Unlike his predecessors, Kalakaua seemed to regard himself as merely a king of the native Hawaiians, and foreign residents as alien invaders. It also seemed to be his chief aim to change the system of government into a personal despotism, in which he should have unchecked control of the Government Treasury. Thus he took it upon himself in July, 1878, and again in August, 1880, to dismiss a Ministry, without assigning any reason, immediately after it had been triumphantly sustained by a vote of the Legislature. On the latter occasion, his appointment of Celso Caesar Moreno as premier called forth the protest of the representatives of three great Powers, and such an uprising of the people that he had to give way. Adroit politicians were not wanting to flatter his vanity, defend his follies, and show him how to violate the spirit and intent of the Constitution, while keeping within the letter of the law. The Legislatures were packed with subservient office-holders, while every artifice was used to debauch the native electorate and to foment race prejudice. The national debt grew up from $389,000 in 1880 to $1,936,000 in 1887. At the same time, under the existing law, no foreigner could be naturalized without the King's approval. [Illustration: MASONIC TEMPLE.] [Illustration: KAMEHAMEHA MUSEUM.] THE REVOLUTION OF 1887. After the legislative session of 1886, the King was virtually his own prime minister, and went from one folly to another, until his acceptance of two bribes, one of $75,000 and another of $80,000 in connection with the assignment of an opium license, precipitated the revolution of 1887. Overawed by the unanimity of the movement, and deserted by his followers, the King yielded without a struggle. The Constitution which he was pleased to sign on the 7th of July, 1887, was a revision of that of 1864, intended to put an end to mere personal government, and to make the executive responsible to the representatives of the people. Office-holders were made ineligible to seats in the Legislature. The Ministers were henceforth to be removable only upon a vote of want of confidence passed by a majority of all the elective members of the Legislature. The Nobles, instead of being appointed by the King, were to be elected for terms of six years, by electors who should be possessed of taxable property worth $3,000, or in receipt of an annual income of $600. THE INSURRECTION OF 1889. The opposition of the Court and of other adherents of the old regime, to the reforms of 1887, led to an insurrection headed by R. W. Wilcox, on the 30th of July, 1889 which was promptly put down, but not without bloodshed. Seven of the rioters were killed and a large number wounded. There can be little doubt that the late King and his sister were accessory to this ill-advised outbreak. ACCESSION OF LILIUOKALANI.