The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-03-16
TIE PACIFIC
Commercial AOOertistr.
SATURDAY Y, MARCH IG.
The History of the Decree.

In our last weeks article on Constitutional
History, we established the fact that our present
form of Government is an autocracy this was
made manifest by the quoted utterances of a
Ministerial witness, and the evidence furnished
by the history of the last thirty years. The ques-
ton recurs-IIOw have we passed from the Gov
eminent of n liberal constitutional Monarchy to
that of an Autocracy? We answer, by a revolu-
ton. The word may perhaps startle our readers,
but the facts will bear no other Interpretation.
Naturally, the word has an alarming sound, and
visions of violence. pass in Imagination before
the eye, and one doubts the p~ropriety Of using so
grave n word in such a law-abiding, peaceful COM
munity as this. But if we calmly and fairly
reason from the facts presented it will appear that,
the transition from Il government under a Consti-
tuition or compact solemnly made by King, Mobiles
and People, to that oc a government under a de-
cree issued by the King, ignoring the Mobiles and
People, is of itself evidence of rights ~trampled on
and subverted, and consequently a revolution, al
though there may have been no positive armed
resistance to the wrong.
1t is interesting and instructive to refer to the
history of the past as found in the newspapers of,
the day. IN the columns of this journal published
during the convention times of 1864, we mark
the following sentence d" We are in the midst
of a reyolution-a peaceable one it is rue-but
none the less a revolution than if our streets were
barricaded and patrolled with armed forces, and
martial law established" The revolution was
then directly charged upon the conspirators of
that period and this prophecy was uttered-"The
precedent that they are initiating will as surely
bring a reaction at some future day, to disturb
the peace of Hawaii, as evening follows the morn
ing" We trust that the conservative good sense
Of our community will ward off the evil day, in
spite of the cOnsplrators. Let us not forget how
ever that the lesson of history is against the hope
that we may rise again. Ancient Athens won
all her glories under the constitution of Pericles,
which enlarged the rights of the people. She was
Inundated only when the democracy was sub
verted by the changes in the Constitution restrict
ing the rights of the people, proposed and carried
out by the i~ntrigues of Alcibiades.
As with Greece, SO it was with Rome. History
repeats itself. The greatest of Roman Kings,
whose reign brought unnumbered blessings upon
his people, was most celebrated for remodelling
the Constitution, by which the, people enjoyed
greater liberties. " Under the despotisn of the
patricians the growth of Rome was slow, and it
was not till the voices of the tribunes were heard
that it advanced in civilization and liberty
This is the evidence of ancient history, and it's
echo has been heard in all modern time, as any
student knows. The experience of history bears
testimony to the truth of the proverb that the
voice of the people is the voice of God.
As an evidence of the fact that the current of
the time was somewhat troubled, we here quote
a sentence from a speech of a member of the
Convention of 1864
"Mr. C. p. judd said the mode advocated by the Minister
Of Finance &C de Nargn) would hasten on what he was try
would be one hundred soldiers or thereaDout on the sandwich
Islands 10 prevent it, Who would lac Of lao more use than a
hugdret shIriags"
1t is true that this was the only evidence of 4
bellicose disposition displayed during the pro
gress of the revolution, but because threats were
not made good-for which we should be truly
thankful-it does not disproye our position that
the change from the Government Of a Constitu-
tional monarchy to that of an autocracy was
indeed n revolution.
Hawaiians are Proverbially a peacefully dis
posed race, and we have none of that red-handed
foreign element in our population-'' the refuse
of civilization to be found in many other
communities, who are ready and willing to foment
a quarrel and grasp for the spoils of revolution.
The knowledge of this fact embroidered the con-
s%pirators. The earlier foreign teachers of the
people had brought the message Of . peace and
good will, and thoroughly instilcd its teachings
into their daily lives and therefore the conspir-
ators dared to take the advantage of their passive
natures, and reduce them from the position of
freemen. having a voice in the Government Of the
land, to that of helpless subjects of the will or
caprice of an irresponsible Ministry.
There are those who endorse the Ministers in
order that e thrift may follow fawning,'' and
from these we hear The argument that the people