The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-01-23
The Deficiencies of the Hawaiian Consti.
tuition and their Eject.
By special request we republish the following,
which appeared lately in n supplement-
Durinr nasf years the HaWniian Goyernnent

By special request We republish the following,
which appeared lately in a supplement.
During past years, the Hawaiian Government
has been held up as a model. The wisdom of her
rulers in selecting as advisers those who had es-
tablished regulations for honesty, ability and pat
riotism, had been such that the need Of organic
Law, guaranteeing rights was not well appreci-
ated nor the evil effects of deficient Constitution
felt as they are at the present time.
To begin with, the citizens. taxpayers, the
people to whom the country belongs, have abso-
lutely no voice in the election of the chief ruler
In the King was a nominal power, figure head,
with the real power IN the hands of the people
this might be passed by but when We come to c'il'
slider the power and responsibility, or rather the
immunity from responsibility which the C0nstitu-
ton gives TO and exacts from the King it becomes
of prime importance.
The King has absolute power TO appoint as his
successor to the throne any person who comes I'M
der the head of an Ali, with the sole limitation
that such appointee shall not be insane, idiot,
or a convict. He also has the power without linn
itation or control, to appoint and maintain IN
Office the Ministers who formulate and execute the
policy of the Government and expend the money
that is supplied by the people The tenure OF Office
of these Ministers is the zill of the King. Nc
qualifications, no restrictions are imposed by the
Constitution. The fact that every man, woman
and child in the country desires certain Minister
TO remain In Office, or another to be removed, Is
matter entirely irrelevant and of no importance ~
the eve of the Constitution. The Kings uncurbed
will is law.
A ray of light seems TO shine along the political
horizon when read that taxes shall be levied
and appropriations made only with the consent of
the Legislative Assembly, is. the representative
of the people. This however, Is a snare and a de-
fusion; a sugar coated pill which tastes well on
first acquaintance, but which soon discloses it:
true inuardness.
The Constitution states that the King Is tht
executive; that he is inTioable and sacred, and
that he is not responsible for his acts It also
that the executive and the legislative shall always
be preserved distinct, and in the same breath in
vests the King. the executive with the power
| to control the Leclature. The people are repre-
sented in the Legislature by tweuty-eight repre-
sentatives, each entitled to vote. The King il
represented in the Legislature by twenty -four votes
through twenty so-called mobiles and the four Mn
listers, all appointed by him, : = although tho
Constitution expressly states that the Legislative
and the executive shall always be preserved dis
tinct it gives the executive the power 10, at one
sweep. nrllify txenty-four out of twenty eight
votes n the Legislative Assembly. The result OF
this Is that if two representatives vote with the a
pointees of the King. there Is tie, and if that
number increased to three the vote Of the people
| Is IN a minority and once more the will Of the
King becomes law
Whea we consider this, does II appear that the
provision in thu Constitution which declares thai
no money shall be drawn from the Treasury with.
on; the consent OF the Legislative Assembly, Is
substantial protection or an empty form! Is the