The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-08
A NEW REPUBLIC.
Hawaiian Constitutional
Convention.
Meeting in the Legislative Hall in
HonoluIu-What the Proposed
Constitution Provides.


that was formerly used as a meeting place for
the Legislatures of royalty although the scene
was very different None Of the old-tlme pomp
and ceremony marked the occasion. Even the
band was not present, but was placed In the
yard of the Executive building some hundred
feet distant, and only played one air "HawalI
fonoi," the national anthem. At the time set
for the convention to be called TO order the
room was full of people. All The foreign diplO-
matte and consular corps were present, with
the exception OF two. These were the repre-
sentatiyes of ngland and Portugal. Minister
WodehOuse, the British Minister resident, was
asked 10 be present but sent a formal reply,
stating that he would not be there, but giving
no reason whatever Tor MS action. ms, IN
view Of The fact that the birthday OF Queen
Victoria WAS celebrated only few days ago.
and al the special request of MIR. WOdehOuse
had been ftIingly acknowledged by the
Hawaiian Government, is regarded as a deltb-
crate insult, and Uhele Is cons iderabe talk of
asking for his recall The Portuguese Consul
is at present IN san francisco, and his Charge
uAHaires would not accept the Governments
invitation IN his absence
The ceremony OF opening the convention
was very brief. President Dole read an adj
dress to the members after which an adjourn.
meut was taken until to-day on account of the
celebration Of Decoration day.
In calling the convention 10 order President
Dole said:
Tine delay which the project Of political
union between Hawaii and tile United States
OF America has experienced has brought up the
question of modifying The present provisional
system IN order TO give the Government a per-
mauent form and TO more fully introduce the
principle OF representation by the people
The subj CT has been carefully considered
both from the standpoint Of The responsibility
OF the Executive ana ADVISORY Councils, and
that Of the rights of the people and the neces-
stiles OF the case; ana while such a change IS
1mperatively demanded BY an intelligent public
sen lment 1t also appears cOnsOnant with our
situation, which is naturally favorable 10 the
growth of free institutions.
This being conceded 1t became necessary to
decide whether 10 reach the desired result by
aolDg the present system as basis aud build
ing upon that. or by wholly recognizing The
Government.
The latter method was adopted as giving
more freedom of action aud better OppOr-
tunity for establishing system suited 10 ma
tl0ual conditions.
Il need hardly remind YOU of the difficult and
delicate character Of the duty which The con-
yention is called upon to perform. The mon
arcby, after a period Of decadence which was
THREATENING and prejudcial 10 all public and
private interests, came 10 a logical end
through its own plot TO turn back the move
ment OF public progress ana 10 subjugate all
national energies and aspirations ia the III
tereSl OF SBOtSm.
This attempt conferred upon that portion Of
tie community who were in sympathy with The
political development of the state as an or
ganiZatlOD both The right and the duty 10 inter
cept The threatened TerOgTad- movement: for
no part OF nation which has maze progress in
elVlliZatl0n mas a rlght 10 drag the other part
back to barbarISm.
The question whether the franchise should
be limited 10 citizens OF the republic Will de-
ma1d your serious consideration, 10 view of
the accepted practice OF other civilized nations
and The danger OF allowing those not under the
Obligations Of citizenship ana owing faalty TO
possible hostile Governments TO exercise this
important function"
From present indications the duration Of the
convention VIII be but few weeks. The EX-
ecutlYe Council, helped by l.. a. 1hurstOn, has
Tor some months been busy preparing a draft
of constitution tnat viii he submitted to the
fAF &c faftrnEf Ffapg.H 7rar,
This constitution VIII be given 10 the conven-
ZION simply as one that the present Government
thinks would be a good one for the new repub-
Tic 10 adopt There VIII be no attempt 10 force
it on the convention, though IL undoubtedly en-
bodies the best efforts OF The most eminent law
yers ana statesmen on the side Of annexation
The proposed constitution provides for free
dom 10 worship according TO the dictates OF
conscience, for freedom OF speech and of the
press, and prohibits slavery. The Hawaiian
national ensign shall be that of the republic OF
Hawaii.
The executive power of the republic shall be
vested IN President and Cabinet.
The Cabinet shah consist Of Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Minister OF Interior, a Min
lister OF Finance and an AttOrney-General.
The President and Cabinet sitting together
shall constitute the Executive Council.
On the third Wednesday of September, A d.
. 1900, and on the third Wednesday OF Septem-
Der IN every SIKH year thereafter the Legsla-
ture shall meet TO elect President for a term
of six years, TO begin with the first day OF an
Uary OF the year following.
For the purpose Of such election the Senate
and The House Of Representatives shall SIT to-
geiher
The election shall be by ballot, and the pei
son receiving maj OrIly vote of all the elective
members to which the Legislature is entitled
which majority shall include q majority OF all
the Senator'S shall be President for he suc-
ceeding term or for the unexpired PORTION OF
: such term, in case no person shall have been
elected prior to the first day OF such term
The first regular session of the Legislature
shall be held on the third Wednesday in Febru-
AIRY, a. d. 1895, and biennially thereafter, in
Honolulu.
The judicial power Of the republic shall be
vested in one Supreme Court and in such infe-
.Tior courts as the Legislature may from time to
time establish.
The Supreme Court shall consist OF a Chief
Justice ana not less than TWO Associate JUS
tees. Provided, however that in case of The
disqualification or absence of any Justice
thereon IN any case pending before he court
bis place for the trial and determination Of said
cause shall be filled as provided by law.
The Justices OF the Supreme Court shall hold
their offices during good behavior, subject 10
removal upon impeachment, and shall at stated
times receive for their services a compensation
which shall not be diminished during their con-
tiDuance in Office. Provided, however that any
. Justice OF the Supreme Court or a Judge OF any
other court OF record may be removed from
SAID Office on resolution passed by two-thirds
OF all the elective members OF both branches OF
the Legislature sitting together, for good cause
shown to the satisfaction OF the Executive
Council.
All commissions issued by or under authority
oil the late monarchy or Of the Provisional Gov
eminent Of Hawaii are hereby declared to be
vacated, null and void from and after the LIST
day OF September. 1894.
That portion OF the public domain heretofore
known as "cTOwn lands" Is hereby declared TO
have been heretofore and now to be the prop
erty of he Hawaiian Government, free and
clear from any trust OF or concerning the same:
and from all Claim Of any nature whatsoever
upon the rents, issues and profits thereof. 1t
shall be subject TO alienation and other uses as
may be provided by law.
No lottery shall be authorized in this re-
public, nor shall the sale OF lottery tickets be
allowed.
Government officers not to take foreign en-
ployment.
The first election of the Legislature shall
take place at such time and place within three
months after the FORMULATION of the cOnstitu-
tiOn, shall be directed by the President, with
the approval of the Cabinet
Until the convening OF the first Legislature
in either special OF regular session, under the
visiOnal Government of Hawaii shall continue
to hold and have power TO exercise the fun
authority heretofore held by it, or by this con-
siitution granted to the ) nate or to the Legis-
lature as whole. Such converting OF the
Legislature shall thereby terminate the ex-
istence. power and authority OF the said Ad-
-Visory Council.
Decoration day was celebrated yesterday
All the Government troops turned out and,
accompanied by Admiral Walker and his staff.
with a large detachment OF sailors and marines
from the Philadelphia, marched TO the GENE
terry. The fact Of The Provisional Government
troops being accompanied by the men from
the Philadelphia has caused the Royals ma
flves some uneasiness they imagining Ihai the
United States has gone over to The annexation
The Iapanese ouestion fs aosin a sourno NJ