The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-02-17

such visitors as were invited. and with such
an assembly of the people as was expected.
80 great was the assembled multitude that
not less than four thousand people filed
every available seat, and nearly as
large a number occupied the surround
ing Palace grounds. All parties and all
official ranks We're represented in the
great assembly, and this certainly indicates
the full and cordial acceptance of this cere-
mony, and its recognition as appropriate to
our King and his sovereignty. This result
must, indeed, be q great satisfaction to Mr..
Gibson the Premier, who, as a representa-
tive of the people and a member of the Leg
islatare from Lahaina, planned and or
ganized 1t. On this occasion it is proper
after the successful contamination of the
ceremony, that some proceedings of the
Legislative body which gave Origin and
sanction to it should now be recalled. The
following is the Act of the Coronation
which was voted by the Assembly of 1880
- giEs st8 AN ACT
To PROVIDE O THE CORONATION OF THE
= slt OF HAWAII.
WHEREAS, it has been the custom from
time immemorlal to crown the Kings of
Hawaii, and perpetuate the dignity of The
| Throne; and
Whereas, the Constitution fails to provide
for such an Act, and it is advisable that
such a Coronation be provided for by the
laws of the Kingdom therefore.
Be 1t Enacted By the King and the LegisLa-
the Assembly of the Hatodiidn Islands,
ia the Legislature of the Kingdom as
sem6Ied:.
SECTION l. nat His Majesty the King,
in Privy Council, shall ascertain and pro-
claim by public proclamation a time when
he shall be crowned and he, in Privy Coun-
| oil NAV ma ka Snah .FulaS anil raoJlafinns
for such occasion as he shall deem proper.
and all the expense attending such event
shall be paid for out of any moneys III the
Treasury, ~nototherwise appropriated in the
Appropriation Lii, provided they shall not
exceed the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars.
SECTION 2. This Act shall become Il law
from the date of its passage.
srf Approved this 9th day OF August, A.D. 1882
~ .ft- X.
On the OCCASION of the consideration of
this Act, Mr.. Gibson spoke as follows
at has been stated by Hon. members that
the ceremonial of crowninga King of Hawaii
has never been performed, but that sover-
eigns of this country had been installed in
the royal office by simply taking an oath
to support the Constitution, even as His
Majesty hal done. And along with this
statement it is conteiided that the preamble
to the bill is incorrect, inasmuch as it de-
clares that former Hawaiian Kings were
"crowned." but this is a contention about
C4C l. Vi thC O1h DOgtCs III NhC Ia
waiian version, which is rendered in the
English version by the word crowned
/ will not say that any Hawaiian Kings
have ever had a circlet of gold, with arch
fng fillets, covering a cap of maintenance,
and surmounted by symbols of the cross
and -orbs of dominion, ever placed upon
their brows like .regnant sOvereigns of
Christian Europe. But when Hawaiian
aliis or chiefs were installed in the SOW
ereign office they were endowed by a cere-
monial accompanied with an anointment
and the decoration of the MALE, and this
fern of investiture, called pom i'll Hawaiian,
we may translate into English by the word
coronation.
And shall we, upholders of a monarchy
with the example Of enlightened monarch
ical Europe, attach no Importance to such q
ceremonial ? Shall we not, rather-sus-
tanned by the declared opinions of men like
Wyllie, Ricord, and Judd, that the monarchy
was essential to the best welfare of the Ha-
waiian people, s %rengthen the Hawaiian
throne by taking measures TO provide for a
browning cOnSummation?
But we are tainted with our littleness.
The paucity of our population is mentioned
with diSdain.Gt And fidicule seeks to abate
the aspirations of our little State. But what
say the powers of the earth ? The salvOs of
their armaments in our ports recognize the
full dignity of our. Majesty-neither more
nor less than what is accorded to the pOten-
tate of Russia, or the illustrious sovereign
of England. Then shall we do ltss than
PtOfh Va - Ao'A 49, ~
ereignty, so honored before the world?
1t is said that we have a crown, and that
its exhibition as a. symbolic device should
be sufficient. Yes, there is one, a gilt bit of
art that surmounts the dais in this Hall,
ard there is another one laid away some
where in the Interior Department, which
has been used for parade, and carried IN
PROFESSIONS, and is a mere theatric property.
But will you put a gilt ring upon the finger
of the bride? Can the ceremonial of mar
riage be fully honored and consummated
with an economic imitation of precious
metals and precious stones? What heart,
that recognizes the sacramental bond would
so deseorate the solemn pledge of the union
OF two hearts! And must a people that
cherish a throne, and honor a King, be con-
tent with less than a circlet of pure and re-
fined gold, adorned and gemmed, as the
insignia to be employed in the perfect install
latiOn and conservation of their Sovereign?
Behold Great Britain, that great and pru-
dent power, how she has lavished treasure
upon a CROWN and procured gems at a great
cost, among which is the famed koh-i-nor
of India, valued at hundreds of thousands of
dollars. The famed jewel cost both blood
and treasure, and was a spoil of war.
Hawaiians will develop national spirit
more and more by tae increase of reverence
for the Throne. He did not regard the per-
son of the incumbent, whether Prince or
Princess, adult or minor-his purpose was
to honor and strengthen the monarchy, as
a measure towards the main
tenance of the independence OF the state,
and the preservation of the race.
During the previous session a bill of this
kind was prepared, but he advised the with
holding of its presentation in the Assembly,
as being premature at That time. But now
that we have provided for a royal palace
that is to cost about a quarter of a million
of dollars before it is finally finished and
furnished, shall W. haggle about a few
more thousands to provide for the perfect
and consecrating climax of the work
You Hawaiians, in browning your Kings
will raise up your nation before the eyes O
the world. You will assert you patriot
ism-you will prove your national spirit
and You will make a solemn appeal to the
great powers of the earth for the perpetual
guarantee of your independence.
This is indeed a measure that should have
originated with the Ministers of His Majesty;
but as they are backward in this, as they
have been i'm other measures for the welfare
of the country. it becomes the duty of the
Representatives of the people to take the
initiative.
And this, furthermore, is a measure that
rebukes the spirit of those who hope for the
decline of this nation, and the final sur