The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-12-13
THE ORGANIZATION OF THEi
GOVERNMENT OF HAWAII

mcnt was that or an absolute mon
archy. All power was In the hands of
the king but he consulted his chiefs fire.
quently. There was an informal or
ganization, IL II might be described
with such inaccurate phrase. called the
Aha-Alii. Ii was a gathering of the
high chiefs and later became the foun-
dation OF the highest branch of the
Legislature know as THE House of
Mobiles" These chiefs expressed their
opinion to the king. sometimes per
suading him to remarkable changes
as in the abolition of the onerous sys-
tenn of the tabu-which came from the
action of the high chiefs, IL not from
a formal decision reached in a deliber-
alive assembly.
1t is remarkable that within about
twenty years after the commencement
of Mr.. Bingham's labors, there was as
complete and as absolute a change in
the form of government as followed the
war of the Revolution in America
which resulted in a United States"
with an inspired Declaration of indie
pendence and Constitution.
In the Hawaiian Islands this change
was brought about by instruction in
the Science of Government, based chief
ly upon the missionary influence
of the twenty years preceding. AS
the principles of Christianity We're
absorbed by the Hawaiian king and
chiefs they desired to understand the
laws of the nations which had been de-
veloped under those principles.
William Richards. a teacher in the
school of Lahainaluna, had developed
marked ability in imparting knowledge
of law to his pupils. After the king
had applied to the United States Gov
eminent for an instructor in the Science
of Government and had been put off"
for long time, Mr. Richards was set
apart by the Mission of Hawaii, as the
instructor of the king and chiefs. He
severed his connection with the mis-
sion and entered upon his task with
great enthusiasm and wisdom. In less
than two years the result was seen in
the following remarkable Declaration
of Rights" and "Constitution"-wh
once issued could never be revoked.
1t should be said that it is exceeding
ly difficult for the stranger or the ma
to even begin to understand the vast
amount of material benefit and power
In the accession to citizenship brought
about at this time practically by the
missionaries in behalf of the common
people.
This was well illustrated by the words
of Kamehameha III concerning his pew
in Kawaiahao church when that fine
historic building was completed little
over sixty years ago. The kings pew
was located on the left hand of the
minister as he faced the congregation.
A gallery was overhead. No man could
sit above the king, no shadow of COM
mon man could fall upon his sacred
form. Some of the chiefs declared at
once that the gallery must be tabu. But
the king said in substance that he did
not care who was above him, provided,
he had plenty of fresh air from the win
dows around him, and the gallery did
not fall upon him. Twenty-Five years
before such judgment would have been
impossible. The rights of the common
people had been recognized.
The Declaration of Rights and Con-
stitution were given freely by the king
and his chiefs who later felt very much
aggrieved because the people certainly
did not appreciate the sacrifice, and in
stead of gratitude manifested a COM
| planning spirit against the burdens of
government they were still compelled
| TO bear. 1t would be an interesting
| psychological study to analyze this feel
| ing of the people to ascertain how much
| was due to an instructive or Unborn de-
| mand for the natural rights of man,
| and how much was due to Unborn and
cultivated laZiness. Nevertheless the
fact remains that King Kamehameha
III did not like the way the natives
| responded to the use of the privileges
granted by this Declaration and Con-
stitution. The Paradise of the Pacific for
December, 1904, will call more partic-
ular attention to the lesson which the
q, king tried to teach the people at that
! time. Through the kindness of Mrs.
Mary Hitchcock of Hilo we are permit
ted to give the Declaration of Rights"
and the First Constitution in full from
a rare volume in which they were first
published in 1872
DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS
OF THE CHIEFS AND PEOPLE OF
THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS"
"God hath made of one blood all ma
tions of men to dwell on the face of the
earth in unity and blessedness. God
hath also bestowed certain rights alike
on all men and on all chiefs and on
all people of all lands.
'"These are some of the rights which
he has given alike to every man and
every chief of correct department.: life
limb. liberty. freedom from oppression
the earnings of his hands, and the
j production of his mind, not however to
those who act In violation of the laws.
i God hath also established govern
| ments and rule, for the purpose oil
j peace; but in making laws for the ma
tions, 1t is by no means proper to enact
laws for the protection of the rulers
4 only, without also providing protection
for their subjects: neither Is 1t proper
to enact laws to enrich the chiefs only,
\ without rega rd to enrichinR their SUBJ