The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-09-30

or making rev amendments IN Jne
Constitution. 1t would, moreover,
be bad precedent. Perhaps next
session there would he cry raised
for another Constitution, and thus
we might have a new Constitution
every two years. For these reasons
he must vote against the bill.
Noble Baldwin said that the Con-
stitution being the basis of all laws,
it was matter not to be treated
lightly. The United States had a
written Constitution, while that of
Great Britain was unwritten. In all
the time since the American revolu-
ton, over one hundred years, there
had only been some fifteen amend
ments made TO the Constitution of
the United States. At the revolu-
ton of 1887 the Constitution was
not abolished, but only a few changes
made in it. The Government had
become so corrupt that it was felt
that nothing but revolution would
save the country, and the people
rose On massc and overthrow the
Government and changed the Con-
stitution. The form of Government
was not changed but such alterations
were made as gave us constitutional
government. 1t was true that this
was done by revolution, and some
held that such extreme measures
were not necessary. None of them
were sworn to support the old Con-
stltution, but every member had
taken an oath to support the present
Constitution. This Constitution pro-
vded means for its own amendment.
The opinions of Judge Cooley, one
of the greatest authorities on consti-
tutional law, quoted by the majority
of the committee, were TO the effect
that a Constitution could only be
amended legally under its own pro-
visions for that purpose. English
authorities supported this principle.
1t was therefore concluded that any
other mode of changing the Con-
sttution would be revolutionary.
He failed to see serious neces-
sity for changing the Constitution.
There were certain amendments ask
ed which he would support in the
shape of Legislative enactments. 1t
had been well said on the floor of
the House that the country never
was more prosperous than under the
present Constitution. Public i'm
provements and the causes of educa-
ton and health were never so well
promoted. Agitators had repre-
sented to the native people that they
were oppressed, that they were de-
prived of their rights by the present
Constitution, all of which was false.
The committee had evidence that
the petitions for convention were
all prepared in Honolulu and sent
to the country for signature, and it
had been stated to the House that a
large proportion of the signatures
were of others than voters. What
member of the House had been ask
ed by majority of his constituents
to support constitutional conven-
ton? He had not been asked TO do
so, although many natives voted for
him. One member of the committee
had informed them that he had not
been requested by single constitu-
ent to support the measure. 1t
might have been expected that the
native Hawailans would have OBJ
iected to the sudden change made
in the Constitution, but he could
say that the more intelligent of the
natives were coming more and more
to see that the changes were
good ones, that they enlarged the
liberties of the people without con-
tanning anything derogatory to the
dignity of the King. This was the
first time the Hawaiian Legislature
was ever asked to provide for con.
stitutional convention, and it was 6
rather dangerous precedent to pro.
pose. There would be at least three
elections required if the bill passed
and the expenditure would not be-
less than So, 900. There was moth
ing in the desired amendments tt
justify such an expenditure of time
and money. The convention would
throw the country into political tur
moil, check the business of the Gov
eminent and of the country, an(
drive capital waiting to be invested
IN the country elsewhere. Coulo
they stand all this heat and this re-
volution? for it could not be called
anything but revolution. He wa
of white skin, but considered him
self as true Hawaiian as stood Oh
the floor of the House. He wa
born in this country, had his mean
invested here, and expected to d
here. There was no amendment re
quired to the Constitution whic
could not be effected within tn
terms of the Constitution itself.
Noble Widemann moved the com
mittee rise and ask leave to sit agai
tomorrow.
The committee rose and leporte
progress.