The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-04-13
CORRESPONDENCE.
Mr.. Emmeluth's Views On the Con-
stitutional Convention.

! Mr.. EDITOR In view of the state
ment that l was to speak at last Mon
days mass meeting, 1 deem it proper
for me to state my convictions as to
matters now agitating the community.
! The act calling for Il constitutional
| convention fails to state the manner
! in which the instrument, when franz
/ ed, is TO be ratified and promulgated.
| This, under ordinary conditions, say
where the whole number of delegates
are elected by popular ballot-would
/ not seem a very serious omission, as
/ in that case the manifest representa-
tive character of the convention would
guarantee popular conditions of ratifi-
| cation, but where, as in our case, a
number of men constituting q self
perpetuating executive and legislative
| body, vote themselves into such con-
vention and actually form majority
| of the delegates to the same, claim
that the matter takes on a decidedly
different aspect. Under such condi-
tiOns contend the Government should
stand absolutely committed to the
proposition of submitting the result
of their deliberations in convention to
the crucial test of ratification by its
supporters.
The statement by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs that this is matter
for the convention to deal with, is
simply an evasion of the point at is
sue. 4 vote on the resolution intro
duced by me at the last Council meet
ing would have shown how the mem
bers would stand on this matter in the
convention.
The lack of policy incontinuing an
uncertain attitude on matter of such
profound import to the whole COM
munity, smacks of political suicide;
a want of confidence in the loyalty of
our supporters which must be very
consoling TO them, after their past
fourteen months faithful and unflinch-
ing devotion to the cause.
The fundamental idea of a govern
ment by the people is that the laws
enacted for such government shall be
framed by men chosen from the
various callings pursued by the in
dustrial masses, and in this way the
various interests could be protected.
Under the peculiar conditions existing
in our community at present, more
than one-half of the former electorate
will be debarred from taking an &C.
tive part in the coming elections, and
the rest of US look forward to a con-
vention in which a single industry
will undoubtedly have a controlling
inf on account of the abnormal
conditions above quoted; for these
reasons, candidly confess most firm
conviction that it is the duty of the
Government, at this time, to reassure
its supporters as to its faith in their
loyalty and patriotism by pledgiDg
itself to the submission of the Consti-
tuition for their ratification.
ANY other course will prove un-
popular, and, for that reason, may be
fraught with peril to our future ship
of state, as it may entail a continual
ton of the military occupation of the
past fourteen months.
The early disbandiDg of our military
establishment and resumption of ne
cessary internal Improvements will be
among the first fruits of popular bill |
of rights; anything else will go the |
way of the political abortion known |
as 1.-the Constitution of 1851" born of |
the brains of seven men, and viz |
tually promulgated at the point
of the bayonet. 1t lasted seven |
years. duu the udNS vi us ldSliuS
were full of fraud, corruption and po- |
litical compromises of character that |
put 10 shame the term constitutional |
government" Let US have the fun |
damental law enacted on lines of JUS
tice and equity, and save the country
these periodical commissions for the
future.
1 regret the circumstances which
seemed TO point the necessity for i'm
action in this matter. as am
satisfied that large number of loyal
Hawaiians see fit to remain neutral
while they feel that the matter under
ut Washington has not
finally been disposed of.
Could stay OF proceedings be had
until then, l feel the result would
justify the delay, in that the conven-
ton would then be more representa-
tive of all interests and thus insure
harmony in the government that is
to be. JOHN EMMELUTH.