The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-02-20

ATTENTION i again called TO the question
of politics as a legitimate occupation Of
Constitutional Sovercigns by thcrepetition
in the -idrcHjssr of the 10th inst. of the
already refuted fallacy that Queen Vic
turia and many other monarchs Of Eng
land have been among the most active
politicians in their country This was
untrue even III the time of the Planta-
renets. II became more nearly the truth in
the time of the Tudors, it was put to the
final test by the Kings OF the Stuart fam
ily. with what result Is too universally
known 10 require any illustration now Il
days. and it Is not proposed 10 attempt any
here On the accomplishment Of the Great
Revolution of 16SS, the power of the Crown
was placed under such strict limitation
and watched with such Jealous scrutiny
that from that time Onwards the SOver-
eigns of England almost ceased to be
politicians in the sense implied by the
writer in the idrcFisrr. Neither Queen
Anne. nor the first two Georges meddled
in the internal affairs of the Kingdom far
ther than was unavoidably their duty IN
transferring the power of internal govern
mcnt from one group or Cabinet of men
to another, as appeared necessary. not to
the preference of the Sovereign. but to the
decision of the Houses of Parliament.
From the time of William III, and Mary.
the Sovereigns Of England have sat on the
Throne by virtue Of precisely the same
authority as every other functionary in
the Realm. VIZ: by Act Of Parliament, and
at this day Queen Victoria cannot main
tain a Company of Guards, or her Minister
of Finance sanction the expenditure of a
passage of two Acts Of Parliament each of
which has to be re-cnacted every year OF
the Revolution Of l6SS Macaulay saws 1t
finally decided the great question whether
the popular elements should be destroyed
by the monarchical element. or be suffered
to develop itself freely"
At the accession of George III. says
Green. For the first and last time. since
the accession of the House Of Hanover.
England saw a King who was resolved to
play part in English politics. and. the
part which George III succeeded in play
ing was undoubtedly a memorable one
In ten years he had reduced government
to a shadow, and turned the loyalty Of
his subjects into disafection. In twenty
he had forced the colonies Of America into
revolt and independence. and brought Eng
land to the brink of ruin So much for
Kingly politicians The tools by which
George III strove TO attain his ends Burke
describes las set of persons called the
Kings friends who merely rep
resented the private feelings Of the Court,
who belonged to no school or party and
had no political maxims whatever 1t
was. wrote Maurice. IA strong conviction
of the danger of this sort Of government
which led Burke to write the Thoughts on
the present discomfort"
OF the Ministers of George ii Macaulay
tells us that the King disliked Pitt. but
absolutely hated Temple" OF the Minis
tiers of George Ill. the same historian saws:
They, the Ministers) gave the King plain
ly to understand that they were determined
not to I've (the favorites) creatures and ex
acted promise that no secret advice
should have access to the royal ear" These
instances might be multiplied but enough |
is said 10 show that the SOyereigns of Eng
land for many generations past have been
10 govern according to the sense !
of the people. to accept and employ Min 4
listers put forward by the people 10 subor |
dinate their personal preferences to the |
will of the people. and TO avoid attempt |
ing the part of ''activc politicians in their |
country
With regard TO the present reign now in |
its forty seventh wear. what says the most |
recent historian. Justin Mccarthy With |
him (William W We may believe ended |
the reign Of personal government in Eng .
land. William was indeed CONSTITUTIONS, |
King in more than mere name he |
was as far in advance of his two predeces- /
sUrs in understanding and acceptance of /
the principle as his successor has proved .
herself beyond him. He still held to and I
exercised the right TO dismiss his Ministers
when he pleased, and because he pleased.
His father had held 10 the right of maintain
ng favOrite Ministers in defiance Of repeat
"a votes OF the House of Commons 3
Dut in our day we should believe that the
freedom of England was
outraged, or at least put in the EXTREMIST
hanger. if Sovereign were TO dismiss a
Ministry at mere pleasure, OF retain it in
despite of the expressed wish Of the House
IF Commons"
The fact Is our instructor does not know
he difference between a Statesman and a
Politician. and he does not know the ont
lines of English History. or he Is writing
70 order. 4 recent writer says that Queen
Victoria takes foremost place among the
most thoughtful of ripe and mature States
men of the day" The Queen Is a great
-Iller at the head Of Great Empire. not
IN eleciOneering agent Her position Is
yreat, her influence greater, only because
she has trodden righteously in the path
provided. She has never been mere par
izan, but has always been the head of the
selected by Law and Gus
ON to administer the affairs of the ma
ion.
Perhaps the worst thing ever done for
his Kingdom was the attempt persistently
arIied on since the death of kamehameha |
!. to divide IT into two semi-hostile camps
4 which the King should be put forward
S the ostensible head of one
And this Is what such writers as he re-
a,--l.d To L string To do