrs Eas a. length ehzaes Of forming an ef
'seiiss ard liberal g0EernmsDt Ter all FIJI and
that Il this ehznos ssrs let slip tbsrs would BsTer,
il al probability. BE- sch sso;beE- The erozni8g
.dszpb q tie proTisional administration Eas
liz izshssion q Me.f1, tbs Tai Lza, the OILY
yrsss ehisf q FJi sko cos1 have successfully