Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-05-30
President DOLES Speech.
The Constitutional Con-
vention Opens
co NClLLoRs And DELEGAT :,
Members % the Constitutional
Convention Of 1894.

Members OF the constitutional
Convention Of 1894.
I'm calling the Convention to
order, / ask your attention to
some matters relating to the
work for which YOU have come to-
gether.
The delay which the project
Of political Union between Hawaii
and the United States Of America
has experinced, has brought up
the question Of modifying the
present provisional system in
order to give the Government
permanent form and to more fully
introduce the principle of repre-
sentation by the people.
The subject has been carefully
considered both from the stand
point Of the responsibility of the
Executive and Advisory Councils,
aud that Of the rights of the
people and the necessities of the
case; and while such a change is
imperatively demanded by an
Intelligent public sentiment, it
also appears consonant with our
situation, which is naturally
favorable to the growth Of free
institutions.
This being conceded it became
necessary 10 decide whether to
reach the desired result by akng
the present system as basis aud
building upon that. by wholly
recognizing the Government
The latter method was adopt.
ed as giving more freedom of
action and better opportunity
Tor establishing "a system suited
to national conditions.
The question of the compost
ton of the convention to be called
for making new constitution
was perpiexing one; for while
If was desired TO have direct
popular representation to as great
an extent as might be possible,
the councils felt that they could
not, consistently with the trust
imposed upon them by the pro-
elamation of January 18th 1898,
relinquish to her hands the
whole responsibility in an enter
prise so vital to the future well
fare of the country. 1t was
therefore decided to confide the
the wrk to body made up of
the counc Is and elected dele
gates.
neei hardly remind YOU of
the difficult and delicate charact-
Ell of the duty which the conyen-
ton is called upon to perform.
The monarchy, after period of
decadence winch was threatening
and prejudicial to all public and
private interests, came to
logical end, through its own plot
to turn b OK the movement OF |
public progress and to subjngate
all national energies and aspira- |
tions in the interests of de>po-
tism.
This attempt conferred upon
that portion If the community I
who were in sympathy with the
political development of the State.
an organization. both the right
and the duty to intercept the
threatened retrograde movement;
for no part of a nation which has
made progress IN civilization has
a right to drag the other part
back to harbarlsm. and no ruler
has the right to initiate such a
relapse relying upon tie indiifer-
ence or want of political sense Of
p portion of the population.
Those who submit without protest
10 such scheme thereby confess
their inability to accomplish or
defend their own civilization, and
surrender the task to those who
ire willing to do it for them.
There is. therefore in the as
of power in such a
risis by those who would protect
nd foster the civil progress of !.
be state. no violation Of the
lights of those conspiring against !
uch progress. or of those who
lay contemplate such conspiracy !
nth helpless Indifference. be-
ause unable to understand the