The Hawaiian gazette., 1878-07-10
WEDNESDAY. JULY 10. 1878
The Change of the Ministry.

just dc VIC NClc EbiliS W press va
Wednesday last, and therefore, had no time to
do more tfaa simply announce the fact. The
change of Ministry-which means the change
of one set of Constitutional advisers of His
Importance that it can hardly be expected to
pass without comment.
The people, without exception, in this city,
were taken by surprise, when it was ascer-
the late Ministers for their portfolios, and
that their successors had actually been COM
missioned. This surprise was intensified be-
cause the late Ministry had been sustained by
the Legislative Assembly in the vote Oh Mr..
Gibson resolution Of want of confidence, which
was indefinitely postponed. The vote of the
Assembly was looked upon as the expression
of the majority of the peoples representatives;
which established the fact, that the Kingdom
and the people had full confidence in the in
tegrity, patriotism and capacity of the late
Ministers. Had the resolution been carried,
the instantaneous resignation of the Ministers
would have been expected as a matter of
course. ANY other course would have been
looked upon as out of all parliamentary usage,
and at variance with true sense of honor and
dignity on the part of the late Ministry.
We do not for a moment question the right,
nor the prerogative of His Majesty, to change
his Ministry as, and when he pleases, and no
doubt the reasons which moved the King to
act with decision and promptness in this in
stance were sufficiently strong and controlling
in their character to justify his action. What
those reasons were, we are not only ignorant
of, but under, and in view of the circumstances,
at a loss to conjecture.
Having said this much we pass to the per-
sonnel of the gentlemen selected, as the new
Ministry.
His Excellency Samuel g. Wilder, is we'll
and favorably known to the people of these
Islands, having been long resident thereon.
As gentleman and good citizen, he stands in
the first rank. He is d thorough business man,
and will bring to the discharge of the impor-
tant and responsible duties of the Interior De-
pdAAulCl-l LuOoG WHICH are GSsGll-
tial to the head of the bureau over which he
has been called to preside. Under Mr. Wilder,
we doubt not that the Interior Department
will receive thorough overhauling, and the
business of the Government, SO far as he is
concerned, will be systematized and put in
perfect working order. In our humble judg-
ment the Encouragement of the business of
the Interior Department should claim His Ex-
cellency's atterti without delay If it be
true that ''order is Heavens first law" then
the Minister of the Interior will agree with
US, that by adopting perfect system of man
agement, with the proper checks and balances
TO keep that system in perfect working order,
lie will accomplish all that is required of him,
and the interests of the Government will be
properly guarded, whilst he will have the
whole business well in hand, and thus save
himself from the carping of fault finders.
From the universal testimony of all who know
the character and qualifications of the new
Minister of the Interior, we hazard nothing
in predicting for him successful administra-
tion of the Interior Department.
His Excellency ]. NJ Kapena, is a gentle
man who has filled important positions of
trust, profit and honor heretofore in this, his
native Kingdom. He is a gentleman of edu-
cation, intelligence and experience. He com
menced his career as journalist, then became
Governor of Maui, afterward Minister of FL
nance, and now Minister of Foreign Affairs
This is high distinction conferred by the par
tiality Of his Sovereign, and we know we but
express the sentiments of the people when we
say that the new Minister of Foreign Affairs
will prove himself in the present position, as
he has in all previous ones, equal to all the
requirements of the place.
His Excellency Simon K. Kaai, the new
Minister of Finance, is also "native to the
manor born" who like his Excellency the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, possesses all the
necessary qualifications to make faithful and
conscientious officer. The Minister of Finance
is gentleman of education and intelligence,
and of fine natural abilities. He possesses the
confidence and respect of his people in an emf
nent degree, and worthiIy so; and this fact is
an earnest of the good effects of His Majesty's
selection; because it is a concession to the
native element which is alike creditable to the
good sense of His Majesty, and the wishes of
the native population.
His Excellency Edward Preston, the newly
appointed Attorney General, is gentleman
possessing the necessary legal learning and
ability, to enable him to discharge the duties
of the law officer of the Grown, and this is all
that is required. We congratulate the new
Attorney General, on his promotion to so high
position in tire gift of His Majesty, and wish
for him successful career as public officer.
The new Ministers have entered upon their
respective duties, and arc therefore like all
their predecessors-on trial; and if they are
found competent and shall carry on the Gov
ernment in q manner that will rebound to the
honor and best interests of the nation, His
Majesty and the people will have cause to
congratulate themselves. Whether frequent
changes of the Ministry are wise or expedient
are questions which time alone must determine:
and to that never failing test, SO far as we
are concerned, we are willing to leave the
issne. What this country wants-indeed what