The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-06-17

of rumors, that the heads of the leading
business houses were concerning what
steps they should take to protect prop
erty. Mr.. President, was this before
they were excited by the Ministry and
the MARSHALL We must assume from
the whole answer of the Minister that it
was subsequent, for if it had been pre-
vious there would have been more peo-
pie at the station the night he has des
cribed, AT l A. NJ. that night, the Minis
ter OF the Interior was there. Some lame
duck was brought afterwards, who certi
fed that he had seen some soldiers in
the street. Have any inquiries been
made as to who those men were? Was
the policeman ever asked? | am in
formed they were Honolulu rifles re-
turning from jolification, perhaps pretty
well set up. Were they dangerous to the
peace of the community? Now, Mr.. Pre-
sident, we will follow up the action of
the Minister of the Interior. He found
there were five men on guard and tele-
phoned for three or four individuals who
came The Minister says he took down
the statement OF the policeman. should
| think it would have occurred to him to
ask who they were that he saw, and he
Jl6H WOulu nave Gldt JIcN WSIc
friends. Why did he try to make us be-
lieve they were enemies, trying to kick
up a revolution? From his speech, do
not think he believes it himself. If there
were armed men swarming in the streets,
| four or five men could not do much to
keep down a revolution. If he had be-
lieved there was any danger, he would
have sent for more and | would have
gone, although ] was not very well. l
must infer he did not believe in it, or he
would have prepared to meet them. Ii
he did believe it and only sent for three
or tour men, he was incompetent and
ought to have stayed in bed. Now, Mr..
President, the Minister said again that if
anyone wished to know what hell on
earth is, all he had to do was to be in
! divided Cabinet. Now, Mr.. President, l
conclude this hell is heaven to him be-
cause he does not leave it. All he has to
do is to get up and go. But no; it is a
very sweet hell-a heaven to him. He
likes 1t; he loves it.
Rep. Brown believe that there is a
greater principle at stake than the ques
ton of the Ministry-that is that the
minority should not rule. | therefore
introduce as an amendment the follow
| ing:
Whereas, His Excellency c. w. Ash
ford did advise His Majesty the King to
refuse to follow the advice of the major
ity of the Cabinet; and
Whereas, in conformity with the terms
of the Constitution the Cabinet did
threupon submit to the Supreme Court
for decision of whether such advice was
legal and constitutional; and
Whereas the Supreme Court did there.
upon in accordance with the terms of
the Constitution render an opinion in
writing to the effect that such advice of
the Attorney-General was illegal and
unconstitutional that the majority of the
Cabinet should govern the action of the
Cabinet, and that under the Constitu-
ton the law it is the duty of His Ma
jesty the King to act upon the advice of
a majority of the Cabinet; and
Whereas after receiving full knowl
edge of the purport of such written opin-
ion of the Supreme Court the said Attor-
ney-General did thereupon again advise
His Majesty the King to disregard the
advice of majority of the Cabinet and
did further advise His Majesty to disre-
gard the opinion Of the Supreme Court,
that such opinion was wholly without
effect and no more binding then the
opinion of any other three men of equal
ability; therefore be it resolved
That such action on the part of the
Attorney General is illegal, revolution
airy, unconstitutional and contrary to his
oath of office.
That such an assertion OF the principle
of the right of the minority to rule is
subversive of constitutional representa-
tive government.
That such action of the Attorney Gen
eral is deserving of the severest censure
and condemnation of this House, and by
reason thereof this House does hereby
declare its lack of confidence in the said
Attorney-General.
Rep. Brown said - Ii the minority
is gong to rule we may as well
do away with all constitutional
representative government. We have
a Constitution by which the Minis
try are made responsible to the House
If the minority is to govern, where are
we? Now, MIR. President, before we vote
on want of confidence in this Cabinet,
| say that the House ought to establish
as precedent that it does not believe in
minority rule. Mr. President, L think
every member of the House, be he Re-
former, National Reformer or Indepen-
dent, should settle this question, ques
ton which affects and will continue to
affect our prosperity and independence
1t will not interfere with the wish of the
majority. Ii thew wish to GUST the Cab
met they can still do so. But it is a
question of such vital importance to the
welfare of this country that it must be
settled now and forever.
Minister Ashford rise to point of
order. Article Al of the Constitution pro-
vides for the manner of dismissing the
Cabinet They must be dismissed as
whole.
Rep. Brown-Point of order under the
rules or what?
Attorney-General-T Constitution is
above the rules of the House. | will
read Article Al. (Reads.) My point,
Mr. President, is that the House can,
under this Article, get rid of one Minister
only by passing vote of want of conf
dence in the whole Cabinet This view
has been crystalized in resolution of
uo,.co Tbo honorobIa Ea1fra1,