The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-12-18


II was our painful duty. on Wedues-
dav last. to announce the unexpected
death Of His late Majesty, KAMEH,xEuA
V, At ten O'Clock and twenty minutes
a. n. on that day. His Majesty had COM
pleted his forty-seeond year on the day
Of his death. having been born on the
18th day Of December, 1880 The dav
which had been set apart As a day OF
rejoicing and the congratulations Of 4
loyal people, was, by the inexorable de
cree of the King Of Kings, turned into
a day Of deep affection and sincere
\ mourning.
His late Majesty was the elder brother
Of his predecessor, Kameharneha ". they
. beng the sons Of Riuau, the daughter Of
hameh4meha 1.-The founder of the dv-
nasty, and who, by his brilliant achieve
meutS, made himself the Sovereign Of the
Archipelago,-and His Highness Mataio
kekuanaoa, whose death at an advanced
. age occurred November 18th, 1865.
His late Majesty assembled the Throne
on the death Of His predecessor. Kane
hameha ", November 3Oth, 1868 lis
reign, At the time Of his death. having
extended over a period of nine wears and
eleven days His Majesty possessed in a
great degree the distinguishing character
iStics OF the ilustrious founder of the
Kingdom, uniting with rare frmnesS Of
purpose and great ability, a clear and
comprehensive view of the duties and
responsibilities Of his high position. He
was ever alive TO the necessities Of the
time and to the best interests of his peo-
pie. Thoroughly educated, and having
observed and taken part in some of the
most important events in Hawaiian his
tory, and served two Of his predecessors
IS an active and able advisor ofthe Grown.
and in the case of his immediate preie-
eeSSor. as Minister Of Interior. ably filing
one Of the most difficult and responsible
positions IN the Government for period
Of over SIX years, he brought to the
Throne 4 knowledge Of government gain
ed by large experience in its routine
and minor details, such as Is rarely pos
sessed by those called upon to preside
over s people This Is not the time to
comment upon the occurrences Of his
reign, but 1t Is not teo much to say that
history viii place his name on the roll Of
the wiSest and best of the kings Of Ha-
wan; and the influence which he has
welded over the people who now mourn
his los, viii long be felt for their good.
Taken away II the meridian Of manhood.
when his subjects had the right to hope
that he would live long to hold the helm
of state with a just and even hand, 1t
may well be said that the calamity
which has fallen upon them Is indeed
great and hard to be borne
At the tine of his accession to the
throne, his sister, Tietoria Kamamalu. was
to succeed him in the event Of
his demise without issue. Princess Veto
ria died May 29th, 1886. Both His lste
Majesty and Victoria died without issue,
neither Of them having been married;
therefore, the late King not having ap-
pointed a successor, aud there being no
immediate heir in the line Of succession
Is established by the Constitution, the
throne became vacant at his death. In
accordance with the Constitutional pro-
visions TO meet such s contingency. the (
Cabinet Council Immediately after his de
mise issued Proclamation converting the (
legislative Assembly on the sth proximo,
whose duty II viii be to choose 4 Sever
sign from the native airs Of the kingdom
On Thursday last the remains of His
ate Majesty lay In state IN the Throne
room At the Palace, and thousands Of
people mourufuIy filed through, to look
or the last time uPoa hin who vas ye@
.eriay their King.
On Sunday last, both at the morning
md evening services At the various
.h1rches, sermons were preached suitable
o the occasion Eloquent tributes were
aid the memory Of His late Majesty, and
he people we're wisely counssIled to OBJ
ere quiet and moderation during the try
az period to elApse before the next Sow
reign shan be nzmed BY the proper