The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-01-03
Lesson and a Warming,

irresponsible veto, the prerogative-
mongers, as you fifty style them, are
very careful TO avoid any reference TO
the Kings well-known characteristics,
or TO the manner in which he eNer-
cised the larger powers he enjoyed
under the old Constitution. 1t serves
the purpose of these gentry to carry on
the discussion on a professedly imper-
sonal basis which has n certain degree
of plausibility, but which is not alto
gether sound. 1t is true the Ministry
and the Reform party, both in and out
of the Legislature, deny in toto that
the Constitution gives the King any
claim TO the powers he is now attempt
ing to exercise. They Will not admit
for moment, that he has any right TO
veto bills, against the advice of his
Cabinet, or refuse his signature to APP
pointments upon which they have de
cided, or TO demand the designations
of Ministry in whom the Legislature
has Just expressed its confidence by an
overwhelming majority, simply be-
cause one of their number sees fit, for
private and business reasons, TO with
draw from the administration. All
such claims are not only barred by
the express terms of the Constitution,
but they are opposed 10 all precedentS
having any bearing upon the case, and
are incompatible with the idea of re-
sponsibie government. At the same
time, it is well for Us TO remember, not
only the unreasonable and untenable
nature of the claims themselves, but
also the kind of ruler by whom, and
on whose behalf, such claims are adj
vanced. From the time of his acces-
sion TO the collapse of the Gibson Min
istTy, halallaua was constantly reach
ing out for more power, more patron
age, larger personal control in the
details OF administration, and especi-
ally for increased gains and emolU-
mentS of all kinds. His methods NAV
have varied somewhat, but his domi-
nant purpose never changed. Occa-
sionally, finding that he had gone
little too far, or too fast, he would APP
parently give in for time, profess TO
mend his ways, get off a few platitudes
about retrenchmemt and so forth,
and claim to have turned over a new
leaf. But il was never for long. In
no single instance did it fail TO be soon
manifest that his reformation was a
sham, adopted for the sole purpose
of auaying public discomfort, and Civ
ing him time to prepare for fresh en-
crOachments. With the large powers
then vested in the Crown, and with
the great bulk of the intelligence and
wealth of the country excluded from
the elective franchise, it was easy
enough for politician of the kala-
kaua stripe, without actually violating
the strict letter of the Constitution, to
carry out his ambitious and miSchiev-
Gus projects, until point was reached
where submission was no longer pos
sible, and resistance became a duty.
What an entire absence of virtue and
wisdom the King displayed in those
days, and 10 what depth of ineffi-
cheney, confusion and rottenneSs he
succeeded in reducing the whole ma
chinery of government, may be learned
from the columns of the Bulletin, be-
fore that paper abandoned its protested
principles, and became the mouth
piece of the Palace gang. When pub
lie opinion had been sufficiently in
suited and decency sufficiently out
ragged, and the inevitable reaction had
come in the shape of an armed protest
which there was neither the brains
nor the pluck to successfully resist,
what did the people through their
leaders do? Did they simply demand
change of Ministry, the dismissal of
Gibson and his associates, and the APP
pointment of a new set of men pledged
TO retrenchment and reform? If there
had been any excuse for believing that
the King was, in the main, a we'll
meaning person, who had been misled
by evil cOunselOrs, and who only need
ed to be surrounded by good influences
TO keep him in the right path, that
would have been the proper course TO
pursue. The fact that a very different
policy was adopted shows that the
people who conducted the revolution
were not proceeding on any such
theory. They recognized, as they were
bound TO do, the notorious fact that it
was not Gibson, but kalakdua, who
was the real source of all the trouble.
They therefore demanded, not merely
new Cabinet, but 4 new COnstitu-
ton, and they made this demand
with the well understood and avOwed
purpose OF etfectually curtailing the
power of the King, and putting him
where he could exercise no further
control over the affairs of the govern /
ment, except through Ministers re-
spOnsible to the Legislature. That the I
popular leaders judged correctly of the |
man they were dealing with, recent /
events have demonstrated more clear [
~, if possible, than ever. Six months (
have not elapsed since the promulga- (
ton of the Constitution, and he has f
already kicked in the most desperate !
and vicious way, against restrictions (
which it was found imperaIively nee /
essary to put upon him, and cIutched
AT powers whose abuse in his hands .
during the old regime became incom- /
patible, not only with good govern
ment, but even with continued ma
tional existence. A due consideration
for these facts has doubtless had its
effect in stiffening the backbone of
the Ministry and the Legislature. In
standing firm upon the ground they
have taken, they were not merely de
timing the nature, scope and limita-
lions OF the Kings power, fixing con-
stitutional landmarks, and establish
ing sound precedents for the future,