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
prejudice, scanty revenue, inexperience and ineptitude, as his late
Majesty King Kamehameha III.? It was only in 1844 that His Majesty had
the assistance of a responsible legal counsellor, and of a Secretary of
State; only in 1845 that a proper separation of the departments of
government was attempted, and a cabinet formed. The political principles
then established by His Majesty were the following, viz:
"That monarchy in the Sandwich Islands is indispensable to the
preservation of the King, the chiefs and the natives. That it
is the duty of the Ministers, in all their measures, to have a
single eye to the preservation of the King, the chiefs and the
natives.
"That the existence of the King, chiefs and the natives, can
only be preserved by having a government efficient for the
administration of enlightened justice, both to natives and the
subjects of foreign powers residing in the islands, and that
chiefly through missionary efforts the natives have made such
progress in education and knowledge, as to justify the belief
that by further training, they may be rendered capable of
conducting efficiently the affairs of government; but that
they are not at present so far advanced.
"That the best means of bringing them to that desired state,
are the careful study of proper books, and the practical
knowledge of business, to be acquired by ascending through the
different gradations of office, under foreign ministers.
"That such foreign ministers hold their commissions only by
the grace of the King, and agree to surrender them at the will
of His Majesty in favor of native subjects, whenever they
become properly qualified.
"That the King being recognized as Sovereign by Great Britain,
France, the United States and Belgium, has to maintain his
position and rank as such, and that all his ministers and
officers are to assist him in doing so, by deporting
themselves towards him with that respect and consideration to
which all sovereigns are entitled; and to discharge their
duties so as to do honor to his appointment and credit to
themselves.
"That it is the duty of the ministry to discourage all
republican tendencies and specious attempts to degrade the
King to the rank of a mere superior chief, as calculated to
undermine his influence and authority, and place the islands
in subjection to white men.
"That the subjection of the islands to white men, would lead
to the extinction of the native race.
"That the ministers ought to promote the numerical increase of
the natives, and their happiness, and wealth, by encouraging
religion, education, the arts and sciences.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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