The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-02-20
A Citizen Speaks.

Ma. EDITOR: The air Is filed with /
rumors Of disagreement between the !
Queen and the Cabinet. II Is probable
that al or nearly all such rumors are
made without exact knowledge OF the
facts. Nevertheless statements that
there are conflicting views held by the
new Sovereign and the Ministry have
the effect OF disquieting business men,
and OF producing a certain amount OF
uue2slneSs which results in conservative
action on the part Of those who through
their investments have been lnstru-
mental in keeping money IN circulation.
When considering matters Of this char
acter most persons conflne their atten-
ton TO what are supposed TO be the de-
tails Of disagreement and strive 10 show
that the Queen l. right and the Ministry
wrong, Or the Ministry right and the
| Queen wrong, that the whole matter il
| one OF etiquette, OF sentiment, or OF pre-
cedent, or that it is matter OF cOnstitu-
| ton and law One Of the late Ministry
| has published very clear statement o.
the claims Of both sides, and his conclu-
sions are likely to be accepted by most
/ people as accurate and IN conformity
with law and justice.
| II seems TO the writer that the under
| living principle of the whole business is
not touched upon in any OF the articles
yet published.
During the reign OF KalakaGa, and
| more especially after the accession-So %
| speak-of Gibson, deliberate and care
fully considered aggression was made
upon the rights of the people with the
purpose OF concentrating In the hands oi
the Sovereign the power to manipulate
and direct the policy and the funds OF
the country in such manner as TO sur.
round the throne with a halo OF such
glory as is composed OF numerous and
gorgeous uniforms, OF Understanding
. titles, of wonderful decorations, of mill
tary and naval displays in emulation o
i. the populous and wealthy monarchies o
the old world, and TO encourage and fos
ter a feeling of servility towards anC
concession to royalty based upon the
: theory OF divine right. are acknowledg
ment that a king is better than othe
men because he is king.
In the eyes of such natives as had no
fully emerged from the thraldom of thu
old barbaric rule, all this seemed tn
: natural order of things, and they wer
2 perfectly:willing to let Gibson cinch tn
| resident foreigners to keep the roya
halo freshly gilded. Among tn
foreigners in business In Honolulu man
| were delighted with the reckless extravs
, gance of the Government which enable
them in their several lines TO get a shar
Of the moneys stolen from the taxpayers
In the erection OF this grand structur
2 the strength Of the foundation was mi:
8 calculated, population Of $1,000 coul
z not foot the bills for, a regal establish
!, ment suited to population OF 10 900 ,O0(
When the funds OF the country wer
: wasted and its credit pledged, inquir
7 began TO be made where will tn
o end ?" The INSCRIPTIONS use for roy;
G ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF money needed &c
\ useful public works began TO tell upo
:, the minds of thinking men, and the cl
Il max reached in the opium license ep
s sode was the last straw.
G On the Both of June, 1887, the be
4 minds of the land gathered and enunc
ated its belief that the time had come
declare a principle of government Fl
- these Islands, the whole subject W;
1t thoroughly discussed, new era was il
e augurated, constitution was formulate
!, which was intended to express the fee
ing that the Government of this lar
10 should thenceforth be by the Peep
l
is and that the Cabinet Ministers to who
W was entrusted the administration of Il
;s public business should be held respo
60 sible to the people through their Leg
"a lature.
Is That there exists in this land gre
re amount of toadyism is perhaps nect
to sary result of the atmosphere which h
A surrounded the throne, but that the pc
pie will consent TO reversal OF the pr
81 ciple of government and admit that t
at Sovereign may dictate her policy to t
ne nation, is very doubtful. Insidious U
" derminings of Ministerial responsible
must be carefully watched and p
vented.
The underlying principle to which
he fusion has been made, and which shot
=. be the basis of ali discussion of
'io rumors in circulation, may be stated il
ey few words: Are we prepared to PERI
tn the Sovereign to rule as well as to reig
Sc Or shall we hold our Ministry respon
he BILE for their positions and t',eir work
a Feb. Is, 1891. a CITIZEN