The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-10-30
AUTHORITY.

terday opens with n sort of mild
sneer Mt the BuLLErIN's remarks of
the previous day relative to recent
"By Authority notices. What Is
somewhat curious about our contem-
porary's article is that the first lines
raise expectations of a vigorous
attack upon the BULLETIN for its
presumption in daring to review
s'Bv Authority notice, but the in
terested reader has no sooner entered |
upon. rs he supposes, piece of
fighting literature, than he is doomed
to disappointment. The advertiser
drops Immediately into the line of
our argument, and not only endorses
our mild structures upon the uncon-
stitutional practices of the Govern
ment, but carries the argument
step further-a step which we would
have taken, but hesitated, owing to
the far reaching and tremendous
issues involved, and says: "lf the
law can be dispensed with in respect
of the appointment of Marshal, it
can also be dispensed with in the
matter of laws which the office of
Marshal has been created to enforce.
There is nothing to amend in the
sentence just quoted except to strike
out the word ''if.'' The situation
is then perfectly clear. Had this
plain statement been uttered in the
columns of the BULLETIN, it might
have been open to the objection
that it emanated from an "Opposi-
ton" source. But appearing in the
editorial columns of the paper
through which acts of the Legislature
are promulgated, it is very signiti-
cant. 1t becomes practically semi
official intimation that the acts pub
lished from time to time, may" be
rendered null and void, at the cap
rice of the Executive. That the
statement, as amended, is an axiom
attic truth, no one can question. The
same power that overrides the laws
regulating the appointment of pub
lie officers may next be invoked t6
override the laws relating to thu
titles to property. Open violations
of the constitution having been al
ready proclaimed more than one
through our contemporary columns
it becomes an interesting question
to capitalists having millions o
dollars invested in sugar planting
and other enterprises on the various
Islands, how far their interests are
really secured in the constitution
and laws of the Kingdom. If al
article of the constitution can b
made null and void by the stroke G
Minister'S pen and the promulga
ton of "By Authority notice,
must follow as a perfectly legimat
and reasonable conclusion that til
proprietary rights of planters an
property holders are worth less tina
the paper they are written on, e.
cept in so far as the Kings Mini
tiers may see fit TO recognize the
validity.
That these are no imaginary poss
bilities was fully proven during Il
last session of the Legislative A
sembly, in which it was boldly a
nounced by the First Minister of Il
Grown that "the King was the larg
part of this Legislature. 1t w
pointed out in the BULLETIN, at Il
time, that the Minister'S words we
more than true to the letter. 1t IN;
be added that the words quoted n
mathematically true, as well, ina
much as two-thlrds OF the membe
are the Kings stipendiaries. I'll
being the case, the majority of I
people are practically without repr
sentation in the Legislature, and t
rights supposed to be served throu!
their representatives, may be S
aside with as little ceremony as we
the rights of the voters in the Kol
and Kaanapali election cases. III
rights of property holders rest
the same foundation as the right
be represented in the enactment
laws and the imposition of taxes
the Constitution of the KingdoI
But acts were passed at the la
session for which the smallest fra