St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-18
THEY ARE NOT BENIGHTED.
LOT CT LYING ABOUT THE NATIVES
OF HAWAII
THEIR CONSTITUTION FOUND.

eminent - The Declaration
Starts Off With a Sc~ripsural
Text, and Refers to the AL
mighty at Considerable Length
NEW YORK. Dec. lit is probable
that the only copy of the original con-
stItution of Hawaii is that in the pos
session or Prof. w. II. 3. Thomas. of
Philadelphia. Prof. Thomas has for
years been collecting rare documents of
a public and private character, and
many librarians of the country have
tried to secure some of them. But Prof.
Thomas will not part with them. mas
much as some of the Hawaiian docu-
mentS seem to sustain the position
taken by President Cleveland in the
Sandwich islands controversy, Prof.
Thomas is about to offer transcripts of
the originals to the United States gov
eminent. The documents were printed
for the benefit of the natives nearly
nalf a century ago i'll the Hawaiian
language and afterward translated into
! English, but copies have never been
published i'll this country. Tie "dec.
i~aration of rights, both of the people
and their Chiefs" as the Hawaiian COL
stltutlon is called, was originally drawn
up by a graduate of the seminary at
Lahaialuna. This declaration was after
ward revised by the king and a council
of three chiefs. The constitution shows
the missionary training of the Hawaiian
people, and there certainly is no reason
for the objection that God is not recog-
nlz'd, for the declaration starts Off with
a Scriptural text. 1t is as follows:
God hath made OF one blood all ma
lions OF men TO dwell on the earth in
unity and b!eSSednesS. God also be-
slowed certain right alike on all men
and all chiefs and all people of all
lands. These are some of the rights
he has given alike to every man and to
every chief of correct department, life,
limb, liberty, freedom from oppression,
the earnings of his hands and the pro-
auctions Of his mind; not, however,
those who act IN violation of the laws.
God has also established governments
and rule for the purpose OF peace, but
III making laws for the nations it is by
no means proper to enact laws for the
protection of rulers only, without pro-
vidiug for the protection of their SUBJ
Jects: neither is it proper to enac laws
to enrich the chiefs only without regard
to enriching their subjects also, and
hereafter there shall be no means by any
laws enacted which are at variance
with what is above expressed. neither
shall any tax be assessed, nor any Serv-
ice of labor required of n man in a
manner which is at variance with the
above sentiment.
The above sentiments are hereby pub
llshed for the purpose of protecting
alike both the people and the chiefs of
all these islands while they maintain a
correct department, that no chief may
be able to Cypress any subject, but that
chiefs and people may enjoy the same
protection under one and the same.
Protection is hereby secured to the
persons OF all the people. together with
their lands, their building lots and all
their property while they conform to
the laws of the kingdom. and nothing
whatever shall be taken from any indi-
vidual except by express provision Of
the laws. Whatever chief shall act
perSeveringly in violation of this con-
stitntion shall no longer remain a chief
of the Hawaiian Islands, and the same
shall be true of governors, officers, and
all land agents.
But If any one who is disposed should
change his course and regulate his con-
duct by law. it shall then be in the
power OF the chiefs to reinState him in
the place he occupied previous to his
being deposed.
1t is our design to regulate our king
dom according TO The above principles,
and thus seek the greatest prosperity
both OF all the chiefs II all h people
of these Hawaiian islands. But we are
aware that we cannot of ourselves alone
accomplish such an object-God must
be our aid, for it is His province alone to
give perfect protection and prosperity.
wherefore we first present u suppli-
cation to Him that He will guide us to
the right measures and sustain us in
our work. 1t is therefore our fixed
decree:
First-That nc law shalt be enacted
which is at variance with the word of
the Lord Jehovah, or at variance with
the general spirit of His Word. All
laws of the islands shall be in consist
encY with the general spirit of Gods
law.
Second-All men of every religion
shall be protected in worshiping Je-
hovah and serving him according 10
their own understanding. but no man
shall ever be punished for neglect of
God unless he Injuries his neighbor. OR
brings evil upon the kingdom.
Third-The law shall give redress TO
every man who is injured by another
without a fault of his own, and shall
protect all men while they conduct
properly, and shall punish all men who
commit crime against the kingdom or
against individuals, and no unequal law
shall be passed for the benefit of one or
the injury of another.
FOurth-No man shall be punished
unless his crime be first made manifest.
neither shall he be punished unless he
be first brought to trial in the presence
Of his accuSers and they have met face
to face; n the trial having been con-
Quoted according to law, and the crime
made manifest in their presence, then
punishment may be inflicted.
Fifth No man or chief shall be per-
United to sit as Judge or act upan a Jury
to try his particular friend Tor enemy.
or one who is especially connected with
hin. Wherefore, il any man be con-
demned or acquitted, and it shall after
ward be made to appear that some
friend who tried him acted with par
TALLY for the purpose of favoring his
friend (or injuring his enemy, OF for
the purpose Of enriehing himself, then
there shall be a new trial allowed be.
fore those who are impartial.
The origin Of the present government
and srstem of polity is as follows:
kKamehameha I.was the founder of the
lingdom, and to him belonged all the
and from one end Of the islands to the
other, though not his own private pro-
nnrtu IF holnnnod RI rho 49,, -
the chiefs in common with whom Kane
hameha !. had the management of all
the landed property. Wherefore there
was not formerly, and is not now any
person who could or can convey away
the smallest portion of land without the
consent of one who had or has the direc-
ton of the kingdom.
These are the persons who have had
the direction of it from that time down:
4 nran Il nonAG@ 0@Z-