Speeches of His Majesty Kamehameha IV. To the Hawaiian LegislatureKamehameha IV, King of the Hawaiian Islands
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Speeches of His Majesty Kamehameha IV. To the Hawaiian Legislature
Kamehameha IV, King of the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaii -- Politics and government -- To 1893
On _my_ part I shall endeavor to give you a mild, and liberal
government, but at the same time one sufficiently vigorous to
maintain the laws, secure you in all your rights of persons
and property, and not too feeble to withstand the assaults of
faction. On _your_ part I shall expect you to contribute your
best endeavors to aid me in maintaining the Constitution,
supporting the laws, and upholding our Independence.
It further pleased His Majesty, in accordance with a suggestion made to
him, to make the following _impromptu_ remarks, in English, to
foreigners owing allegiance to him, and others residing in his
dominions:
A few remarks addressed on this occasion, to you, the foreign
portion of the assembly present, may not be inappropriate.
You have all been witnesses this day to the solemn oath I have
taken in the presence of Almighty God and this assembly, to
preserve inviolate the Constitution. This is no idle ceremony.
The Constitution which I have sworn to maintain has its
foundation laid in the deep and immutable principles of
Liberty, Justice and Equality, and by these, and none other, I
hope to be guided in the administration of my Government. As
the ruler of this people, I shall endeavor, with the blessing
of God, to seek the welfare of my subjects, and at the same
time to consult their wishes. In these endeavors I shall
expect the hearty co-operation of all classes--foreigners as
well as natives.
His Majesty Kamehameha III., now no more, was preeminently the
friend of the foreigner; and I am happy in knowing he enjoyed
your confidence and affection. He opened his heart and hand
with a royal liberality, and gave till he had little to bestow
and you but little to ask. In this respect I cannot hope to
equal him, but though I may fall far behind I shall follow in
his footsteps.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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