The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-01-24
THE PLEBIscITUM. -G.

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appointment Mt the meeting Of the 2Cth Of December.
Prominent advertisements and posters in both Ian
guagos, proclaimed TO the people of the district tho
necessary information and called upon all Hawaiians.
native born and naturalized. over twenty years OF
age, the age Of majority for men, TO cast their ballots
for their King at the polls Of the people, upon the
first of January. In the late regime a property
qualification had been O condition Of the voting priv
ilege, but on this occasion, citizenship was the only
requirement.
There were still, on the eve Of the election, enc
mics and skeptics who sneered at the enterprise and
prophesed q failure. They asserted that the people
would not respond, with the exception Of n few par
tizans, and that their vote, even though unanimous,
would express nothing as regarded national senti-
ment. These individuals, moulded under the idoas
Of the late despotic reign. were unable to appreciate
the principle of civil power originating with the
people or TO understand the force of united popular
will; and they doubted the influence Of the election
even if it should be universally attended.
The first Of January arrived and being a national
holiday, the only business carried on was that Of
voting. Even the usual festive obseryances Of the
day were neglected for the one matter of absorbing
interest. Early in the forenoon a crowd had gath
cred at the polling place aud the balloting went
quietly aHu Thpllly On, N III u mhnhNs Iuil OF
earnestness and determination, many prominent cit
liens and high officials Of the Government depositing
their ballots along with humble kanakas fresh from
their ancestral taro-patches. In the afternoon. the
voting slackened somewhat, and the crowd around
the polls were alternately instructed and amused by
the delphic utterances of impromptu stump orators
who found it easy work to sway the popular mind in
favor Of the hero Of the day. There was little or no
open electioneering for Col. Kalakaua, and the sup
porters of Prince Lunalilo seemed 10 have things all
their own way. About abe middle Of the afternoon
u company Of the Household Troops marched down
to the polls and deposited their ballots. At five
O'Clock the voting ceased, and the crowd who had
passed the day in unfailing good nature, remained
to hear the result. Every minute increased its num-
bers till at half-past six, when the counting Of the
ballots was completed, the street was filed with a
dense mass Of people, native and foreigners. quietly
waiting for the announcement Of the vote.
When the judges Of the election came out at last
and proclaimed the casting Of a number Of ballots,
larger than had ever been polled in the district
during the late reign, and all for Prince Lunallo,
the feelings Of the listening crowd broke forth in
repeated and enthusiastic shouts which rang from
the street, where they stood almost undesirable in
the gathering darkness Of the night, and proclaimed
the news Of the victory far and wide over the city.
The excitement OF the people was intense ana they
were in a mood to finish the work Of comforting
royalty by Immediately marching in a body to the
residence Of the Prince, in order to carry him to the
Palace of Iolani and install him there as King by
poplIar reclamation. But the Prince having feared
some manifestation Of this kind had sent TO the
Judges Of election that they should request the people
to go quietly home and wait till the election in the
Legislative Assembly, after which he would be happy
to receive them at the Palace. An uproarious cheer
was their answer and then the main part Of the con-
course started off through the streets, halloOing and
singing, as noisy and demonstrative a rabble as the
town had often seen. ar
The returns from the other islands exhibit..
lar unanimity and enthusiasm in almost every elective
district. The whole nation with but a few scattering
exceptions, had united in nominating Lunalilo for
King.