Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 170, 13 April 1891 — THE PRIMERSHIP. [ARTICLE]

THE PRIMERSHIP.

Since the oflice of Kuhina Nui ceased, the office of Premipr of tbe Cabinet has not heen mentioned in oiir wntten law or Constitution. The office bowever has l«eri assumed by those whom the King lias invited to form a Ministry. This was more promi#nently exercist;d by Mr. Wilder and by Mr. Gibson, and since their time. Thus the precedent is well eetabi:shed by tacit custom based 011 us;ige in all constitutionallv i gHVfirne<l countries, i. e., the appointrnent of one man at the head of the Ministry, styled as Premier. witti &Gveral other gentlemen assooiattd, and presumed to be in accord with him, as his col[eagues. Hut whiie in theory, or in word, ■this has appoared to-br« the case, tlie fact here has been that the coileagues have usually l>roken loose from our several Pfemiers, and have started indepMident and often hostile polities and policies of their own. By #iwh inconsistency on their pnrt the Premier has become a mere iigure-head, having all the respontibility attactied to him with his power to act obstructed. This f:ict has become mpre notorious of late, more especially during the administration in office of the Thurston and Cummins Cabinets, to whieh cause their downfall may be attributed.

īf Dame Rumor is to be credited, Prfemier Parker has had similar difficulties to contend with, rn stubborn eolleagues upon question of puhlie poiicy, whieh he has the right to direct. The Leo believes, as we have before stated, that Mr. Parker, the present Premier, is imbued with honest purpose to serve his country faithfully, and to conduct the ?.dminiBtration in aeeonl with the wishes of the }>ut we trust that he will not be daunted or swervedfrom his duty by unreasoning and designing obstructors. He is the Premier, and as such is presumed to have the eonfidence of the Queen, and therefore his colleagues shoul,d give some deference to his administrative policv< We make this assertion more strong since his three eolIcagues in questi©ii do not as vet eojoy the full confidence of the people as does the Premier, and therefore we mistrust their object in obstructing his work, as they are eredited with doing. If the Premier finds that any of his to!leagues are deterwiined to bs iTHlependent ©r obstruefcive factors, if they refuse te pall together, or with hiin, hie duty is either to request their reBignation, or to resign his own position, whieh would necessanly earry with it ihe downfall of the whele cabinet. And if such resignation of the Premier was based as aforesaid, there is no doubt but that the Queen would re-sumraon Mr. Parker, to form a new Cabinet that w ould perhapB work more h«rmouiou»ly in the interest of the puhlie, and in deference to Her Majesty's wishes. But we vetr hope there will be no necessity for such a change. We trust that eommon sence and solf-preserva-i iion will prevail and make the! whole Cabinet recognize the neces-1 fiity of harmony of aeiion on points of policy. ind tliat nueh jK»licy should be in harmōnv with i the jLi]ujoiity of thc people a:s re-'

presentcd by the Legislature; It ajjpears that in rocognizing: the principlps of porty po!itics the Premier has been alone, and unsui)ported by his colleagu.es, as should liave been. We fear that the Prernier, instead of liaving the support of his colleagues in carrymg out tbe desire of the peopīe, he i"s being obstructed outside inlluenee tbrough them. In carrying out the principles of'pamilar governinent4, the Premier, ean always rely on our efibrts; and as we have s»id, we trust his eolleagues will awake to a just senee ef dutv and support hini in what is plainly th« only successful course for nrriintaining the support of the people and of preserving the prosent administration.