The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-10-02

Decn TAKEN up WlJn tne ulSCuSSlOh
he would ask for the indulgence of
the House to make a few remarks.
Rep. Nawahi said the amendment
could not he entertained.
The President-l es, ii can. The
amendment is before the House.
Noble Macfarlane proccedcd /
regard it as very serious question
to change the organic law of the
land. Whatever objections there
may he to the present Constitution
it must be remembered that il was
proclaimed by the constitutional
sovereign of the country and the
people have sworn to support it. |
am well aware that the constitution
is faulty and needs amendment and
should be amended. The first OBJ
lection to it is purely sentimental
and regards the manner in which the
constitution was obtained, but such
grounds should fall away when we
come to consider the real in
terests of the country. Another
objection is that it was hastily pre-
pared by few people. The ques-
ton is, Shall we fall into the same
mistake? The organic law of the
land is of such a nature that it
should be amended only with the
greatest caution and after the most
mature. deliberation, and only un-
der the stress of the most urgent
necessity should it be set
aside altogether. The idea of
calling Constitutional Convention
at this time cannot but affect the
material well-bcing and interests of
this country. There is ample, but
claim, not too much tune
to reflect upon, to weigh the
proposed amendments and the
desirability of accepting them.
But shall we fall into the same fault
of those who rushed through the
present constitution and risk the
adoption OF the violent and illegal
methods of those who brought the
present constitution into existence?
The policy of pushing through a
convention in the present condition
of strained political feelings would
have tendency to keep alive and
intensity the disturbed state of the
public mind, and would largely pre-
vent the adoption of just,
fair and statesmanlike docu-
ment. l am fully convinced
that the present condition of things
will be modified and softencd
within the next two years,
so that constitution at a
later time would accomplish those
results which it seems impossible to
obtain now. l am also firmly con-
WINGED that few judicious amend
ments legally made and agreed
upon in this Assembly will
hasten the return of nor.
nal political conditions and bring
about the result at present sought
if they did not ultimately dc
away with the necessity of 9
future Constitutional Convention.
The commercial interest of Hawai-
and the demands of large number
of conservative business men should
receive the consideration oil
the party at present IL
power, before q stand is taken il
favor of any radical or immediate
change in the fundamental law OF
the Kingdom. Both of these interests
are likely to be antagonized by prema
ture action, whereas by authorized
amendments they will be protected
and at the same time harmoniZet
with the policy of the party il
power. If these elements arr
to be antagonized it will pre-
vent the end we are now striv
ing to obtain. With thes'
sentiments there is only one cours,
open to me, which is to oppose tn
idea of a convention at thi
time and to ask my political asso
ciates to JOIN me IN thus promoting
the interests of safe and conser
vative constitutional government.
renew my motion that the reports o
this committee and the bill be lai
on the table, and ] move the pre-
) vious question.
/ Rep. R. w. Wilcox moved til
, House adjourn.
Noble Marsden said the previou
: question had been moved. 1t coul
: not be debated and no subsidiar
4 motion could be made to it.
e The ayes and noes were ordere
E to be called.
S Rep. Paehaole asked to be excus
: ed from voting. lie did not approx
t of the procedure.
a Rep. Bush asked to be excused
< The only duty of the House was I
$ receive the report.
The President-The House ma
+, decline to receive the report.
Rep. Hookano thought that wha
r the House was doing was contrar
: TO the rules. 1t was unprecedented
G lie wanted TO vote against this bi
2 but did not want to countenance
c practice of that kind.
n Reps. Waipuilani, Rice, and A
e S. Wilcox asked TO be excused.
c Rep. Richard had voted wit
u doubts as 10 the procedure, and ash
: cd to have his vote changed frol
o ave TO no.