The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-04-23

The present Minister for Foreign Rela-
tions dubbed himself on every occasion,
Premier of the Kingdom, when he came
into power a couple of years ago. The
matter was regarded merely as the silly
arrogance of vain man and for long
he was known to the Honolulu public as
the Primate, the allusion being to his for
mer position in the Mormon Church. OF
late the habit of calling him Premier has
insensibly grown upon all, and in the
native papers he is constantly alluded to
the word Premier has been translated Ku-
hina Nui, for the latter is a title to which
distinct powers and very great powers are
attached in the native mind: and in usurp-
ing this title the Minister of Foreign AT
fairs tries to appear to them, not merely
as the head of the government, but as
something far different, a sort of vice King,
the holder of dignity which has only
been filed by the very highest of Hawaii's
chiefs. He, mere Mormon adventurer,
an ex-buccaneer of the Java seas to aspire
to fill position once held by Kaahumanu,
Kinau, Kekauluohi, Keoni Ana and Vic
toria Kamamalu.
To properly understand this matter it is
necessary to refer to the old constitution
of 1910. In that constitution we read as
follows:
'Respecti,,g bs Premie,. of tie Kingdoms
at shall be the duty of the King to appoint some
chief of rank and ability to be his particular Min
lister. whose title shall lie Premier of the Kingdom
chs ba thp nrnp rs hot
of haahumanu /, and Kaahumanu IL"
Even in the time of Kamehameha l, life
and death, condemnation and acquittal
were in the hands of Kaahumanu. When
Kamehameha died, his will was: .'The
Kingdom is Liholiho's and Kaahumanu is
his Minister" "That important feature of
the government, originated by Kameha-
meha l shall be perpetuated in the Ha-
waiian islands, but shall always be in sub
serviency to the law
"The following are the duties of the Premier {:
All business connected with the special inter
ests of the Kingdom, which the King wishes to
transact, shall be done by the Premier under the
authority of the King All documents and bust
ness of the Kingdom executed by the Premier shall
be considered rs executed by the Kings authority
All government property shall be reported to him.
ior herr and he ,or shel shall make it to the
King
sellor in the great business of the Kingdom"
"The King shall not act without the knowledge
of the Premier nor shall the Premier act without
the knowledge of the King, and the veto of the
King on the acts of the Premier shall arrest the
business. All important business of the Kingdom
which the King chooses to transact in person, he
may do II but not without the appreciation of the
PREMIER?
In the Constitution of 1852 the name
Premier is dropped and the style in the
English as well as the Hawaiian version
is KuttnG Nui of the Hawaiian Islands,
and his title in English is Highness and
Hi KieEie in Hawaiian He is to have
charge of the Great Seal of the Kingdom.
of the Royal Standard and of the National
Flag, and in the absence of the King, to
preside in the Privy Council; to perform
all the duties incumbent on the King while
the Throne may be vacant by the death of
the King, or otherwise, and during the
minority of the heir to the Throne.
In 1864 the present constitution was
substituted for that of 1852, and the office
of HNliHa Nui was abolished.
The present constitution says: "The
Kings Cabinet shall consist of the Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the
Interior. the Minister of Finance and the
Attorney General of the Kingdom, and
these shall be His Majesty's Special ad-
visers in the executive affairs of the King
! dom"
All acts of the King are to be counter
signed by Minister.
Each Member of the Kings Cabinet
shall keep an office at the seat of govern
mel1t, and shall be accountable for the
con, 1uct of his deputies and clerks"
| tc Itho Kfnu,cl ATfriefo,s- ,ro ,.oe,,,Y,
sible..
"Au titles of Honor, Orders and other
distinctions emanate from the King"
What warrant is there under the present
constitution for the sufix premier. :
What does it meanl Is it to be confined
to any particular Minister, Or may it be
attached to either4 1t was not Mr.. Green's
title, nor is it anybody's title Is itamere
designation of precedence which may be
| given to either Minister for the time being
And is the style KuhiRa Nui to be used as
the Hawaiian equivalent of such bastard
| Premiership as now exists2 The Minister
whom the King may name to take prece-
dence in matters of ceremony, or to make
up Cabinet. might be called Rutina MuG
but not Eulind Nm What is there grcai
about such position? The Office created
by Kamehameha l was great position
and intended to be filled by great chiefs
1t is piece of presumption for any Min
lister of the present day to use that style
Shall we notsoon hear Hea RieEic Gibson
or something equally absurd Ii he can
find men willing to take the other position
and submit to his interference and dicta-
ton, and can persuade the King to appoint
| them. who can saw how much he NAV ar
rogate to himself, or how much the other
offices may be degraded. VIII the title oi
Majesty satisfy, or win he want to attach
Nus to 1T