New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-27
KING LUNALILO.
HIS LAST ILLNESS.

A OCCASIONAL CORRkSPONDkNTOFT THE TRIBUNE
HONOLULU, Jan. 31.-Ths is the seth birthday Of
K;ne Lunalo: but as the first gun Of the daybreak
salute from the Puowaina battery awakened the city
MANY a one listened anxiousy for the next report,
10 know if the royal salute had not to be changed
70 minute guns announcing a sovereign deceased.
For since the Kings return from Kailua to his
capital two weeks ago, no hope has been enter
tanned of his recovery. We may speak OF him now
as if his little history were closed, quite confident
that il will be so before our next departing mail
Eisam melancholy little history, that of this amable
vounc man who came to the throne on the sth of
January last to the oy of all his people, only half
understood by those who have not an Unborn love
and LOYALTY toward "ohef" blood, which personal
bad character or un6tness can hardly impair, but
which in this case was exalted by the generous and
sympathetic traits of the King. To the Hawaiian
mind it was nothing that Lunalilo had for
about score of years, exhibited himself in
streets theater. palace, and legislative assembly,
in all stages of intOxication. He had the
highest ali blood, higher than that of the last two
Kamehamehas, and must be exalted to the throne,
from which indeed he had been too long excluded.
You have heard how he threw himself upon the pop
ular will asking that they should by voluntary
poll Indicate what was their wish, before the Logic
lative Assembly with whom the real election lay
should meet, and with what unprecedented unan-
unity the nation declared for him.
I.unalilo enjoyed being King. He was fond otgood
society Naturally of fine mind, with more OF lit
erary taste than even the English educated Hawaii
ans generally have of elegant figure and graceful
address much resembling the lamented kameha-
Ineha ". and much contrasting with the unla-
mented Kamehameha ", he mingled largely IN the
foreign society of the place. with little OF the re-
straiuts Of his position. He showed marked and
unusual attentions to the elder missionaries. He
has sought good advice and honestly struggled to
overcome his great failing. People have been hope
full for him and charitable toward his occasional
lapses. These, indeed, have been too frequent, and
they have always been known abroad, for he re-
tains the habit which characterized his earlier dis
sipation of always making an exhibition OF his
freaks.
The visit here in July Of the English iron-clad
Repuse with an Admiral, was the occasion OF the
diplomatic courtesies and social festivities usual on
such visits and little more in that it the first
after the accession Of the new King. grand din
ner on shipboard was followed by grand dinner at
the palace and by another at the Hawaiian Hotel,
given nv the American Commissioner though the
King was already disabled from attending this
Afterward there was grand ball at the palace, at
which the King late in the evening. made very
publicly an unhappy display of his infrmity. II
was reported that he kept up this bout for days al
terward He had the band the morning of the de-
parture of the Repuise in the palace grounds play
ing "Rule Britannia" an uncounted number of times
TILL they were quite exhausted. He went TO oul
inter-island steamer the Klauea, one afternoon. as
she was about TO sail and detained her while he
tried to start prayermeeting in the cabin. One
of these nights he slept out doors. His attendants
dared not rouse him, and so what might have hap
pcned to a common man happened to him. He took
cold which resulted in a slow fever and an incura-
bic decline
The reign Of Lunao began at period of business
depression Sugar by far the most important Of our
products was low in the san Francisco market
Plantations, although yielding from two TO four
tons per acre not able at the current rates TO
carry the debt of half their original cost, with Is
and Is per cent interest to bear the charges of agents
ia Honolulu to endure the losses incident to mex
perience and yet leave a margin for generous living
and the accumulation of fortune. Merchants and
the OVer-numerOus stOTekeepeTs and mechanics be-
gan 10 feel poor Ii cannot be said that the Ha
waiian public were affected in any way. All who
would labor had employment and pay for it, for
plantations did not close, and they have always de-
manded more Hawaiians than the supply, that
laborers wages have constantly increased and were
never higher Nor does it appear that anybody of
the Hawuiiaus borrowed trouble about an impend-
ing crisis financial ruin, and general suspension Of
our industries. Taro. fish, bananas, and beef could
be had still, though should never export sugar.
But the foreign community cried hard times and
ruin TO each other till il was settled that we were
ruined and that something must be lonesome
thing extraordinary. 1t was agreed that it would
be Just the thing if we could pocket the amount
taken by the United States as duties-we must have
reciprocity or annexation.
After some months of agitation, it was officially
announced that the Kings Government would again
propose reciprocity this time offering an induce
ment to make some kind of q cessiOn of Pearl River
Harbor. But, while we awaited the response TO our
proposition and had not heard whether it would be
entertained OF not it announced that the King,
in compliance with the OutspOken opposition of the
native population. had withdrawn his consent to
any negotiation involving cessiOn of territory.
Hawaiians would not sell their country TO save the
sugar plantations. The Ministry resigned, but the
King who had become an invalid and was about 10
leave his capital to reside Kailua for his health
expressed his unchanged confidence in them, and
they have continued to hold office. From the first
characterized here and abroad as men of respecta-
blty simply, without political sagacity and force,
they now received a general verdict of contempt.
A short time previously the successful defiance Of
the Government by thirty soldiers, who mutinied
and held the barracks till they dictated their own
terms. which were TO be disbanded honorably and
permitted 10 return with their own property and
something more had indicated that the authority of
the Administration was brItHm talmen.
HIS DEATH.
PARTICULARS OF THE EvENr-THE BODY LYING IN