The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-09-25

! worse OF ali preludlCeS, race Jealousy
/ has been aroused by false ami wicked
| appeal 10 that sentiment IL Is not true
| u saw that the native Hawaiian Is de-
! prived Of any rights by the Constitution.
| He not only retains ali the rights which
| he ever had, but, by our new funda-
/ mental law, he obtains rights which he
| never had and the mere proposition 10
! grant which a few years ago would have
| been looked upon as an idle dream. 1t
/ is not true to say that the Hawaiian Is
not entitled to vote for Mobiles. The list
OF voters for Mobiles throughout the
Kingdom Will show that hall, III not more
OF the list. is made up Of Hawaiians.
The object sought 10 be obtained in
representative government is to prevent
rash and hasty legislation by having one
department of government act as d
check and balance TO the other, and, In
Legislative department, this end is
sought to be obtained by the institution
OF two branches OF the Legislature which
shall be SO dissimilar in their origin and
nature as TO still further check and con-
troi the enactment OF laws.
The lesson taught to us by history Is
that any country which Is governed by
the representatives OF one class only OF
the people soon becomes the prey to Ill
devised, hasty and injurious laws. To
prevent such an issue was the object
striven for by the trainers OF the Consti-
tuition OF 1887. All OF the men In the
country possessed OF ordinary intelli-
gence practically are entitled to vote for
one branch of the legislature. In order
to insure conservative element therein
the other branch is elected by those
fl,x.
ceipt OF moderate income indicates in
telligence of more than all ordinary
nature, sobriety, industry, skill and
conservative tendencies and yet, the
real object which is apparently sought
by those who would have a new
constitution framed for the country, is to
break down those conservative limita-
tons to legislative power and authority.
The provision in the present Constitu
ton with regard to amendments is iden
teal with that OF the - ar constitution
and provisions which 80 ed TO the evil
dent advantage of all the people. This
provision is amply sufficient to rectify
ordinary wrongs or Inconvenience or to
do away with any danger which appears
to be imminent in the future. To over
turn the Constitution by providing a new
and revolution is justifable only on the
ground that the law and the government
has become so corrupt that the people
have an overwhelming cause OF COM
plant; that they are subject to aggriev-
ances and abuses that cannot be borne,
and for which there is no remedy ex
cept the overturning OF the Government
and the Constitution.
4 Cylappa Of tba condition Of tho CONN
try and the position of the inhabitants
thereof shows at once that no such
causes exist, and that there is no reason
why Constitutional Convention should
be called if the object be merely to fur
nish relief for grievances. 1t has been
urged that the Chinese question is of so
imminent nature and character as to
make change imperative. The facts,
however, do not bear out this argument.
The restrictive Acts of 1887 and 1888, un-
der this Constitution, have shown that
the Chinese question is capable OF con-
troll, even without constitutional amend
ment, and while the committee favors an
amendment to permit Of further restric-
ton and class legislation with regard to
them mo reason exists why such changes
cannot be regularly brought about. Ca-
ton exists which is OF such an immi
nently terrible character as to render the
country in any danger of being over
whelmed before the expiration of two
years, by which time the Constitution
can be amended and restrictive laws be
enacted and in operation. The country
was never more prosperous than now J;
business never more hourishing; the
public health and education were never
better cared for; perfect tranquility and
peace would prevail except for the efforts
of few demagogic agitators who have
stirred up the ignorant to believe that
they now suffer wrongs that are intoler-
able, but which are, in fact, largely inn
aginary and do not exist. 1t is perfectly
safe to say that nine out of every ten of
those who are supposed to desire a
change in the Constitution, in order to
protect them from wrong and restore to
them rights taken away, do not know
what the provisions of the Constitution
are, nor do they know what the sup
posed rights are which they claim have
been taken away. With regard to the
delegation which went to His Majesty
the King asking for new Constitution
it does not appear that they We're dele
gates elected by the people generally
nor that they represented any one. eX-
cept in a few instances, but themselves !;
nor did they represent the influential
and representative people in the dis
tricts. The petitions sent to the Legisla-
ture bear evidence of having been gotten
I'D by parties in Honolulu for the pur-
pose of creating an excitement upon the
question and sent to other districts for
signatures. 1t is not true that in any
respect the honor and dignity OF the
Sovereign have been Inundated or les
sened by the Constitution. It's not true
that any rights have been taken from
any portion OF the people. 1t is not true
that such a radical change has been
made in the government of the country
as TO effect, in any injurious manner, the
rights of any one portion OF the whole
people.
To pass the proposed bill will be simp-
" to continue and even TO increase the
state of uncertainty and injury to public
business and the general prosperity Of
| the country which exists while constitu-
| tional changes are being urged. Should
this bill become law. for the next year
or probably longer the whole country
would be thrown into state OF feverlsh
| excitement, uncertainty and anxiety
business would be stagnated; works OF
public Improvements could not go on
| Government officers would find their
business largely interfered with; the
Ministers and large force of officers
would be required to give time and at
tention to the various details attending
the elections and the convention, and
last, but not least, a great expense would
be entaled upon the country which is
not justifable by any facts which now
exist.