The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-10-20
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 20. 1892
THE SITUATION IN HAWAII.

"
The constitutional questions
which have arisen in the past two
months, with the consequent Cab
met changes, taken into considera-
ton with the momemtary financial
embarrassment of the country,
tend to convey very false inn
preston to foreigners of the actual
state Of Hawaiian affairs. For the
benefit of such it is proper to ex-
plain that the political differences
which have led to the dismissal of
two Cabinets are simply such as
necessarily arise in every constitu-
tionally governed State. They are
solved here, as they are in other
civilized countries, by public dis
cussion, on the platform and in the
press, and by the final appeal to
votes. There is no party of agitation
or disturbance anywhere The Lib
erals, as much as the other politi-
cal factions, aim to secure their
ends only by lawful means, and
their ends are not revolutionary.
When the Opposition in the House
was defeated few weeks ago, it
acquiesced, exactly as the OPPOSE
ton in the House of Commons
cumstances. When, four weeks
later, this same Opposition scored
a victory, the Cabinet in it's turn
acquiesced and resigned. In the
second case, as in the first, the ac-
ton taken was a matter of course,
and no one expected or dreamed of
any resistance in any quarter to
the due and proper execution of
the laws. The first Cabinet re-
moved had held office for
more than two years, and the
second went out because it did not
possess, and had not at any time
enjoyed, the confidence of the
Legislature. Hawaii is country
of law and order, with no strikes
and no riots and there could be
no greater mistake than to imagine
that its political conditions suggest
or resemble in the remotest degree
those with which the world has
grown so familiar in the South
American Republics.
In like manner those who
are unfamiliar with the actual
facts are apt entirely to miscon-
strue the significance Of the finan-
cial embarrassment Of the Govern
ment. Here, where the facts are
known, the public credit is good.
Local capitalists have full conf
dence in the power Of the Govern
ment to pay, and there would be
no stringency if local capital were
abundant. The embarrassment of
the Government is temporary, and
is caused by the Withdrawals from
the Postal Savings Bank, which
unfortunately come at a time when
the decrease Of exports and i'm
ports has led to a considerable
falling off in revenue. The situa-
ton simply warns Hawaii that she
is carrying too much sail for stormy
weather, and that some of it must
be taken in. But as to the ulti-
mate issue there can be no manner
of doubt. The report of the Min
lister of Finance III 1890 shows that
the actual assets of the Govern
ment in buildings, roads, bridges
and landings are equal to
the whole amount of its in
debtedness. To this must be
added the Government lands,
which are easily worth couple of
million more, the magnificent
estate known as the Crown Lands
itself ample security for the en-
tire debt-and finally behind all
is the taxing power. Moreover,
the Indebtedness per capita is in
significant, hardly fifth-part of
that of EpulopJ o,J E