The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1904-10-29
RECENT EVENTS.

fer, namely the removal of Messrs.
Brown and Chillingworth an editorial
in the Star of October goth entitled
undated designations" and an inter-
view by the Governor appearing in the
Star of yesterday.
And first as to the removal of the
High Sheriff and his Deputy. This is
an incident that is at present filling
the public mind. Up to this time the
facts are not before US, and until they
are, no final decision or judgment up
on the question as to whether Brown
and Chillingworth are right or wrong or
are guilty of misconduct justifying their
removal can be reached. There are
certain, phases of that question, how
ever, Which have reached point where
they can be publicly discussed. The
incident serves to illustrate that the
Democrats have been right in contend
ing from the first that the powers of
the Governor and the extent of his
authority are vital issues in this CAM
paign and must be met and discussed
by any party laying claim to the con-
fidence of the people.
And this incident illustrates again
how thoroughly misguided the Repub-
lican or executive machine has been in
it's attempts to contend that Governor
Garter is not and cannot be an issue
this campaign, and that any attempt to
do so is factious senseless and I'M
businesslike.
The Democratic party has foreseen
the disorder that would inevitably grow
out of the adoption of mistaken con-
oantinnc Of avarutit-a po,yar
limitations, and has sounded the alarm
seasonably, and led the community to
understand and appreciate the situa-
ton while the executive machine has
been proclaiming loudly that neither
the Governor nor his acts are to be
considered an issue this coming cleo
ton. 1t may be said by those who be-
lieve that Brown and Chillingworth are
in the wrong that the incident Illus
trates the wisdom of demanding un
dated designations from the heads of
departments.
Our reply as Democrats is, first, that
whether it would be best to have these
heads of departments hold Office at the
will of the Governor or not, the law
does not permit it. Ap evasion Of the
law is a violation of it, and We stand
for the enforcement of law which
in this instance requires that
these officials shall hold office for four
years, and shall be removed from office
only by the Governor with the consent
of our local Senate. In the second place
the Democrats say that If the issue is
raised whether the law shall be chang
ed so that the Governor may law
fiIll a a of
powers which he now unlawfully
usurps, the Democratic party will
stand first, last and all the time "a
gainst the enlargement Of his powers
over and above what is now allowed
him by the Organic Act. They believe
| that Congress was right in subdivdins
| the executive power and making the
heads of departments independent of
| the Governor and of each other.
They decline TO decide the ques-
| ton on the mere eXpediency
of the hour or by considering that 1t
| may have proved convenient in one or
two particular cases in the past to have
| had the undated resignation sys-
| tenn in vogue. 1t does not
| follow therefore that a permanent
| or any diet of undated resignation is
| the best thing for this commonwealth,
| We as Democrats protest against such
| views. Such logic would result in this:
If We had a bad Governor and good de-
| partments then We would clamor to
| have the heads of these departments
made independent of the Governor ana
| vice versa. The issue must not be de-
cided In that way.
| EXAMPLE FROM MONARCHY.
| We had an experience in the his
tory of this country that ought to have
taught us better. In 1864 Kamehameln,
| V, believing that the people had too
much power and the executive too lit
tie, arbitrarily promulgated new con-
stitution which gave the executive
| more power and the people less, and
during his reign and because he was
a man of good sense and knew how
| far to go and where to stop, the peo-
pie felt no inconvenience from the con-
sttution thus promulgated. Events
seemed to Justify the making of con-
stitution to fit the particular sovereign
then on the throne, but what happen
| ed later? Kalakaua came to the throne
and he took that constitution with its