The Hawaiian Islands: Their Resources, Agricultural, Commercial and Financial — John Shaqi
The Hawaiian Islands: Their Resources, Agricultural, Commercial and FinancialHawaii. Department of Foreign Affairs
History
The Hawaiian Islands: Their Resources, Agricultural, Commercial and Financial
Hawaii. Department of Foreign Affairs
Hawaii; Hawaii -- Economic conditions
In order to recruit his health, the King visited California in November,
1890. In spite of the best medical attendance, he continued to fail, and
breathed his last on the 20th of January, 1891, in San Francisco. His
remains were brought to Honolulu in the U. S. S. "Charleston," arriving
there January 29th, 1891. On the same day, his sister took the oath to
maintain the Constitution, and was proclaimed Queen, under the title of
Liliuokalani.
THE REVOLUTION OF 1893.
The ex-Queen in a published statement has since declared that she signed
the Constitution unwillingly. The history of her short reign shows that
it was her unaltered purpose to restore autocratic government. In short,
she was determined to govern as well as to reign.
The decision of the Supreme Court that the term of the last Cabinet
expired with the King, gave her an opportunity (which she improved), to
dictate terms in advance to the incoming Cabinet, and to secure control
of all appointments. The legislative session of 1892 was protracted to
eight months chiefly by her determination to retain her control of the
Executive, as well as to carry through the opium and lottery bills.
Meanwhile she had caused a Constitution to be drawn up, which would
practically, have transformed the government from a limited to an
absolute monarchy, besides disfranchising a class of citizens who paid
two-thirds of the taxes. This Constitution she undertook to spring upon
the country by a _coup d'etat_, on the day of the prorogation of the
Legislature, January 14th, 1893.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, when her preparations were
complete, her Ministers shrank from sharing the responsibility of
such a revolutionary act, and induced her to postpone it. In such
an undertaking to hesitate is fatal.
Again there was a general uprising of the conservative part of the
community similar to that of 1887. But this time public opinion
condemned all half way measures, and declared the monarchy to be
forfeited by its own act.
The Reform leaders reorganized their forces, and formed a Provisional
Government, which was proclaimed January 17th, 1893 from the Government
Building. The U. S. S. "Boston," which had unexpectedly arrived from
Hilo on the day of the prorogation, landed a force on the 16th, to
protect the lives and property of American citizens, in case of disorder
or incendiarism. The Queen's ministers availed themselves of the
presence of these troops on shore as an excuse for their inaction, and
persuaded the Queen to resign under protest, and to appeal to the
government of the United States.
A treaty of annexation was soon after negotiated with the United States
during President Harrison's administration, which was withdrawn by
President Cleveland immediately after his accession. The failure of his
attempt to restore the monarchy by diplomacy is well known.
THE REPUBLIC OF HAWAII.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account