The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-11-24

II the elections could speak the real
sentiment OF the people. especially the
thinking and conservative portion. radical
changes might be looked for. The changes
which have been made in the Constitution
and laws Of the kingdom for the past
twelve years, in matters bearing on politi-
cal control, are very grave. They have
been made slowly. cautiously. gradually.
They began with an amendment TO the
Constitution, proposed in 1872, adopted in
1874 by which all restrictions. except that
OF citizenship, were virtually swept away
from the elective franchise. This. on the
face, was a step in favor Of universal sufi,
rage and OF popular government; in point
OF fact IT broke down an important barrier
against demagogism and gave strength to
the unpnnclpled aud scheming politician
who can more easily control an election.
Attempts TO amend the law relative 10
elections; to make registration evidence on
winch any elector could vote, doing away
with the necessity Of producing a tax re-
celpt have been resisted, and that law
still controls the matter. so that no elector.
although registered, can vote unless his
tax receipt Is produced Nothing Is bet
ter known than that the tax receipts are
collected IN the interests of unprincipled
candidates, and that their possession has
IN important bearing on the result of an
election. Every attempt 10 amend the
Constitution to exclude all Judges not
only OF Courts OF Record" from the Leg
lslatWe, has been abortivc If the amend
ment has passed It has been returned TO
the Assembly unsigned An attempt 10
purify the quality Of the Legislature itself
by increasing the property, or income
qualification Of its members. introduced
tromthe popular side Of the Housein 1876.
was defeated In ISIS, in the most remark
able way. 1t had been duly advertised
and IN the regular order came up for nc
tion. II seemed likely 10 be adopted. but
on motion Of one of the members for La
hama il recollection is correct-it went
over 10 later day The second or third
day thereafter it was called up on motion.
Mr. Aholo made a very short affair Of It by
remarking that all were agreed and moved
the previous question, whereby debate
was cut of and the measure was summa
MY killed. Every indication on the part
oi the majority showed a pre- arranged de
termination TO prevent the passage of the
amendment More recently the appoint
ment Of judges has been by law removed
from the Judiciary to the Executive De
partment The naturalization law has also
been amended so that the discretion as
TO who shall become citizens has been re
moved from the Minister of the Interior io
the King himself This latter change Is
the more remarkable. since there was no
abuse-hardly any use of the former stat
ute. These are a few Of the changes. 1t
Will be seen at once, by those who under
stand the working of our system, that these
changes are all toward Capitalization.
Does any enc suppose that they are acci-
dental, OF that they are not parts OF a gen
eral plan! The intelligence is too marked.
the design too evident. They have been
possible because of the willing acouies-
cence OF a pliable Legislature. While we
nave been sleeping on our political rights |
and privileges, some Of them have been
taken away. others have been sLillfully /
made Of little value. The plan to he pur
sued, now IN process of development, for |
the coming elections, Is an open and un- /
blushlng defiance of the principles of rep
resentahve government, but Is strictly In |
accordance with what was to be expected |
when the laws were modelled to suit the |
purpose, and when it could be done with |
the expectation. of success. The machinery |
OF government IS used, and every part |
made to do duty, in returning an Assembly
which will be mere tool in the hands OF 1
the Executive The question naturally
arises, If the Legislature can be controlled
by the Executive, yet at some labor and
expense, how long Will it be before the Leg
Islatare itself is done away with? IfKa
V, quietly overturned one Con
stitu6on, and replaced it with one to suit
himself, why may not Kalakaua do the
samel 1t is the undoubted fact to -dav.
hat the Government has but little regard
ior the laws Of the land. Nodoubt Il would
b. convenient Il the law-making depart
nent could be abolished altogether. The
suggestion Is frequently made. that the
pest thing to do is to do nothing. but
p let the thing run till it runs into the
round and reform comes because there is
lothing worse. This is poor policy and
me which viii only bear. evil fruit. Egypt