The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-16
TUESDAY
THE KINGS BIRTHDAY.

and should the weather prove favorable
1t Will no doubt be an imposing and i'm
pressive ceremonial. There will be such
a blending Of things ancient and mod
ern as will of itself produce a unique
and striking effect. We hope and trust
that the most sanguine anticipations oI
all classes, and especially of those
charged with the management and di-
rection of the birthday festivities, will
be fully realized.
1t is to be regretted perhaps, that the
idea embodied in the minority report OF
the Legislative Committee on the birth
day ceremonial was not carried out.
This was to the effect that there should
be an exhibition of Hawaiian products
as part OF the programme. An industrial
exhibition would have enabled strangers,
as well as residents, to form a correct
estimate OF the extent and variety of the
productions of these Islands. 1t was.
however, deemed inexpedient to at
tempt this owing to want of time to per-
feet arrangements, and for this reason
the programme adopted is one which is
intended to amuse and crafty the popu-
lace.
The years embraced within the Kings
life may be said in truth to cover the en-
tire period of national history. When
His Majesty was born at Honolulu, on
November Is, 1886, Kamehameha III
was the reigning Sovereign, but the ad-
ministration of affairs was in the hands
of Regent, the High Chiefess Kahu-
manu-. The process of Government at
that time was very simple. 1t was an
absolute despotism tempered by Mis-
sionaries. Even the germ of the pres
ent system of administration did not
then exist. The independence of the
country had not been recognized, and
warships of the United States, France
and England appeared at various times
to enforce demands which the Hawaii
ans were powerless to resist. They were
slowly emerging from barbarism, and
had made but very little progress. The
common people were held in abiect sub
lection to their chiefs, who were equally
subject to the Sovereign or his repre-
sentative. 1t is true that "tabu" had
been previously abolished by Kane
hameha II; but the tradition and in
fiuence of the tabu remained neverthe-
less, and the condition of the common
people was wretched in the extreme.
Indeed, it was doubtful for some time
whether the native Hawaiians would
have country at all, as the French and
English respectively had designs upon
it. Lord George Paulet, in the name OF
the Queen of England, took formal pos
session of the country in 1913, but Adj !
miral Thomas restored it few months |
later; while France and England by a |
Convention the same year, formally |
the independence of the Ha-
waiian Government.
The existence of the Kingdom of Ha-
wall, therefore, as an independent soy
ereign power dates from November %, |
lS43, at which time the present King
was seven years and twelve days old,
then wholly unconscious of the high
destiny in store for him. In other
words, the King is older than his coun-
try, he having been born under the an
;ient regime, when these fertile islands
lay an open and easy prey to any ag-
gressive Power.
The first Constitution was proclaimed
by Kamehameha III in 1910, and this
great Sovereign at the same time
destroyed the feudal system, and
changed the entire polity of the nation.
He gave lands to the people and par
,elled out the remains of the ROYAL do
main into Grown and Government lands.
Il the public estate had been wisely adj
in subsequent years the in
lustrial condition of the country would
,e better than it now is, but failure in
his particular on the part of his success
ors does not detract from his great
merit as a far-seeing and sagacious
tatesman and patriotic and enIight-
ned monarch.
The departments of the Government ,
ere soon after constituted, the Judiciary ,
eing organized in 1917, when the reign ,
e Sovereign was eleven years old. 1t
as n recognition of the importance and (
agnitude of these great reforms that in !
Iced the British and French Govern 7
tents and the United States to acknowl- :
ige the Hawaiian State as capable of Y
international relations and
its domestic affairs upon
les of policy common to all civilized
,ople. OF course, the rulers of the s
ltion in those days were far in advance -
the people, and the King awaited him y
If of the services of capable and en- 3,
htened foreigners in the administra-
N of his Government -
Another step in advance was taken
len the Constitution of 1852 was pro-
llgated. This country steadily pro-
,ssed under this Constitution until
4, when Kamehameha V. proclaimed :
, existing Organic Law, under which ~ -
) Majesty was elected King, Febru- 49,
IS, 1874, in the thirty-eighth year of -
age. The fifty years of his life, -; -,
refore, cover the history Of his coun-
They embrace the old and the new,
are an epitome of progress of its kind sto