The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-10-08

LIE present opposition has assumed pro
portions hitherto unknown in the annals
Of this country. There are few if any men
ofinteLligence. independent of government
patronage. who are not now in full sym
pathy with the opposition. as far as it
seeks its objects Of good government by
lawful and not by revolutionary means.
This condition Of affairs has arisen in con
sequence Of governmental evils of start
ling magnitude and Of unprecedented ma
ture.
kamehameha Y, IN the early, more than
In the later part Of his reign, had a steady
opposition; but his advisers were always
gentlemen. he stood by them. followed
their advice, and although he had the
strength Of the kamehameha family, he
always claimed to govern by strictly con
stItutiOual means His constitutional
change in 1864 was understood to have
been advised or fully acquiesced in by the
Judges Of the Supreme Court and by all
his Cabinet. But 1t was mainly to that
act, and to & certain arbitrary manner
which his Cabinet exhibited. that the op-
position was due 1t Is not to be denied.
however. that his Cabinet had the conf
dence and support Of the moneyed classes,
of the conservative and. If one pleases so
10 term it. Of the aristocratic portion of
the community. Whatever unpopularity
they encountered. no faint OF dishonesty.
no charge Of incompetency ever chung to
them. There was tone IN their social
f'Ht"s, IN the generous entertainments
which they gave and received, to which
the present rsgiHE. with all its lavish out
lays Of public moneys, Is an utter stranger.
LunalIlO's short reign was marked by
no incident more prominent than the sug-
gssti0u to Cede Pearl Harbor as naval sta
ton 10 the United States His Ministry.
1lessTs. Bishop, Hall, Judd and Stirling,
devoted u they were to Hawaiian auton-
Omy. deemed the project worthy Of con
sideration- For this they were showered
with abuse in Mr. GibsOn's M Hoa news.
paper, who then came to the surface. as a
defender OF native rights, he worked the
thing for all II was worth. and aroused
considerable native prejudice against for
eigners-
After Lunalilo's death upon the coca
sion Of kalakuua's election by the Assem-
bly,. occurred the first serious resistance to
authority which this country had seen.
The causes Of the Election Riot are well
known. It was only quelled by foreign aid.
From that time with short intermissions.
dates Mr. Gibson's effort to ride into power
by antagUnizing the races, and by inflat-
ing the royal mind with ideas Of foreign
distinction and Of sutOeratic rule 1t must
be admitted that he IS not the only one
who has taken hand IN the Initiating bus
ness Fortunately his antsgonizing has
not been a success Hawaiians do not
make the mistake Of believing that the in
terests Of their country depend upon keep
ing Incompetent or inexperienced Hawaii
ans In responsible Offices He has. how
ever, succeeded IN carrying corrupt meth
DDS into politics and government. In filing
the country with distrust, IN bringing
about almost national bankruptcy, and
IN making the present the most unpopular
reign ever known IN Hawaii
And now what Is this formidable Oppo-
sition TO dol Some say, let it organize.
choose its leaders and announce a policy.
Whenever the time Is ripe for such action
by ell means let il be taken We think
however. that even IN England, governed
as she Is by party, with complete party
ties and organization, the opposition IS
not expected to formulate a policy, other
than the policy Of reform, and OF opposing
the policy, the men and measures of the
Government To select party leaders I'M
plies well organized party which has
found by experience who Of its members
can be trusted with its general manage
ment
It has seemed to Us that events will con
tinue 10 strengthen. and VIII also shape
the course Of our opposition; and that O.
tentious attempts at present to organize
and choose party leaders would be more
likely TO arouse jealousy and suspicion
among those who otherwise win be apt
scholars IN the school Of events.
There are many in cur midst whose ex-
pressed opinions On this subject would
have weight II has Of late become Gus