The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-01-18

ments of the government in the in
terest of absolutism
This finally resulted in the revul /
sion of feeling and popular uprising of /
1887, which wrested from the King a /
large portion of his ill-gotten powers. /
The leaders OF this movement were |
not seeking personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, |
political power or the suppression OF
the native government. If this had
been their object it could easily have
been accomplished, for they had the
absolute control of the situation.
Their object was TO secure RESPONSE
bic government through representa-
tive Cabinet, supported by and respon-
sibie to the peoples elected representa-
tlves. a clause TO this effect was in
serted in the Constitution and suisse
quently enact "a by law by the Legis-
latures, pecifcally covering the ground
that, in all matters concerning the
State the Sovereign was TO act by and
with the advice of the Cabinet, and
| only 10y and with such advice.
The King willingly agreed to such
| proposition, expressed regret for the
/ past, and volunteered promises for the
! future.
! Almost from the date Of such agree
ment and promises, up to the time of
/ his death, the history of the Govern
ment has been a continual struggle
! between the King on the one hand
/ and the Cabinet and the Legislature
on the other, the former constantly
/ endeavOring by every available form
OF influence and evasion to ignore his
promises and agreements and regain
| his lost powers.
This conflict upon several occasions
| came to crisis, followed each time
by submission on the part of His Ma
iesty by renewed expressions of regret
and promises to abide by the constitu-
tional and legal restrictions in the
future. In each instance such promise
was kept until further opportunity
presented itself, when the conflict was
renewed in defiance and regardless of
all previous pledges.
Upon the accession of Her Majesty
Liliuokalani, for a brief period the
hope prevailed that a new policy
would be adopted. This hope was
soon blasted by her Immediately en-
tering into conflict with the existing
Cabinet, who held office with the APP
prevail of large majority of the Lee
gislature, resulting in the triumph OF
the Queen and the removal of the Ca
binet. The appointment of new
Cabinet subservient to her wishes and
their continuance in office until re-
cent date gave no opportunity for fur
Their indication of the policy which
would be pursued by Her Majesty un-
til the opening of the Legislature il
May of 1892.
The recent history of that session
has shown stubborn determination
on the part of Her Majesty to follow
the tactics of her late brother, and il
all possible ways to secure an eXten
sion of the royal prerogatives anC
y an abridgment of popular rights.
During the latter part of the session
the Legislature was replete with cor
ruption; bribery and other illegiti
mate influences were openly utilized
= to secure the desired end, resulting il
I the final complete overthrow of al
opposition and the Inauguration of
? Cabinet arbitrarily selected by He
+ Majesty in complete defiance of con
stitutional principles and popular re
b. presentation.
o Notwithstanding such result tn
defeated party peacefr1n+ and his daa
: to the situation
.,,Nats.,os- stood aroup" nlJted
re him from L..
:. ! wi I! 81 content with her victory, Her
Majesty proceeded on the last day of
the session to arbitrarily arrogate to
herself the right to promulgate new
Constitution, which proposed among
other things to disfranchise over one
fourth of the voters and the owners of
nineteenth of the private property of
the Kingdom, to abolish the elected
upper House of the Legislature and to
substitute in place thereof an appoint
i've one to be appointed by the Sove-
reign.
The detailed history of this attempt
and the succeeding events in cOnnec-
ton Herewith is given in the report
of the Committee of Public Safety to
the citizens of Honolulu and the Reso-
luton adopted at the Mass Meeting
held on the 10th inst, the correctness
of which report and the propriety of
(which resolution is hereby specifically
affirmed.
The constitutional evolution indi-
Gated has slowly and steadily, though
reluctantly, and regretfully, con-
WINGED an overwhelming majority of
the conservative and responsible
members of the community that in
dependent, constitutional, representa-
tive and responsible government, able
to protect itself from revolutionary
uprisings and royal aggression is no
longer possible in Hawaii under the
existing system of Government.
Five uprisings or cOnspiracies
against the Government have occur
red within five years and seven
months. 1t is firmly believed that
the eliminating revolutionary at
tempt of last Saturday will, unless
radical measures are taken, wreck our
already damaged credit abroad and
precipitate to final ruin our already
overstrained financial condition.; and
the guarantees of protection to life,
liberty and property will steadily de-
crease and the political situation
rapidly grow worse.
In this belief, and also in the firm
belief that the action hereby taken is,
and will be for the best personal, poll
teal and property interests of every
citizen of the land.
We, citizens and residents of the
Hawaiian Islands, organized and act
ing for the public safety and the COM
mon good, hereby proclaim as follows:
I l. The Hawaiian Monarchical sys
tenn of Government is hereby abro-
gated.
,. A Provisional Government for
the control and management of pub
lie affairs and the protection of the
public peace is hereby established, 10
exist until terms of union with the
United States of America have been
negotiated and agreed upon.
5. Such Provisional Government
| shall consist of an Executive Council