Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-01-01
THE KINGS FINANCIAL VIEWS.

especially as bearing upon the financial credit
Of the Government, would preface it by say
ing that il is not intended to disparage in the
least his Majestys qualifications for discharg.
ing his proper duties as Sovereign. He
seems to the writer to be well fitted in many
important respects for his exalted position, and
adapted to preside over the State with honor
and usefulness. By the dignity and geniality
of his personal bearing, he becon,ingly rep
resents the nation, and has been enabled to
do us good service at home and abroad.
He gives the impression both Of prince and |
the gentleman. He appears as a cultured pro-
duct Of modern civilization. In all that concerns
the special province Of tile Sovereign, he pos
sesses the needfu knowledge and training to
act his part we'll and limpressively, so as TO
command respect and honor.
Possessing these desirable qualities, il can
only be with deep regret that We see the King
so often stepping outside of the high and dig
ni6ed sphere Of presiding officer Of his King
dom, and undertaking functions for which it
is no derogation to say that he is quite unquali-
fled. In doing so, he inevitably exposes him
self to ridiculc and dsrespect Those are no
real friends to him who by their flattery
encourage such mistaken courses. This error
Of the King has been especially conspicuous in
his tampering with questions Of finance. FL
nancial aptitudes are largely matters OF here
ditary gift, not to be looked for in eminent
degree except in old civilized races. They
are still more matters Of severe
personal training in business life. No person
of princely birth and experience can be ex-
pected to enjoy such training. We do not
complain that our Royal Kalakaua is not a
| inancier That is not the work we need him
| 10 do Tor He has nober province Of
duty, for which he has special fitness. We
have the gravest cause of complaint when he
undertakes those specialties which he does not
understand.
This complaint is especially justified when
we see the King, as he has done for six years
past, laboring to obtain the authorization of a
loan of ten million dollars. Every person
conversant with finance knows that such a
loan is certainly unnecessary it is wholly
disproportionate to our revenue-and that nc
capitalists would think Of granting so prepos
terous sum. The sum proposed is equal tc
$I2s to each soul OF the Island population
The entire colossal debt with which tn,
, United States closed the deadly agony Of he
civil war was less than $Ioo per head for til,
population. Yet large debt is sought for u!
in time of peace and unwonted productiveness
So obvious is all this to intelligent men
accustomed to financial ideas, that the KIM
; by advocating such loan has incurred al
weakened his position. 1t is as if the Prime,
of Wales, when he hunted tigers in India, hat
undertaken to manage the handling Of hi
elephant. No doubt he had sense enough t.
leave the elephant to the driver, and con6n,
I himself to the handling of his rife, which HI
did pndsrsa9ai apElueu Ills eSu. Majesty would b
deplorably fantastic light in which he appear
to business intelligence, when he pushes sucl
an absurdity as ten million loan. And ye
as King in his proper place, no man can fgur,
to better advantage.
In the present mal-adjustment of tn,
Government, the King is enabled to exert
nearly supreme control over public affairs
The regular constitutional checks are neutral
lied. The veiy Auditor of Finances is re
duccd to cipher. 1t would require an over
whelming majority Of representatives, unde
very skillful and resoute leaders, to effectuall,
combat the Kings will as to expenditures
This state of things alone would impair tn,
Z financial credit of the Government, ever
were the King exceptionally able. But when
in addition to this, the King is found holding
extreme and preposterous ideas of finance
which look towards a wild extravaganza, ant
when he is seen urging these ideas persistently
and resolutey year after year, the effect upor
our national credit is very severe. The Who'll,
community suffers thereby, and has pro
foundest cause for complaint
Most Of our most important public improve
ments have long been arrested. The most mod
crate and reasonable loans for necessary and
productive expenditures are impossible tc
negotiate. Streets, most important for the
relief of traffic, like Merchant and Alakea, re.
main unwidened, although determined or
years ago. New streets essential 10 improve
ment ofproperty centrally situated, althoughlaid
out, remain unopened. The Waterworks and
the Pail road are long waiting. This is in Ho
noluu alone-and the whole country is suffer
ing equally. All business feels the check, and
suffers friction by the emptiness Of the public
treasury And this utterly gratuitous public
obstruction occurs in the midst Of period o.
unprecedented productiveness and otherwise
of national prosperity
1t may not be especially serviceable here to
inquire into the neal inspiring forces acting
upon the Kings mind in his mistaken course
Some of them are quite patent to the public
II is difficult to say how far his Ministers in the
own minds approve Of his fantastic schemes
The issue in his absence by the Kings privat,
quartette Of nominees Of moderate anC
rather timid platform, seems to indicate tha
the Cabinet are alarmed at his extreme views
But, as we oil know, they are incapable o
obstructing his will, and the Premier especial,
has gained and retains his place by subservi
ency and hattery A Minister, 10 efectuall,
influence the Sovereign, must himself carr.
moral as well as intellectual weoht