The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-09-17
Our NriLitnry ns il was.

It is an easy matter, after disturbance has
been quelled, for those disposed to carp to say
what should or should not have been done.
Every officer whose position is such as leads the
people to suppose him vested with authority to
suppress disturbance, can only be too anxious to
see it quelled, whether he possesses the authority
or not to accomplish 1t. In the late disturbance,
our laws, on reference TO them. we're unfortunate
ly found so vague and imperfect as not TO confer
on any officer under the King the power to sup
press a mutiny among the soldiers called the
household troops. Some years since, bill was
framed by the late Mr. Wyllie, the object of
which, if we remember rightly, was TO furnish q
complete code to enlist, regulate and govern the
military. The Legislature declined to pnss it, and
the subject of military legislation was found TO
be SO obnoxious, that no attempt has since been
made to enact any law relating to it.
What little soldiery we have possessed for the
last twenty years is simply relic of the ancient
feuda system. under which each chief held all the
armed retainers he could equip and support, pay
ing for them out of his private resources. Many
of our readers well remember the time when Mr..
Paki kept his soldiery. and at one time be could
muster two hundred men. He died about the
year 1852, and since that date the household
troops of the King are the only paid soldiers
which have been allowed. These troops have al
ways been considered as forming part Of the
Kings private retinue, were lodged in the palace
grounds, aud governed chiefly by bis own author
ity and regulations. Under the three preceding
sovereigns, the word of the King alone was law,
and often we're they punished by bis order, from
which there was no appeal.
Up to the year 1850 no public funds appear to
have been appropriated for these troops, as
they were the body guard of the King. en-
listed at bis pleasure aud supported by himself
After that date they we're employed on various
government guard service, and 1t was deemed but
just to support them ut the public expense. They
still remained as before under the special service
and authority Of the King whose orders they
were taught implicitly to obey. Had his Majesty
been we'll at the time the trouble at the barracks
commenced, on the 9TH inst, so that he might
have enquired into it, as he probably would have
DONE there could have been no disturbance of the
public peace. The soldiers were taught to obey
him, and recognized no one else as master.
The Office Of Secretary at War. like that Of the
Navy. was designed as q mere matter of form.
The Secretary was nowhere clothed with any def.
mite authority over the household troops. His
Office is simply an honorary one. Il is doubtful
if the laws confer upon the Governor any author
ity over this body Of troops; while the Adjutant
General is a business officer, appointed to pro-
vide supplies and see The soldiers regularly paid
and fed. Thus 1t will be seen that our military
system has been little else than farce. built up
without laws to regulate it, or code to enforce
discipline. Is it any wonder that its abolition
should be so unanimously sustained by all