The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-11-20
Fiji.

eetlF UG-sIs o. + %. us puhAcAtlon. Issued
by a Government OF yesterday. and in both Eag-
Iish and native tongues, marks the amazing pro-
gress Of that importan, group The political po-
sition OF F5i Is no longer matter Of dispute
Downing-street has spoken Whatever be The
private predictions OF the noble lord Al the head
Of the Department, his oficial acts have decided
the relations Of FIJI and her position as an inde-
pendent State. This indeed, was in reality de-
clsred in the colonies some time ago. The des-
patch received here was cirrAizr, and an
uouneed to the colonial Governments the views
o. her Majestys Ministers ai the same time that
IL brought them recognition Of the a. fa1,1
Government Of FIJI. and coaveyed Instructions iu
conformity with lis policy TO the Commodore.
OF course. whatever may be the Opinions Of par
ticular persons Of the course a adopted II would
be mere perverseuess IN an official man 70 refuse
any recognitiol. or customary respect due 10 the
sovereignty OF +g
The orderly way 10 which the kingdom has
been orgaaiEed entities It TO consideration. The
first step was the concert Of the principal chiefs
with the English residents. They established 4
written Constitution aud Legislature The con-
di.ioH Of affairs before that step was taken was
indeed deplsuable. = white population Of very
dogbtfal auieeedeats possessed themselves Of
land. They obtained from ueiEhboriDg Islands
Iaborers Of many languages; tley ruled them &C
co-iing to their own uoti0Hs Of interest or duty /;
for the most part they established s. system Of
slavery, IN TOO many instances carried out without
even the softeuiug Influences which accompanied
the American system The slaves thus under
their power Of course found no active sympathy
from the native inhabitants. nor could any ore
expect they could protect foreign slaves for such
were the imported men. with whom tLeir former
intercourse 50 far As 1t existed. vas hostile The
increase Of The planters must soon have led TO Sc
ri1us collisions and as England refused the SOW
ereiguty of the Fjs it was necessary that those
who were i1 favor Of law and order should assist
the King in constituting a regular Government
The persons who have been prominent IN this
task have accomplished wonders, as the Gl5sas
notices clearly show.
We are informed that the Treasury at the com
uencement was an empty box and that the
members Of the Government. instead Of receiving
salaries. contributed largely TO the funds usces-
sary to It's initiation. They have established .
system which uuites both races. Thus. while the
laws Of England have been adopted 50 far as they
are adapted and the Courts Of Justice are con
daeted upon English presidents, they have also
various organizations Of q subordinate character
which places power in tie hands Of native chiefs.
The machinery OF the central Government Is car
red 90 by departments under the designations
with which they are familiar. as Chief Secretary
4 Minister for Native Affairs. Minister for
Trade and Commerce, and Minister for lands
and Works The kingdom itself Is divided into
twelve provinces. There are also provincial
councils and district courts and there are nag
istratss. both native and European. Thus. all the
framework ct the Fgiln Government may be said
TO be complete.
A G1saIs E5.r15rdiau,y contains the Reve-
uue Act for ls7a. and We observe that the na-
tives Of the kingdom are subject 70 a poll tax Of
one shilling. and Others five sbillirgs per head.
The schedule shows chiefly duties on articles Of
luxury and firearms and al ad valorem Of per
cent. The difficulty with which the Government
vIll perhaps have cbiefy to contend Is that which
has beset every Government in the world name
j, Of balancing its accounts But the necessities
Of is early Circumstances have taught It the in
P0r;anee Of economy. and fixed the scale Of sala-
RES rather in accordance with the state Of the
funds than the Official dignity Of the Office. Such
being the present condition Of the Government
Of Thakom5au, common humanity Is vel IS the
genuine English spirit vii inspire the wish that
1t may be successful We believe that the true
method Of governing native population Is .
through the chiefs, aad that, although the system
Of employing the natives may be cumbersome and .
troublesome. it Is the only way IN which they can
Be preserved 10 subordiuation to the general .
Government The white population are not
stro1g enoGgh 70 enslaye the native people They
must conform their conduct to their circum-
stances and if they are to have the projection Of
the native chiefs they must act in concert with I
them. and not against them. This rational
course was pursued IN the Friendly Islands, and
.h01gh the Inspiration Of the Goyernmeut had
alElys beea EGr5peaa Or American, she fountain
Of authority has been the native King.
a curious illustration Of the spirit OF the FIian
Government Eas Afforded by the speeches deIiv-
cred al the proroga;ion. as recorded in the Ga
zzle Of July last The Yieeroy was appointed 10
deliver the Royal Speech IN the absence Of the
King Whea this was pronounced, he addsd 4
speech Of his own. document Of very serious
import to those whom It addresses. The speaker.
Ifter having declared bow glad be vas TO meet
be Assembly. added: q I have something on ny
nind that wish to say. in reference to certain
,spoTts which We have Heard.
We chiefs we're formerly divided among our
elves. bat We are nov one. under the sane laws
nd under the sane king, and We are glad Of ii,
nd vii naiutain It 50; bat you amoug
ourselves. the white race. are divided Law and
rider TO y0a Is al old Institution. to Us it Is
eE one. but We desire to be subject to AID obey
hose laws He then gave plain spoken vsrn-
Y. If troubIe arises iu any part Of the king
on, a1d I am required, viii be at ny post with
-hatever help the Government nav reoafre.