The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-12-09
THE Pacific
Commercial AOOertlsrr
SATURDAY Y. 9.
THE NEW MINISTRY.

The community was profoundly interested, but
not surprised, to learn on Monday last that Min
listers had rendered their designations to the King.
The sentiment had long been very general that
the country could expect nothing like enterprise
or progress from the gentlemen then in Office,
~(however much and deseryedly they were
esteemed in private life) and it had on more
than one occasion trapspired that they did not
even agree among themselves on questions of
public policy. a Ministry that fails to inspire
public confidence in it's ability to govern not only
prudently, but energetically and self-reliantly,
must inevitably fail of accomplishing the ends
for which government is instituted.
During the early part of the week, the ques-
ton as to who were to constitute the new Cabi-
net, was the al-engrossing subject Of discussion
throughout the community, although from the
first there was a decided unanimity of preference
expressed for the candidates who in the end have
been entrusted by His Majesty with the control
Of public affairs. On Thursday morning it was
defnitively made known that the following gentle
men had accepted Office
Hon. j. Morn SMITH, as Minister of the Interior.
Hon. II. A. p. CARTER, as Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
His Elk. j. NJ. KAPENA, as Minister of Finance.
Hon. A. 5. HARTwELL, as Attorney General.
The announcement of the government thus
formed will be received by the entire country
with extreme satisfaction. It secures not only
the highest intelligence in the administration,
but it gives full promise Of activity, enterprise
sand progress, while presenting the inherent ele-
ments of strength and cohesion. We would not
expect impossibilities, and are moreover forcibly
reminded that serious obstacles which may tend
to cripple the usefulness of the Ministry will be
found in the crude and careless legislation of the
late session of the Assembly yet when we con-
slider the combination of talent and ability which
His Majesty has wisely secured in the present
Cabinet, we cannot but augur the approach Of a
new era of good and efficient government, in the
beneficial effects of which the whole country
shall participate.
The gentlemen who have now taken Office are
all closely identified with the material interests
of Hawaii mel; two are Hawaiians by birth, and
all have had more or less experience in public
life. They accept their positions for no personal
emolument, but on the contrary they sacrifice
personal ease and pecuniary interests to the pub
lie service.
We have spoken of the new Cabinet as pre-
oChtlbB IL ChiOh - ptiNbk". n otAObS SOS
eminent is an indispensable requisite in this
country "a government by Ministers, upon whom
shall devolve the entire, undivided responsibility
of all measures and all appointments to Office.
The Constitution declares that "the person of
the King is inviolable and sacred. His Ministers
are responsible" "No act of the King shall
have any effect unless it be eountersigned by a
Minister, who by that act makes himself respon-
sible.''
While our circumstances will not yet permit
of the adoption, in all it's proportions, of the
system of government by a Premier as under the
British Constitution, we understand the fact is
however recognized by His Majesty's present ad-
visers that it is highly proper that there should
be an acknowledged head of the Ministry, to
whom the country may look as the leader or re-
sponsible chief of the administration. The prin-
cipal business of government is transacted in and
through the Department of the Interior; and
therefore it seems only proper and fitting that its
Minister should be the leading member and nom-
inal head of the Cabinet.