A GLANCE AT HAWAHAN POLITICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4218, 26 September 1874, Page 4

A GLANCE AT HAWAHAN POLITICS.

A correspondent of the Argus well informed in Hawaiian affairs contributes the following : Nowhere has the experiment of government by mixed races had a more satisfactory trial than in the well-ordered, peaceful, lawabiding community settled in the Hawaiian Islands. The quick intelligence of the Malaysian, apt to recognise the power of order, and ready to apprehend the social and political advantages of a settled government, has adapted itself readily to European modes, and often improved its models. Wedded to no traditional school of statesmanship, the authors of the Hawaiian Code have absorbed in their own the merits of different systems, and the result is that the questions wMch are now in many European communities under discussion as germs of the legislation of the future have been in Hawaii successfully grappled with. Compulsory Education, a Contagious Diseases Act, Payment of Representatives (of the Lower House only), and many like matters which have recently agitated this community have been included in the Hawaiian legislative code for years, and larger states may well glean useful information by studying the operation of these laws, some of which are with us in the experimental stage. And a peculiarity of Hawaiian jurisprudence is that the verbiage of the statutes is clear, concise, explicit, needing no special class to expound its labyrinthine mysteries, and avoiding much of that unholy conflict between pure law and true equity which is a blot upon the liberal, comprehensive, but unintelligibly phrased system of Great Britain. It may be worth while to examime how this compact little nation—too small to be offensively aggressive has acquired such a reputation for good and stable government, that its bigger brethren throughout the world freely extend to it the hand of fellowship, receive it into the family of nations, make treaties with it, and regard its maintenance as an independent kingdom as an important question of national policy. At the present time the Hawaiian Monarchy is represented by ambassadors, consuls-general, consuls, or commercial agents at eleven Courts, and its consular service is making its influence felt at the principal ports of all the European Powers in America, Japan, China, in the most distance Provinces of Russia, in the thriving communities of Australasia and South America, in the minor states of Germany, and, in fact, in all places where old ocean laps the feet of prosperous commercial towns. In return, Austria, Chili, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, Russia, Sweden, Norway, and the United States of America are represented by permanent Ministers or other representatives at the Court of the Hawaiian king. It is most desirable that we in Australia should take heedful note of this Government, for a right apprehension of its weaknesses and perfections would help us much in dealing with the Malaysian and Papuan races of Oceania, and would assist in the avoidance of such great mistakes as those under which Fiji has suffered.

The constitution of Hawaii is essentially monarchical. Time was when the founder of the dynasty of the Kamehamehas claimed by right of conquest all land and property. Gradually, bit by bit, as policy made the expediency apparent, concessions were made, \mtil now Hawaii is as free as England. But liberal legislation and the advantages of - Parliamentary representation have only intensified in the native race the love of the old monarchical rule, and republicanism is utterly foreign and hateful to it. The kingly office is hereditary, but failing heirs the throne devolves upon the nominee of the sovereign. Should the sovereign fail to appoint his successor, or leave direct heirs, the Parliament, which consists of two Houses, analogous to those of Lords and Commons in the British Constitution, respectively styled the House of Nobles and the House of Representatives, meet and elect the succeeding king. This strain upon the machinery of government, made more exciting by reason of the local and personal jealousies which are the bane of small communities, has now happened on two occasions within fifteen months, and we propose to give a brief account of the manner in which the mixed population, composed chiefly of the native race, Americans, Englishmen, and Chinese, comported themselves under the trial. Upon the death of Kamehameha V., the eyes of the nation instinctively turned to William Charles Lunalilo, then about thirty-eight years of age, who was considered by the experts in Hawaiian genealogy as ranking next in kindred to the throne. He was much loved by his people for his unassuming mannei'S, his democratic views in politics, and his sincere patriotism. Like most young Hawiians of rank, he had received a liberal education, and was extremely fond of English poetical literature. The principal opponent to the election of Prince Lunalilo was Colonel David Kalakana, who has succeedd him. A plebiscite of all taxpayers voted the election of Lunalilo on the Ist of January, 1873, and on the Sth the Houses of Nobles and Representatives confirmed this vote by their independent ballot, amidst the acclamations of crowds that thronged the Legislative Chamber. The laudable ambition of Lunalilo to benefit his people and the high hopes they entertained in him were doomed to frustration. Disease speedily laid a heavy hand upon him, and after lingering over, six months, he expired on the 3rd of February of the present year. After lying in state, the remains were placed in a leaden coffin and interred, an unprecedented circumstance marking the obsequies. During the lying in state, the body had reposed upon the " mamo," or feather cloak of the Kamehamehas, the emblem of sovereignty, and on the attendants preparing to remove this, Kanaina, the aged father of the deceased, who stood by, directed that it should be wrapped around the body before consigning it to the coffin, saying, " He is the last of our family, it belongs to him." This robe is composed of the tail feathers of birds caught in the mountainous districts, each furnishing but two feathers, and is of a bright golden hue, and about one fathom square. It occupied nine generations of kings in its fabrication, and was considered worth over §IOO,OOO. The only similar robe that exists, used on occasions of state ceremonial, is of vastly inferior value. By his will, the personal property of the king was bequeathed to found an infirmary for the sick and aged, his marine residence being devised to Her Majesty the Queen Dowager Emma. On the death of the much loved Lunalilo, it became evident that the succession must devolve upon his formidable rival, Prince David Kalakena, who unites great intellectual vigor with considerable personal advantages. Prince David, who is now in his thirty-eighth year, has profited by an exceptionally valuable political training. He is a proficient English scholar, and, in common with most of his family, an accomplished musician. One of his sisters, the Honorable Mrs. Dominis, is the authoress of the Hawaiian national hymn ; and the other, the Honorable Mrs. Clcghom—a recent visitor to Melbourne —is equally esteemed for her musical abilities. As a politician, his farsighted shrewdness and clear method of

expression have always commanded respectful attention, and his recent articles on the contemplated cession of Pearl River Harbor to the United States awakened much interest in the islands. On the 4th of February a mass meeting, attended by several thousand persons, was held at Honolulu, Judge Kapera in the chair, at which an address of condolence to the father of the deceased sovereign was voted, and a direction given to the representatives of the city to vote only for the election of Prince Kalakana, the proceedings being prefaced by the request from the Prince that any action, taken should be only such as was " strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and laws." An element of disturbance now asserted its influence, which proved how severe a trial the election of a sovereign is even to the most law-abiding community. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager Emma, relict of Kainehameha IV., was openly nominated for the vacant throne, and an active canvass was initiated by her adherents. No one is more esteemed for womanly attributes of character than- this lady. No one in Hawaii forgets the days when she drove in her carriage from house to house,personally soliciting subscriptions to found the present hospital, and her consistent philanthropy, unwearying in well doing, and the extent of her private benefactions make musical the sound of her name to an Hawaiian ear. At the same time, making allowance for the powers co-ordinate with those of the highest chiefs—which- women of the ruling classes were under the old regime permitted to enjoy, it was felt that this was not the time to entrust the destinies of Hawaii to female governance—Hawaii needed a long or governor to bind together diverse interests, in the State, and shape its foreign policy. On the 12th of February the Legislative Assembly being in session, the vote for election, of a new Sovereign was taken, when there appeared for Prince Kalakana thirty-six, for Queen Emma six votes. On the following day the oath of fealty to the Constitution was taken and the customary salutes paid to the Royal standard by the punch-bowl battery and the ships of war in port. On the 22nd March the King gave audience to the Minister-resi-dent of the United States, the British and French Commissioners, the .Consuls for Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, Chili, Italy,. Netherlands, Peru, Sweden, Russia, and the United States, and the naval officers in harbor. His Majesty's reply to the address of the consular corps is a typical one, and will disabuse readers of the impression that he is accustomed to adopt the imaginative phrasing, used by the Hawaiians. "It gives me great pleasure, gentlemen, to receive your congratulations on this occasion. I recognise the importance and value of friendly relations with all the world as a means of promoting the prosperity of my kingdom. My Government will, no doubt, do all in its power to encourage commercial intercourse between this country and those whose flags you soworthily represent, and I shall be the more desirous to see that commercial intercourse increased, because it involves the necessity of increasing at the same time the exchangeable products of this kingdom, by which means alone it can attain the prosperity you desire for it during my reign." The unfortunate contest for the sovereigntyeventuated in a riot on the date of the election of King Kalakana, in which the House of Assembly was broken into, its furniture greatly injured, and many of the representatives seriously maltreated. Since the disbandment of his own body-guard by the late King for mutinous conduct no armed force, save police and volunteers, has been maintained. The police force was insufficient to quell the disturbance, the volunteer bodies could not weit be used in a semi-political conflict, and, in consequence, the authorities were compelled to invoke the assistance of the British and American ships of war, who promptly landed large detachments of marines and seamen, with artillery, and dispersed the rioters, fortunately without any loss of life. Eighty of the" most prominent were afterwards arrested by the police, fifty of whom have been committed for trial. One of the first acts of the new King was to re-constitute a permanent defence force, placing them under a more vigorous discipline than previously. Once more the Hawaiian bark of state drifts in smooth waters. A new Ministry, including two of the most distinguished judges of the Supreme Court, has taken office ; and most of the other official appointments have tended to inspire both natives and foreigners with confidence in the impartiality and vigor of the new Administration. Singularly enough, the new Cabinet is composed of four different nationalities —an Hawaiian, an Englishman, an American, and a German being included in it. Much is anticipated from the ability and experience which they will bring to the Council Chambor.