The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-12-09
Mr.. de Varigny makes up his mind to
Accept Office.

81 made up my mind to accept the situation Mr.,
Wyllie, in the matter of public business, was a col
league whom 1 knew 1 could agree with ; 1 had but
little acquaintance with Mr.. Robertson, but 1 knew
him to be q hard worker, an intelligent man, and
one who enjoyed the esteem of the public. /
thought it wrong, however, to remove him from the
Supreme Court, where it would be very difficult
to fill his place and /, moreover thought that 1
might find in him, on certain points. q great obsti-
macy, and perchance, q narrowness Of ideas. All
this was true, but I counted upon time to bring US
nearer together. and reckoned that esteem would
soon reconcile differences. / knew Harris better {;
his name Will often occur in the course of my narra-
tive, and I thought that the King had acted wisely
in giving him q deliberative and consulting voice in
the Cabinet ; he was u man of action, full of re-
sources, persevering to the last degree, with the
good qualities and defects of an American lawyer.
"Frenchman as 1 was, and holding an office
under my government, L could not accept the offer
which had been made to me without the approval of
that government. This under the circumstances.
was not very doubtful, and making a reservation
upon this point, 1 told Mr.. Wyllie, the next day,
that I would accept the situation. Mr.. Wyllie trans
mitted my reply to the King, who Immediately COM
manded me to attend him.
81 found Kamehameha v. in his palace. 1 had
not had any intercourse with the new Sovereign for
many years ; our last conversation had been in
1857, when, as Plenipotentiary for the Hawaiian
Government, he discussed with my chief and myself
the clauses of the French treaty. He received me
with great cordislity, making some illusions to our
former associations, of which he preserved the kinds
est remembrance. He thanked me for my accep-
lance of Office. replied to him, that the offer had
surprised me, and would surprise much more, the
American Party which thought himself sure of OBJ
tanning the control of affairs. The King knew as
well as 1 did the rumors of the city, the lists which
were circulating, and the hopes which the Americans
based upon his personal sympathies, and upon this
point he was not willing that a shadow of doubt
should exist. Ireckon, said he, the Americans among
my friends, but I am very far from intending to de-
liver thegKingdom into their hands. "A q Prince
I could consult my persona taste. as q King, 1
must have able, intelligent, and more especially reso-
lutte councillors, for 1 mediate great changes.
He asked me what 1 thought of my colleagues2
l told him my thoughts, adding that I foresaw great
difficulty in procuring a suitable substitute for Judge
Robertson in the Supreme Court. The King replied
that the Cabinet and Judge Robertson himself,
would be consulted on the point. He questioned
me on the subject of the finances which would be-
come my special field of duty, and approved my
plans, which I was able to explain but very briefly.
He had himself done the duties of an al interim
Minister of Finance, for two years, and seized
quickly the result of the reforms which 1 submitted
to him.
Passing then to the question of general Politics
he spoke to me Of the next session of the Legislature
and of the mode Of election; on this point l could
not and ought not TO conceal my convictions. A
determined enemy Of universal suffrage, l explained
with the greatest frsnkness my views touching the
danger of the ballot in the hands of the masses.
without the instructions or independence. The
King listened to me with q great deal of attention
and replied, you raise a question which has occupied
my mind a long time, I consider the present consti-
tuition many years in advance Of the needs of our
people. We have scarcely emerged from feudalism,
and American ideas have pushed US to the very
verge of Republication. They have miscounted on
me ; liberal as 1 am, 1 have not yet been able to de-
eide in my own mind to take the oath of the COnsti-
tuition. We will speak Of this again, but,' added he
rising, we understand one another. and I augur
well for the future / left him. Our interview had