New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-26


republic or tho securing Of q free constitution.
Kamehameba dies childless; under the Con-
stitution he was permitted TO name his sue
cessor; but, superstitiously fearing that such
an act would hasten his death, he never des-
ipnated any heir. and the royal line becomes
extinct. It Ia not too soon for the Hawafans
to begin to discuss the expectancy OF re-
public, or, at least, some less expensive form
of government than that which they now
have. The kingdom has been manly
In the hands OF cabinet OF Ameri-
cans and Englishmen, supplemented py
Parliament in which the best
native element predominates. The revenues
Of the count bye failed to meet the ra"
ments Of the Government, and deficiency in
the budget Of finance is q regular and increas-
ing annual product. Two different loans have
lately been thrown upon the market, one OF
which was to raise money to build a hotel TO
cost $4,000. Indeed, the whole scheme OF the
Government seem like a burlesque on royalty.
The population has diminished since 1912 from
130,31 to 6O,00O; yet the public expenses for the
past year amount to S1,1S0,24. This handful OF
population is governed with all the pomp and
circumstance of O German Grand Duchy
OF an Oriental Court. There are not less than
twenty-s Supreme and District Judges
drawing salaries of $4,000, $4,000, and $4,000
per annum. The Department of Foreign Ar
fairs and War costs $4,000 year. end other
departments in like proportion. OF course,
| with an annual falling off in the population
and an annual increase in debt and cost Of
government. the way to bankruptcy IS straight
| and plain. The Kingdom of Hawaii
| if put up to the highest bidder to-day, would
be considered as doubtful lot by shrewd
purchasers. But Hawaiian Republic, or even
a Kingdom prudently administered, would be
a different affair. Its natural resources are
considerable, and its favorable location will
always make it Great and rich depot
for tho whaling commerce of the Pacific
| Ocean. Several European nations ihave cast
longing eyes upon the lovely and productive
islands, Great Britain and France having been
| repeatedly accused Of deep intrigues to obtain
a political control which would enable them
to seize the Kingdom when the throne should
| become vacant at the death OF the childless
Kamehameha.
Americans will have On absorbing interest
in the result OF the struggle which Is likely to
follow the 0ean OI tuo Ming, anu Iiio tcinpo-
rary lapse of power into the hands OF the
Parliament, or Legislative Assembly That
body does not meet until Jan. s, 1873; and the
Government, meantime, is q republic, to all in
tents and purposes. The power Laid down by the
monarch at his death returns to the people.
The most influential men in the islands are
the merchants and sugar-planters, who are
largely Americans. These will be active, and
we shall directly hear again of the slumber-
ing schemes which have had for their OBJ
ject the ultimate annexation of tho Sand
wich Islands to the United States. There
have been not few local intrigues Zone of
which nearly came to a head) designed to pre-
cpitate q revolution under cover of which tho
American flag should be hoisted and pro-
tectorate by the United States should be de-
handed II must be confessed, after all, that
foreigners are more interested in the result Of
the possible conflict than the islanders them
selves. But the Hawaiians what remain of
them are abnndantly able to care for them
selves in a Republic