Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 144, 21 June 1894 — AS IT NOW LOOKS. [ARTICLE]

AS IT NOW LOOKS.

The First Reading of the Proposed Constitntion Finished. In 16 d.iv8 the wiaemen who elected themselves to frame a constitutiou for this coantry. have got through the first and most important portion of their work. At the second reading all that is necessarv for them is to railroad the fundamental law through the convention and then promulgate it, aud declare it the coustitution ol the Hawaiian Kepuhlie, that is, if the peoplo is willing to let ihem do so. Tho constitution as it now stands is one of the most rernarkahle documeuts ever preseuted to a civilized community iu this oentury. Tocall the government whieh is to rule under that eon ititution a republic, is an iusult to the ideas aud principles underlying that form <>f government. The people are tntally iguored The proposed House cf Kepreseutatives is withont any power. All power is centered in tiie president, aiul not alone in the ofiice of president. but more especially iu President Dole. This man has b\ - n copstitutional clause been secured in bis office for six vears. He knew perfectly well that he never could be elected if he had gone before the people asking for their votes. Ho preferred the easier way, and had the coustitution«l convention electing him—a functiou never before exercised by any couvention. He has relegated his four ministeni to four chief olerks.and we must say that uuder the circumstances C. L. Curter’s motion should have bOBB adopted, to reduce tho cabinet to two members, and let the Interior and Finance Departments be managed by chief clerks. Mr. Dole opposed that, we presuiue, because when he has settled dowu his proverbial indolence will eome to tbe front again, and he will be too glad to shove his work on to the shoulders of Da mon and Hatch. The eounoil of stite whieh has raore jx>wer than the eomhineii i>euate, aud Honse of Kepresentatives will be the onlv jK>wer whieh Mr. Dole oooasionally will have to recog-l nize. Of course. he is ouly sup-' posed to eall upou th»t eouueil in case of eraergency. but the word emergency is a very elastic word, and eau always be construed to suit If the Senate and House of Kepresentatives happen to be in dead opposition to the | presideut and his cabinet, they| eannot oust Uiem except upou' impeachmeut whieh is alw«ys a difficolt matter. Their remedy woald then be to refuse the passage of an appropriation bill, and eveu then the executive would be perfectly safe, aud pass one themselves assisteJ by ! Uieir own votes and some of the j eouneil of state. and eall it an | emergencv. If the cpposition • to Mr. Dole and his missionary : clique desire it, they ean attbeji

first election withoat donbt eon- \ trol a majority in the combined >*t*oate and Honse of Kepreseuta- | tives, but wbat earthl\ nse wonld t1« |o them. Tbey wooid have Ino j»ower to show their w«nt of coi>fideuce in the ministers and iu the executi\e The five gentle meu wonld smile serenely, aud quoting Gibson say to the j»eo- } ple, What «re yon g >ing t<> do about it.’ Well, Gibson got his answer and the same resjK>n'e might be giveu to the high <nd migbty quintette who propose to ru!e the roost for tbe uext six year> ( they evidently don t have mi;ch faith in or desre fur annex»tion) in the f.ice of tbe so!id <>pposition of the large m»jority of the |>eople. When then tlie constitution is promulgated, we presume that Mr. Dole will follow old customs aud make a triumphant tour throngh his empiie, and visit Maui aad Hawaii, and there accept the weleome whieh he cert iinly deserves, aml ean be sure of receiv iug. Uutil then an revoir.