The morning call., 1893-03-17
PRICE FIVE CENTS.


cept that sum. In 1884 n act was passed
by the Legislature authorizing the aliena-
ton of that portion of the crown lands, and
SDreckels secured title to the tract COM
prising the lao plantation, and gave up to
the Hawaiian Government whatever title
or claim he may have acquired by purchase
from Princess Ruth.
The history of tie Hawaiian crown lands
is in itself very interesting. When Kane
hameha l conquered the last of this group
Of islands and united them all under one
government. according to ancient usage he
became, as head of the Kingdom, the owner
OF all the land in the country. Up to that
time land tenure on all the islands had been
under system as strictly feudal as evar
obtained in England. The control OF all the
land was in the ruling chief, who reserved
what portions he pleased for his own use
and div ded the rest among his leaders.
These furnished supplies to the chief in
consideration thereof, and in time Of war
were expected to follow him with as many
Fighting men as they could muster from
among their own personal following.
The minor chiefs in turn divided their
estates among the lower classes, who in
turn paid tribute to their lords in produce
OF the land and in service in time of war.
They dealt with the common people through
konOhikis, or land agents, who had aud eul-
brsced the same opportunities for oppres-
sion, Injustice and private gain as did ever
the stewards of the land barons in England.
Whenever new chief came into power, or
minor chief was disturbed in his estate,
there was a general redistribution of fefs
and holdings among the friends Of the new
conner. and the country was full of people
who were "hemo" or dispossessed, wander
ing afar in search of new landlords, homes
and friends. They had 10 appeal or de-
fense from the oppTessor, no lease or assur-
ance Of tenure; the words Ia hemo %"
(You are removed were sufficient to dis
possess them, and to send them abroad TO
become pilimeaai-adhereni for food
in the retuue of some other chieftain.
When Kamehameha | at last subjugated
the Islands, with sort of prehistoric grasp
ing of that singular doctrine of W hIch ws
have lately heard so much, "To the victor
belong the spoils." he made far-reaching
reapportionment of all the lands in the
country, and from 1895 until 1889 tile ruling
chief held feudal authority as sovereign
over all the landed estate in the country.
He had the power to cancel, at will, the
land right of any chief o. commCner; he
both sold and gave away lands. at will. and
permitted foreigners to become land
owners; but there was no certainty of
tenure even in land that was the gift OF the
King.
The famous difficulty with Lord Paulet,
which resulted in the provisional session"
to Great Britain had its rise in II dispute
over such grant Of land which q succeed
ing sovereign declined to recognize.
When Liholho- Kamehameh ii came to
the throne lie shared the government with
one Of several very remarkable women Who
have figured prominer ty in Hawaiian MS
tory. This was Kaahumanu. one Of Kane
hameha Is widows, who held the Office Of
Kuhina Maj, a sort of premier, having a
veto on the Kings acts. The great King
had appointed her to this office knowing the
untitness Of LiholihO. dissolute oungster,
TO reign. 1t was she who persuaded him to
break the tabu, an act which threw down
the whole Hawaiian pantheon and left the
country, for some years, practically and
actually a land with no religion, and it WAS
her influence that prevented him from
making, according to custom, redIstri0u-
tion of the lands of the realm when lie came
to the throne.
He did make some redistrtbutions among
his personal friends. but, for the most part
liC lulu uulOlhso nClO ia OCN hbA d
groundwork laid for the change that E;ade
permanent land tenure possible.
Liholiho died in 1924, and Kaahumanu
continued to reign as regent until her death
in 1882, her reign having been sisnaliz-d by
great prosperity and rapid progress toward
civilization in the kingdom.
The next King, Kamehameha III. came
to the throne IN 1883. He was anly 20 years
old, and the first few months of his reign
were spent in dissipation. But on reaching
his majority he set himself in earnest TO the
work Of ruling his people wisely. The help
less and defenseless condition OF the COM
mon people, likely al any time o be turned
out of their homes by three words, in par
ticular Impressed him, and he gave tho
matter the earnest study that finally cul-
mated in his prOmulga ing a "bill of rights" "
which is commonly called the magma
charta of Hawaiian liberty"
Considering its source, the condition Of
the people just emerging from savsgery-
the youth and inexperience Of the man who
originated il, probably no more remarkable
document than this bill Of rights was ever
given by sovereign to his people 1t is
worthy of an enlightened ruler of to-day.
Translated from the Hawaiian, ii reads:
"God hath made of one blood all nations
Of men to dwell on the earth in unity and
Dlessedness. God hath also bestowed Ger
tain rights alike on all men and all chiefs,
and all people Of all lands.
"rhese are some of the rights which he
has given alike TO every man ana every
chief of correct department.: Life; limb;
liberty, freedom from oppression, tie earn
ings OF his hands and the production of his
mind-not, however, TO those who act ia
violation of the laws.
"God has also established government
and rule for the purpose of peace; but in
making laws for the nation lt is by no
means proper to enact laws for the prntec-
ton of rulers only. without also providing
protection for their subjects; neither is it
proper to enact laws to enrich the chiefs
only, without regard to enrichug their sub
jects also, aud hereafter there shall by no
means be any laws enacted which are at
variance with what is above expressed,
neither shall any tax be assessed, nor any
service or labor required of any man in r
ma nner which is at variance with the above
sen timents.
1.-The above sentiments are hereby pro-
claimed for the purpose Of protecting alike
both the people and the chiefs of all these
Islands while they maintain n correct de-
pOIluehtr tbal Nv CHieA may Oo "Nio /" W.
press any subject, but that chiefs and people
may enjoy the same protection under one
and the same law.
'Protection is hereby secured to the per-
sons of all the people. together with their
lands, their building lots and all their prop
erty, while they conform to the laws of the
kingdom, and nothing whatever shall be
taken from any individual except by express
nrovislon of the laws Whatever chief shall
act perseveringly in violation of this decla-
ration shall no longer remain chief of the
Hawaiian Islands, and the same shall he
true of the governors, officers aud all land
agents. But If any one who is deposed
should change his course and regulate his
conduct by law, itshall then be in the power
OF the chiefs to reinstate him in the place lie
occupied previous to his being deposed."
-. y. IL. :. -.