The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-07-02
AN EXPLANATION WANTED.

Messrs. Gibson, Creighton, Dare,
and Kanoa, took their seats yester-
day. A change of some kind in the
ministry had been expected for sew
eral days by section of the COM
munity, but of what precise nature
no one seemed ready to venture an
opinion. When the official an
nouncement appeared in the morn
ing paper it was received with sur
prise by most people-surprise, not
that a change had occurred. but
with the nature of the change-and
it must be confessed that the gen
eral dissatisfaction expressed was
nearly on par with the astonish-
ment felt the dissatisfaction being
mainly with the nature of the
change. The people of the country
--native-born citizens and old resi-
Will lItll tllbllC lulclC CSlS NNll-
tired here-were naturally indignant
that cabinet of ministers should be
one-half made up of strangers of
brief residence in the kingdom. 1t
was reasonable to expect when
the ministers took their seats, that
at least some explanation would
have been made to the house. The
country's representatives and the
people had a right to expect it;
nay, more, to demand it. The old
ministry had q large majority of the
Assembly, none of their measures
had been defeated, no vote of want
of confidence had been passed or at
tempted against them; and yet they
had been suddenly displaced by a
set of men three-fourths new, with
out any satisfactory explanation
offered to the house or the public.
Mr.. Gibson, the one member of the
old cabinet transferred to the new,
simply stated that ''there are
reasons which it is not necessary to
state at this time which made it
desirable in the view of His Majesty
that they (the old ministry should
retire. Now, the people who fur
nish the support of the Government
and the people governed think very
differently from the Prime Minister
They think that the breaking anC
making of so-called responsible
ministries, in a free country, sup
posed to be governed constitution
ally, and protesting to take its pre-
cedents from the United States ant
Great Britain, should not be done il
hole or a corner, without regarC
to their views or wishes; and tn,
people are most unquestionably
right. A full explanation shoult
have been given to the Legislature
and in any country outside of this
with parliamentary government, j
would have been imperatively de
manded In fact, the retirin
ministry should have made thei
statement of the case to til
house before retiring; but appal
emily no opportunity of doing so wa
afforded them. 1t then became tn
duty of the new Cabinet to do VIII;
their predecessors were not permi
ted to do. The people being kel
in the dark, are naturally dissati'
fled and suspicious Of covert de
signs, and if His NIajesty's Mn
istry desire to secure and retain IL
confidence of the community the
will have to adopt different line
action. As Mr.. Castle stated in h
speech yesterday, if the AIinstl
bring in measures of reform and +
trenchment they will receive prop
support. There is no doubt abo
that. They will be measured al
weighed by their acts. If thu
adopt and adhere to an enlightene
honest, impartial policy, the be
elements of the nation are at the
back. But let us have no squan
ering of the public funds or usele
and hurtful objects, no depletion
the treasury by iniquitous commi
sions, no filling of honorable oflic
with dshonorable or incomplete
men, no legislation or administr
ton in favor of any particular clip
faction, or person. We have h;
enough OF these things in the pas
and want no more.