The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-15
THE BISHOPS SPECIAL PLEAD
INGS.

Willis disputes a precept which has
come to be as secure in political ethics
as the common law of England is in
jurisprudence. This precept is the one
that confers the right, titles and func-
tions Of any Government upon those
who gain control Of it by means OF
revolution. Through the authority of
this accepted rule or statute, Oliver
Cromwell became the legal head of the
British Government after Charles had
been overthrown and beheaded for his
abuse of constitutional law. In sue
ceeding time the principle was shown
in the manner by which two Napoleons
founded their empire, and George
Washington the American republic.
No law book says that any of these
Governments were framed illegally, as
all were recognized by the powers Of
the world as soon as they had made
themselves secure by force, and this
without protests as to the method of
their origin or question as to the extent
to which they reflected the will of
popular, or in one case, of an aboriginal
majority. According to law, reason
and historical precedent the Govern
ment which maintains its authority is
legal Government and must be recog-
nized as such by the world at large,
however widely people may differ as to
the cans used in creating it or the
methods employed in carrying it on.
According 10 Bishop Willis, this an
Gent doctrine is untenable Though
it applies as directly to the origin Of
the Hawaiian Provisional Government
as it did to that of Cromwells Pro-
tectorate or Bonaparte's Empire, he in
sists that no legal change was made
in Hawaiian offairs by the revolution
of January 18th, 1898, 1.-The form Of
government that the Anglican Church
found here was monarchical," says this
fine old medieval schoolman, 'and to
that form of government the church is
bound to be loyal until it is changed
by the will of the nation, expressed
through its representatives, or the
Islands cease to be an independent
kingdom, either through seizure BY a
foreign bo10ey or by voluntary cession
Fear God, honor the king is pre-
cept which admits of no qualification.
If we understand the Bishop arigh
he would recognize the existing Gov
eminent if it had been born of an &C
Of piracy such as might have been com
mitted by the United States forces, haC
they landed last January and, afte
overthrowing the Queen, had put tn,
new regime in jurisdiction "Seizur
by a foreign power" in his opinion
confers legal status upon the reSultin!
form of government as perfect as tina
which the elective principle or voun
tary cession would impart. We vii
not stop now to show how contradiction
the Bishop has become since he wrot
his Diocesan editorial accusing TIT
armed forces of foreign power Q
having seized the Islands and depose'
the Queen. Passing all that we merel
wish to say that an argument base
upon the right of foreign seizure whc
denies that of local seizure by the me
who own thirds of the real propert
involved and are responsible in larg
degree for the civilization and wealt
of the country seized, is quite too In
comprehensive, either from stanc
point of law or logic to be carrie
through the stages of debate.
We cannot, of course, blame Bisho
Willis for struggling against law an
reason, nor for grasping at straws. T
him the whole theory of annexation an
all that it involves is full of banefl
private auguries The exQueen II
stored would be the salvation of hi
bishopric but once the flag of tn
United States had been unfurled abov
these Islands, the Anglican commune
would be merged into the America
Episcopate and the mitre would pas
by will of the whole diocese Of Hawai-
to the worthy head Of the Rev. AleA
ander Macintosh. 1t is this ruefu
spectacle, forming slowly but surely OF
of the mists of the future, which ir
spires His Lordship's zeal for tn
monarchy and raises his hatred c
change. Let that be understood b
those at a distance from these shore
to whom the Diocesan Magazine ma
go, and there will be no disinterestet
persons left anywhere to do reverence
to the Bishops special pleading for tn