The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-12-23


G.. Hopkins. whom I was 10 succeed as Minister
Of Finance was present lie Was a personal friend
OF the late King. and equally bound 10 Kameba.
mrha v. who, whilst sppreciating bis devotion
held bis administrative faculties 10 but small esteem.
and took from him bis port folio 10 bring him
nearer 10 him rs Secretary General I'VE don't
know what that Is. but suppose It's all righ,-ED.
=. c.. A.
cit was understood that Mr.. Hopkins should
continue 10 act as Minister Of Finance until dis.
patches from Paris. authorizing me 10 accept the
new duties which had been offered TO me should
arrive.
1T was now December aud 10 accordance with
the Constitution. the election OF representatives
must take place in January. The sessiop was 10
open In April. The King had not yet taken tho
oath to the Constitution, and We knew the repug-
nance which he had 10 taking II, and his earnest
desire to see some Of the clauses modified, and
among them, that which we had discussed together,
which by adopting the principle Of universal sun
rage. put the Legislative power into the bands Of
the planters.
Although the sugar plantations had not yet
reached The development and the prosperity which
they afterwards attained, yet, every day, they
were growing to be OF more importance, and
were multiplying Ia all directions throughout the
Islands. The experience Of the past, and my own
personal reflections convinced me that II was ne
cessary for us to encourage this agricultural In
dusty, and to discourage the natives from tho
whale ashery, which mace such disastrous drafts
on the flower Of our population.
THIS was n serious peril for the future. The ma
lives do not resist we'll the excessive cold Of tho
northern seas. Born within the tropics, they
quickly suecumb 10 those deadly climates, others
..t,an .toL thoaa spha nurvfva aaniraol A tnela
for gambling adventures, and Perseyere In a
career without prospects. II was a transcription
for the profit Of the stranger alone. The popula.
ton was diminishing Ia an alarming manner.
For many years I had made known 10 the French
government by my dispatches, and 10 the local
government by my contributions 10 the Honolulu
papers the danger Of this state OF things every
body recognized Il, but some feared 10 apply
legislation, lest Il might offend the United States
government, and others feared 10 drive away tho
whaling feet whose visits were a source Of con-
siderable profit.
1T was necessary therefore 10 hasten 10 encour-
age the sugar industry, which would attach the
native 10 the soil, and make II valuable, and
which would as was afterwards proved enamel.
pate the Islands from the periodical visits Of the
whaling feet. On the other hand the planters
would meet with obstacles from the start, which I
will point out. Labourers would soon be wanting.
They would only 60 on a short time with those at
their disposal, and the day was not far distant,
when Il would be necessary 20 seek In China, or
Japan, supplies of coolies. Slavery does not
exist In these Islands. this odious plague IL nm
known every slave on touching Hawaiian soil,
becomes free liberal laws OF naturalization adj
init the foreigner, after n simple declaration, and
one years residence 10 the exercise Of the rights OF
a citizen. In the near future then the planters .
would be able 10 put 10 line their thousands Of
voters entirely at their discretion, and inaugurate,
by the force OF universal suffrage, a foreign oIigar-
chy within the country for nearly all the planta-
tIons belong to foreigners. They alone possessed
the capital and experience necessary 70 carry on
such enterprises.
"a new electoral law was therefore OF urgent
necessity, but the Constitution bound our hands,
and, il in many points, It's extremely republican
Torm was contrary 10 the ideas Of the King ION this
point, 1t created o serious danger, which Kameha-
1eha v. might well anticipate and / was entirely
n accord with him. The Consultation offered us
A mode Of amendment borrowed from the United
States, which was to submit the amendment 10 the
gote of the Legislature and having obtained n
majority Of their votes, to resubmit Il after two
years TO another Legislature. when II IL obtained
wv blfu VI ~ NObtbg INV huuthuMNut WOuAu U0
adopted. This mode was very slow, and the re-
more than doubtful in the mean time, ths
King refused 10 take the oath.
q" The public was ignorant Of the resolution Of
he Sovereign, and bis conscientious besitatiOns.
On the 18th December a list OF the new Ministry
.ppeared in the ofBcial Journal Surprise was
The American party considered itself
Tilted. and concentrated all its rage against me.
That a Frenchman should be called 10 at In the
;ounciI that bis acceptance Of once should be
objected to the approval and authorization Of the
french Government that, as Minister OF Finance
10 should he charged with drawing up and deferd-
lg the budget all these were griefs we'll cal
TO exasperais people who believed them
elves sure Of power and who saw, In the person
I Me-. Wyllie, an enemy maintained In position,
nd in me, a new enemy, who had arrived.
Notwithstanding their violence, their attacks
id not by any means astonish me. I expected 10
nd them more implacable, and did not foresee,
the change In my favour, which circumstan-
es, much more than my own merit would bring
bout, within a year. ! had by no means dis
smbled on many occasions, the disquietude
'bieh the aggressiveness aud ambition Of tho
'nited States inspired In me. A 6rm p~ertisan Of
he necessity Of rallying against them and group
q together all the European interests In the
stands in order 10 make q force capable OF resis-
Ince, ] had cultivated with Mr.. Syngs, then
onsul General for England, the greatest inl-
Iacy, which was based upon a perfect harmony Of
Jews. ! had found in him during my duties In
le consulate an intelligent colleague and a sin
ere friend. "IdSm velle atque idem nolle ca Grma
nieitia est" We wished the same thing We
i'd the same enemies. I have always loved clear
~tuaiionS. II sometimes they are inconvenieHt In
formulating obstacles upon ones road. they
ave the advantage Of clearing up misunderstand-
rs, and showing us who are our enemies aud
no are our friends they oblIge us 10 greater
forts, but they make success secure and solid.