Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-03-10
SUGGESTED REFORM

masses which is necessary to the continued
prosperity Of the country and the well-being o
Its people. Under the present system OF gov
eminent then, scarcely less than absolute
power in the making and execution Of law !,
vested by the constitution in the King. Under
wise and cultivated monarch, such a state o
things need not be incompatible with genera
prosperity and universal conten,ment; bu
such state of things can only be sustained il
an intelligent community by voluntary con
cessions upon the part Of the Ruler and care
ful observance Of the will of the majority of tn,
people governed. 1t has been such concession,
and such observances upon the part of thost
who have ruled in times past that has made tn,
prosperity and independence ofthis little king
dom possible; and kept the solid good thai
was grated then, from being utterly uprootet
and overturned by the present era of mis-rule
All that people ask for in their rulers is sin
cerity and intelligence Of purpose, and du,
regard for the constitutional rights of thei
subjects; briefly they want an honest govern
ment, and neither splendor nor gigantic pre-
tences will appease their sense Of injury wher
this is denied them. This people are too en-
lightened, and live in the spirit of too late ar
age to be ruthlessly forced back to reverence
such an offspring Of medieval times as the doc
trinc of anfoyatie sanefity. 1t having been ii
times past the rule that monarchs took natur
ally into their councils only men Of established
character and known ability, and that as
consequence, good laws properly enforced
could be looked to with certainty, the people
satisfied with the condition of things, very
naturally regarded with little suspicion the
possibility of an abuse Of the power constitu
tionally inherent in the King, and therefore
never bethought themselves Of the necessity o
adopting means by which that power could be
curtaied
Certain acts of the present reign, however
clearly indicate the necessity Of many
restrictions which the wisdom of former Ruler.
had tended to make appear unnecessary. A
disposition has been evinced by the existing
Ruler, not only to exercise to its extreme the
prerogative vested in regality by the letter o
the constitution, but to meddle with the legis
lation Of the country in manner which violates
not only the spirit of the constitution, but the
very letter itself. In what special way, we dc
not now need to instance, as the fact is patent
to all who possess ordinary intelligence. A
Capitalization of power has been the object he
has had in view ever since the terror inspired
by the not that ensued at his election had sub
sided; and the pursuit of means to the acquire
ment of absolute control has characterized his
reign almost throughout. 1t is this assumption
OF autocratic sway that has been the secret o
the dismissal of so many cabinets and the ap
Of affairs that has had no precedent in former
reigns. More cabinets have been made and
unmade during the reign OF Kalakaua than in
all the previous reigns together. The Moreno
episode and the appointment and manifest de
sire to cling to, the present Cabinet, in spite
of the universally expressed disapprobation o
the people, are sufficient indications Of the
reasons why it has been so difficult matter in
the past to keep a Cabinet together for any
lengthy period. What the effects of these fre.
quent changes have been, may best be estima-
ted from our condition as a nation to-day; and
what may result from the continuation of such
style Of government, is not very difficult to
conceive, when the disturbing influences of the
past are taken into view.
The situation is becoming more and more
grave and complicated every day; and if il is
desirable that the independence and prosperity
of this kingdom should continue, it is fully
time that people were considering the question
OF how to prevent a continuance of rule
and how reform should be brought about. The
simple fact that Cabinet may be appointed,
composed Of capable and responsible men, is
not all that is needed, since their continuance
in Office is Immediately subject to the pleasure
of the King. Radical changes in the form oil
government is all that can save the nation from,
that ultimate ruin which awaits it, II the present
state OF things is allowed to exist.
We propose peaceful solution of the diff.
culties by purely legislative means; and unity
of sentiment and action among all classes o
people can secure the desired end il they car
be induced to suffer little selfsacrifce and
endure little temporary inconvenience,
Strategy must be met with strategy; and ii i,
as much in the power Of our influential men te
secure good representation in the Legislature
as 1t is in the power Of designing rulers to con
troll the actions Of bad men, whom the indifier
enee OF the influential portion Of the commun
i,y contributes largely to place in power. Ono,
secure majority in the legislature, of SINGER,
and determined men, and the cause of reform
would be begun; and once begun, succes:
would be sure.
Then could be resorted to those measures
not unknown in the annals OF British legisla
ton wherein the s,oPpage Of supplies would
remind an aggressive monarch ofthe power re-
siding in the Commons, and the necessity Of
regarding the will Of the people. First. and
foremost, constitutional abridgemen, Of the
prerogative OF the King would be necessary,
and his veto be made subservient to the will o
the legislature-not as in England with mon.
Mchs; but as in the United States of America,
with Presidents. Next would be eurtailed the
means OF bestowing patronage and power
which results mediaiely, OF Immediately, from
the Crown. And, next, laws would be enacted
to prevent the prostitution Of legislatures by
the "bibery Of Office" which has too hong
been the practice in the government Of this
county. And the absolute power Of the legis-
la,ure to Judge Of the qualifications of its mem.