The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1893-04-11
The Kings of Hawaii.

Mp EDITOR: In studying this SUBJ
loot one is struck with the vast differ
onca between the characterize the first
kines who ruled in this kingdom and
those that have last welded the scep-
ire here. The first were truly royal,
noble set of men not unworthy of
their high station, and, although
ignorant and uncultured, were re-
spected, honored and revered by all
classes of people, and had all of their
followers been like them, venture to
assert without the least fear of contra
diction, that there never would have
been voice raised against them, and
they might have ruled here to the end
of time. But unfortunately the last
few were not of this noble stamp;
they were of much baser metal, and
quite incapable Of grasping the situa-
ton and conforming themselves to the
requirements of their high station in
this most progressive age of the
worlds history.
The crowning evil of their reign,
however, has been a mad longing for
absolute kingship or power; they
would be the great autocrats of all the
isles of the Pacific Ocean. They would
fiy off from all restraint and WELD
their sceptre in defiance of order, right
or Justice, and thus bring ruin, mis-
fortune ard untold misery upon all
the people. This mad policy has been
pursued almost throughout the entire
reigns of the last two Sovereigns, and
has wrought no end of mischief and
misfortune to all classes.
In King Kalakaua's reign this
struggle for absolute rule was fierce
and stubborn, and was carried on with
a pertinacity worthy of better cause.
He met with considerable success,
too, but the success only proved to
what heights of folly, ignorance,
superstition and absolute sway could
lead king. His conduct at last be-
came so outrageous that the people
could bear it no longer, hence the
revolution of 'S7, the new Constitution
and the new Government of that year.
This decisive action of the people
suddenly brought the wild schemes of
the king to a full stop; and it was
about time, for he had by his folly
given the death blow to Sam Wilder's
great projected railroad around Ha
waii, driven away a number of great
enterprises, as well as ruined the credit
of the country.
1t was hoped when Queen Liliuoka-
lani came to the throne there would
be a season of quiet and prosperity;
but we were deceived. She soon made
it appear that she wanted more power
than the Queen of England, the Presi-
dent of the United States, or even the
Gar of Russia. She would be an abb
~
desire, for despotism which caused her
downfall of tyrants, whether white or
black
1t must not be supposed that because
the queen has been deposed we dislike
the native race. Indeed all will admit
that the longer they know them the
more they appreciate their kindly ma
ture. 1t must also be admitted that
they have many kindly traits and
good qualities, but that these are of
such a nature as to fit them for so ex-
alted q station as rulers we stoutly
deny. The past two experiments have
fully proved the fallacy of this propo-
sition. Indeed their ideas of govern
ment are the worst and most danger
Gus that could possibly be adopted.
Their policy led them into two dam
gerous extremes. The first was to
retrograde back to the musty past of
unmitigated heathenism, and the Sec
ond to pose as despots and rule in ac-
cordance with the ancient "divine
right" of Kings.
For nearly twenty years this strug-
gle has being going on. 1t is not to
be wondered at then that the peoples
patience is about exhausted, or that
tho anH hrainlca af tho
country are paralyzed and the State
nearly bankrupt. Neither is it sur
prising that people should desire some
more stable form of government, I'M
der which they can enjoy greater Sc
curity and freedom from anxiety than
can be had under would-be despotic
government.
The fact is, this struggle must come
to an end at once; to carry it on
longer would be madness, and would
inevitably end in civil war or some
thing worse. Therefore, we must
maintain and hold fast the ground
that has been won. 1t has been a
hard fought struggle-one of might
against right-but right has at last
conquered, and we must reap
the feast of victory, before the
country is plunged headlong into ruin
1t may require all the wisdom, all the
tact, all the courage, and, perhaps,
not few of the lives of the champions
of liberty; but it must be accom-
plished at all hazards. To yield now
were to Invite tyranny, oppression,
misrule, ruin, and disasters of ali
kinds, and fit our necks to the yoke
and under the heel of an oppressive,
rebellious tyrant.
The fact is, a more enlightened and
progressive government than the last
one must be established, or there will
be chaos and ruin stalking abroad in
the land. To talk of again placing
the ex-Queen on the throne after all
that has passed is little short of mad
ness. Can the highest offense Urea
SOM known to the State be rewarded
with the highest honor? No, GER
tainly not. The United States, nor
any other nation, will not dare TO
establish so dangerous a precedent. 1t
would be an open invitation to anarchy
and all manner of lawlessness, and
the individual or nation guilty of so
infamous and pernieious an act would
deservedly receive the execrations,
and be held up to the scorn of the
whole world.
The people are not afraid that Uncle
Sam, who has always been the enemy
of tyrants and the defender of liberty,
will be guilty of anything so infam-
ously unjust and oppressive. The
scales of justice held in his hands Will
fall only on the side of liberty, pro-
gress and what is for the good of the
whole DeoDle To think of any other