The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-22

archy.
In the above named history Mr.. Alex
ander appears have overlooked some
political events the mention of which /
is necessary to a just and compre-
hensive view of the whole situation.
There is an old adage "Andi atteram-
partim." but matters are so arranged
in the history that it would appear
doubtful to an ordinary reader wheth
er or not there is any other view than
that given.
The Hawaiian political atmosphere,
from rumors of plots and conspiracies,
was, for years, in state of chronic
unrest, but although a resident of Ho-
nolulu, and long an unpaid member of
some of the Government bureaus. ]
must confess myself as completely in
the dark as to the orgies said to be
carried on at the palace as though !
had not been on the spot.
AS to Government employees becom-
ing members of the Legislative body,
it was so from the very first; they
were elected by their own constitu
ents. The reason, / suppose, was that
they were considered from their edi-
cational attainments to be the most
suitable persons in their respective dis
tricts to act as members of the Legis-
lative body.
His description of the passage of the
Reciprocity treaty is so CLOSED over
that it's real significance would not be
suspected. On page it is said ''car
ried through the treaty of reciprocity
in the teeth of bitter opposition. i
The act necessary to carry it through
was not passed till July, 1876,
after the most stubborn opposition,
chiefly from the English members of
the House and the partisans of Queen
Emma, who denounced it as step
toward annexation" Mr.. Alexander
does not inform us who, or how many
of these English members there were.
Were there twenty, or ten, or two, or
only one? My own impression, writ
ing from memory, is that there was
only one, and that one myself
The opposition offered was not, af-
firm, most unequiyocally to reciproc-
ity as measure, but to the price pro-
posed to be paid for it, the tract Of
land and sea known as Pearl River, at
the very gates of the capital city. Not,
as Mr.. Alexander enormously says on
page 1, was it the use only of Pearl
Harbor that was to be, and was, ceded.
No, it was the territory itself that was
handed over to the United States as a
bonus for their consent to the treaty.k
Few, if any, of the natives were aware
of the gravity of the cession urged up
on them or of the evil consequences
that might follow in it's wake.
The Hawaiian constitution provided
that treaties involving changes in the
tariff or any law of the Kingdom shall
be referred for approval to the Legis-
lative Assembly, but on its rece'p5 Min
listers refused so to refer it, because
they anticipated trouble in passing it.
They were supported by the judiciary
of the Supreme Court, who were of
opinion that the requirements of the
constitution had been complied with
in this respect. The same judges de-
cided that the treaty under considera-
ton did not involve any change in the
tariff although great variety of mer-
chandise heretofore paying ten per
cent duty was in future to be brought
in duty free under the treaty. The
writer proposed vote of want of con-
fidence in the Ministry. 1t failed, and
the treaty went into operation with
out the approval of the Assembly.
At the session of the Legislature OF
, 1878 information was desired from a
gentleman who had lately returned as
ambassador to the court of st. james
The Ministry did not wish him to ap.
pear before the Legislature. Accord
ingly about the time he was expected
one of the ministers, with great pom.
: pooitg VI iidhii'i, dhhpuHttu a. lItS'
sage from the King. 1t was a letter
written at the Supreme Court and
signed by the King, declaring that the
resolution was unprecedented in tenor
and that the assembly, in passing it
had assumed an authority which h,
would not permit it to exercise, in
3 fringing, as il did, upon his preroga
tive. No member rising to assert thu
dignity of the assembly, the writer
p who was at the time president, de
nounced the Ministry and appealed u
the assembly to vindicate itself from