The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-10-07

few changes. One of these is the veto
power. Another is the provision tina
office-holders cannot sit in the I.egisla
ture. Another is the transfer OF appoint
ment of the Mobiles from the Sovereign
to the people. This is the only objection
to which the natives have to the Constr
tuition. The Legislature can deal with
anv amendments which will be passed
in by the thirty-two representatives ol
people to be elected in 1892. We have
before us bill which proposes to amend
the Constitution which will come up IN
a few DAYS. 1 think the Constitution
needs some amendment. l would favor
the abolition of the income qualification,
and substitution of simple property
qualification of $1,000. When the bill
comes before the House we can make
any amendments we like, and the next
House will pass them if the people want
them.
Noble Widemann-I do not intend to
make long argument, but simply few
short remarks to put myself on record.
| consented to became a candidate for
legislative honors under the principles
laid down in the platform published by
the National Reform Party, and under
these principles, and no others, was
elected. Before election day no other
principles were mentioned. The Consti-
tutional Convention idea was of later
growth than the election for the Legisla-
ture, and no more than one or two OF the
elected members probably knew of this
idea before election day. The Constitu-
tional Convention idea never entered the
head of the "Lahui," but came from
quite different source. | was elected,
took my seat, and took the following
oath: '' l most solemnly swear in the
presence of Almighty God that 1 will
faithfully support the Constitution and
Laws of the Hawaiian Islands, and con-
scientiously and impartially discharge
my duties as a Representative of the
people," The law now under considera-
ton (Bill 125) to call a convention to
frame new Constitution clearly intends
to, and does, abrogate the present Con-
stitution. Whatever my personal pre-
objections may be, cannot vote to abro-
gate the Constitution under the oath
taken to Support it,
Rep. Kapaehaole said he was one of
the members who had signed the report.
AS he was Hawaiian, and the demand
for a new constitution came from Ha-
waiians, he would like to explain his
position. 1t had been said that the
present constitution deprived the King
of his rights. Now l think l have as
much love for my country and respect
for the King as any Hawaiian in the
House or out of it. But l have to con-
slider the means which are proposed to
remedy any evils, and l think if we wish
to preserve our King, our nation and our
we had better keep to the
law, for otherwise our nation may be
wiped out at one stroke. The committee
came to the conclusion in the first place
that the bill was unconstitutional. A
great many members have proved very
from precedent in other
countries that this law is unconstitu-
tional. propose to show that by COM
pairing it simply with the constitution.
Where in the constitution does it say
that if the constitution is to be changed,
forty-eight delegates may be elected?
Our constitution calls for twenty-four
mobiles and twenty-four representatives,
but no delegates. The constitution does
not permit anything of the kind. An
other thing in this bill is the provision
hat the election shall be according to
the Australian secret ballot system,
which has never been adopted in this
Kingdom. To argue that because the
constitution is silent, therefore this con-
Tention may be called,i is as if one should
walk into store, pick out a beautiful
suit of clothes, and because the shop
keeper did not say one could not have it,
walk off with it. [ say when the consti- |
ution is silentit means NO. 1t is claimed |
hat because this constitution was OBJ |
aimed by revolution. they will be JUS
ified in doing practically the same
hing. l do not approve of the way this |
constitution was obtained, but that is no
eason We should do wrong now. The
esult would be that we would be having
lew constitutions thrust on us continu-
lily. l do not think our independence
would last very long. If we pass this bill
We shall establish very dangerous pre-
edent, and one that will very soon ter
innate the independence of the King
lom. (The speaker proceeded to relate
he history OF the Dorr rebellion in Rhode
sland.) We have been asked whether
Te are going to listen to the voice of the
eople or not. Certainly we are, but in
be way we think wise and advisable,
nd that is by proceeding according to
he provisions of the constitution.
The committee took a recess until
80.