The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-09-03

mon people" These had learned
what it means to have certain in
alienable rights, among which are
the right of acquiring, possessing
and protecting property, and of pur-
suing and obtaining safety and hap
piness."
The earlier constitutions made the
Grown Ministers ''responsible;" but
their responsibility as far as the peo-
pie were concerned, was worthless
and meaningless.
The Constitution of 1887, although
not emanating from the source mark
ed out by the former constitution,
was nevertheless natural growth as
we'll as an imperative necessity, sin
order to restore order and tran
guilty, and the confidence necessary
to further maintenance of the pres
ept Government" 1t was promul-
gated by Kalakaua. 'as che repre-
sentative of the people herewith by
them duly authorized and empow-
ered," and acquired the authority of
law by the general consent of all
classes.
The main features of the new de
parture were to make the Ministers
amenable to the Legislature, to make
all the members of the Legislature
elective, and keep them independent
Of Crown influence or patronage, and
to limit the Crown veto upon legisla-
tive enactments. No public act of
the Sovereign can be valid, 'unless
done and performed by and with the
advice and consent of the Cabinet"
All this, it was supposed, secured
something like ministerial govern
uent as established in England.
''The sovereignty Of the British En-
y rs has been transferred from the
= to the House OF Commons" as
I'd by Taylor in his Origin and
dlo.7yh of the English Constitution,
as ''tna fruit of the final triumph won
by the parliament over the monarchy
in the Revolution of 1885," That
system requires that the Ministry
hold office only while it controls q
majority of the House. it means that
no other Ministry will be appointed
than that which is acceptable to a
majority of the House, and also that
if the majority in the House shall
fail to carry out the wishes of the
majority of the electors, they will be
replaced by others, the House being
prorogued and a new election Or
dered.
We have no method by which d
new election of the representatives
is ordered until their bieIl al term
of Office expires. Party government
here is not yet so fixed that the Min
istry necessarily represent the ma
iority of the electors. And yet, no
Ministry which does not lead and
control the votes of majority OF the
Legislature can govern Hawaii.
Without such leading and control
the country drifts, and it would be
far better to dispense entirely with a
Ministry, leaving the administration
of affairs to responsible chief clerks
| of departments under substantial
bonds for their conduct and for their
care of public property.
There would be certain good results
of such system. The striving after
Ministerial billets would cease, and
with it the constant political agita-
ton of ambitious aspirants. The
Governor Of Oahu could as we'll be
Governor of the group, with deputy
on each of the islands, and with
supervising power over each Of the
departments of government. TO say
that such an officer could not be en-
trusted with such functions In com
munity consisting of one hundred
thousand people would be saying tina
the average ability is less In Hawai-
than in any other civilized commu
nifty.
It is unnecessary to conjecture tina
such change is likely to come soon
but that it will some day exist as
further "growth " I do not doubt.
Meanwhile, the stability of tn
present form of government depend
|. upon strict conformity on the par
of the sovereign to the requirement
of appointing Ministers who lea
and control the House, and thereb
can gain the support and confidenc
of the community There is no RET
! son to suppose that any other cours
,, will be followed, the main difficult
probably being to secure cabinet
four men who trust each other an
? have the requisite qualifications
? carry the legislative burdens, and
meet the just demands of th
country. !.
That the Queen may be successf'
-. in solving the problems which a.
now and ever before her, must be Il
hope of all who wish her we]l-wl