The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-09-17
SPEECH
By the Minister of Finance on the
Want of Confiderce Question.

Minister Macfarl5ne Perhaps it
is not expected the Cabinet should
have much to say on the question
before the House except perhaps on
the objections which have been rails
ed by the opposition as to the viola
tion of the constitutional principle.
This Ministry asked of this House
a few days in which to formulate
policy for the Cabinet, but it was in
dignantly refused by the Noble
from Maui and his immediate fol-
lowers with a statement that they |
wanted no policy from the Cabinet,
they wanted nothing from them ex-
cept their scalps. Mr., President,
this Cabinet is not on trial before !
this House for its administration of
the affairs of the country; it is pro-
posed by the Opposition to vote
them out on sight without listening
to any policy, without listening to
any proposed measures from the
Cabinet, but simply because they
don't like the cut of them on the
mere subterfuge which is advanced
of violation of constitutional
principle.
1t is sought by the Opposition now
to establish precedent that it is com
petent for a majority of this Legis-
lature to wore out Cabinet on sight
and without any reasons. Now, Mr..
President, / will venture to suggest
that if that precedent is established it
will come back sometime in the near
future to balk them.
A great deal has been said, Mr..
President, about the violation of
constitutional principle of repre-
sentative government, but the sup
porters of those advancing that view
know that they are Intentionally
throwing dust into the eyes of this
House when they seek to influence
them into any such opinion, because
it is laid down expressly in the Con
stitution in Article 20 that the Su-
preme power of the kingdom in it's
exercise is divided into the executive,
Legislative and judicial, these shall
always be preserved distinct and no
executive or judicial officer, etc,
shall entrench upon the prerogatives
of the other.
Now, Mr.. President, | hold that
that principle is laid down explicitly
in the constitution, that there shall
be no infringement or entrenchment
by one branch of the government
upon any of the others, and l repeat
there is nothing in the constitution
which can in any wise be construed
to mean that in the formation of this
Cabinet a constitutional principle
has been violated. The three branches
OF government must be kept separ-
/ l.
the formation of this Cabinet it was
not compulsory upon me, it could
not be admitted for one moment
that | should consult majority of
this Legislature or any part of this
Legislature or any caucus from this
Legislature in the formation of a
Cabinet. If that were intended
then | submit that this Legislature
could appoint a Cabinet, in which
case the Legislature would be en-
trenching upon the executive func-
tions of the government.
Mr.. President, l am not here to
make any appeal for myself to be
retained in this Cabinet nor for any
of my colleagues, but / wish to i'm
press upon any intelligent and fair
minded member of this House that
when it is sought to make it appear
that have acted in violation of a
constitutional principle or in viola
tion of the spirit or letter of the
constitution it is confusing the ques-
tion and throwing dust into the eyes
of the members. There is no at
tempt whatever and has been no at
tempt whatever to violate any princi-
pie OF either constitutional or repre-
sentative government.
| had not intended to make any
remarks here on the question before
the House at first, but in view OF
statements which have been made in
this House | think ! should go a
little further into the subject of what
took place in those caucus meetings
Although the Hon. Noble Peterson
has already enlightened you to Ger
tain extent, yet he didn't know al
that took place, having imposed up
on me great deal of the work be
fore those caucus and committe,
meetings.
AT the outset then, Mr.. President
| will again disclaim that there wa