The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-10-01
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
Nintieth Day.

Nfntieth Day.
TUESDAY, Sept. 50.
The House was called TO order at 10
a. ". Prayer by Chaplain. Minutes
of preceding day read and approved.
Rep. K. W. Wilcox renewed the mo-
ton OF yesterday. He had listened with
great attention to the arguments against
the bill, but he could not see that any
good reason had been given why the de-
sire OF the whole Hawaiian people should
not be gratiied One thing the Minister
| Of Finance said which is very true. The
enemies of Hawaii are within. If the
| Cabinet have let the foreign represen-
| tatives dictate to them, and have brought
| warships here, they are the enemies OF
the country, and ought to leave their
seats. II | were at the head OF the Cab
net, it would not take me long to notify
England and America that we are at
peace, and do not want any foreign inter
ference. Ii there were any disturbance,
l would put it down at pretty short
notice AS to Article 20 Of the Constitu-
ton, will say that l do not want any
office, and would not take any under this
| Cabinet Ii have an Office, the people
will put me there, as Minister or per-
haps something higher than Minister
AS to the case in Rhode Island, l do not
see what the constitution of that state
has to do with the constitution of this
Kingdom. The argument of Noble Bald
win is very shallow. 1t might do for the
laborers on Paia plantation. If the Min
istry would read history, they would get
little independence, and not be led
around by the nose. In regard to the
remarks of Noble Kauhane, do not
propose to waste any time discussing his
remarks. 1t would have been better if
they had been made by foreigner.
do not know whom the hon. noble has
selected as his model. Perhaps his name
was Judas. l think it better for the
House to pass over his remarks without
noticing them. see no reason why the
House should not pass this bill. The
people want new constitution, and do
not see why they should not have it. 1t
would be better to have annexation than
to have things go on as now. l myself
do not believe in annexation, and would
counsel the Hawaiians to resist to the
, bitter end, till everyone had persisted.
That would be patriotism.
Noble Pua-The member from Kohala
says that this bill is revolutionary. What
call revolutionary is to do the way
Napoleon did, 60 with an army, with
guns and bayonets, and take possession
, of the government. If the people con-
slider this constitution a grievance, they
: are only exercising their rights in petit;
? tioning for redress. That is not revolu-
tionary. The speaker proceeded to
charge the member from Kona with
r lying, but upon the latter rising to pro
test, the word was withdrawn. They
want US to amend the constitution, but
that was not the way with the old con
stitution Kamehameha V. simply gave
the people q new one in its place, anC
t so Kamehameha VS. constitution was
, not. amended, but this one was forced
upon the people with violence.
r Rep. Kauhi said the chairman shoult
compel the noble to conform to the rules
1t was not in order to address the chair
Q man as the good fat chairman, etc.
q Noble Pua's remarks were translated
Speaking of Mr.. Gibson he said he neve
7 stole anything, but simply took commits
D sions on the appropriations. The people
had endured this constitution until they
J. could endure it no longer. He had NOR
( to say, but for lack of wind could no
speak any longer at present.
: Rep. Kahookano said the bill had beer
| :oko ho uonca hu Pon
Kalua. It had been the means of draw
ing a great deal more attention to tn
Q subject than it would otherwise have re
discussing the change in 1887, becaus
that is admitted to have been a revolu
h ton. The Constitution is the funda
mental law, the foundation of all othe
r laws. The Legislative Assembly is tn
n creature of the Constitution, not abov,
it. If it wishes to change the Constitu
o ton, it can only do it in the way pre-
= scribed thereon, not in any other way
The Constitution, it is said, is a contrac
between King and people, and that tn
people can annul this contract. Suppos
ing we admit this, the people have no
demanded the convention, since the pc
}. titions only contain 4 800 names, man,
of them not voters. This is not the PEG
pie, nor even majority of them, but
small minority. In great many Amer
h lean constitutions there are provisions
4 either for making a new constitution, o
for amendments. But our constitution
z, does not authorize a new constitution
f. but only amendments, and therefore an
attempt to obtain new constitution
10 revolutionary in its nature. Thos
"a arguing for constitutional con
vention contend that because
: is not forbidden it can be done
i But this point is we'll settled in othe
countries, and the authorities ar
very numerous against this view.
% cannot vote for the bill because cor
-. slider it directly contrary to the Const
tuition to do 80. This Act delegates tn
IL powers of the Legislative Assembly
-. another body. Can we do that Ca
a the Legislature give its powers away
Is There are great many sections in tn
q law which are contrary to the Constitr
tuition. l suppose what members hav
70 said for the bill has been sincere. Nobl
"a Pua has alluded to Napoleon. Perhap
he intends to be the Napoleon of th
q Pacific.
q Noble Pua stated that he merely cite
a Napoleon as an example.
Rep. Kahookano continuing, said tn
.. only thing for the Assembly to conside
It is how we can establish peace and sati:
d faction throughout the Kingdom. On
a great cause of dissatisfaction is the prc
% perty qualification. This makes tn
- natives feel that they are excluded fror
70 privileges which foreigners, who al
/: almost strangers, can exercise. / thin
| ho 70