Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-10-21
4 rzsIr TO KING K4kAKAU4.


liz viii be remembered that this we'll known French
man was sentenced to penal seyitude IN the colony Of
New Caledonia. lie escaped, however with several
others IN isII and returned Europe via san Fran
cisco, New York and London, passing through Homo
lulu on his way. lie published an account Of his
journey, "De Nemoa ~ EN,gfe, which has passed
through several editions The following Is translation
q his visit to King Kalaaua narrated in Chapter
WILL
From the rooms OF the legislative assembly
we went to the parlors Of fine hotel, built in
a court full Of algerobas, palms and mangoes.
We thanked OUT obliging guide for his attention,
and ordered dinner. We had reached the
dessert, when a fine looking young man came
up and addressed us in Partisan French, 81
am German, but have lived long while in
France. His Majesty, whose aide camp
am, has sent me to invite you to spend the
evening with him"
| Heretofore, no monarch had ever invited us
to anything, except to 60 to prison. Sucl,
favor as this was something unique in our ex.
perience.
We discussed the matter several minutes,
excusing ourselves because Of the disordered
condition Of our wardrobe and the lack Of white
crayats; but the young aide de.camp assured us
that it would be a private reception, and the
exharnting idea Of passing several hours with
royal family decided us to accept.
The parlor OF Kalakaua is like the residence
of well-to-do citizen. The interior is ar.
ranged and furnished in English style. We
should have liked better something more
Oceanic. A piano stood against the wall of
the room, not far from a mahogany bureau
The Prince Royal, brother Of the King, re
ceived US. He was young man, rs years
old, who spoke neither English nor French
We should have been obliged to communicate
by signs only, il the German who accompanied
us had not translated our salu,ations into the
Kanaka language. Then the King made his
appearance. followed by three persons, whom
he presented to us, in quite good English, as
his responsible ministers.
ka!akaua, although thirty years old and
more, has begun to take on the bloated look
which comes from long continued use Of cham.
payne Brown skinned, yet no, a dark brown,
Of easy and agreeable manners, he is certainly,
in appearance, far superior TO many of the
crowned heads Of Europe.
Here is comical incident The ministers
had, all three, their portfolios under their arms,
but this did not keep us from taking off our
hats.
We seated ourselves, without any ceremony.
The King entered into long conversation
with me, the aide.de.camp Interpreting. Every
now and then this young man, DESTROYS of
making the most Of the situation, would say TO
me, "Tell His Majesty tina, have correctly
translated your thought" And took occa-
sion to say so.
The first utterance Of this eleventh. rate
King was protestation, earnest and really
sincere, against the suggestion that ought not
to have landed. "What could you be afraid
Off" he kept on saying; "would you not be in
my kingdom, that is, under my projections -
Undoubtedly" replied, "but sovereign
is not always at liberty to follow on. his gen.
erous disposition. There are political consid-
erations which strongly hinder him from ex-
pressing his better feelings" "What me ! =
replied Kalakaua, with warmth, "sooner than
surrender you, would have let my capital
and my palace bombarded, till there was not a
vestige left" Then rising quickly, he went
and took hold Of the hand Of o. p. and NJ. b.
Then he sat down again, eager to begin an
exposition of his ideas Of government. 81 am
going to astonish YOU" said he, "bu, you see
in me the only republican in my kingdom. >
We have noticed that all monarchs make great
pretensions to be republicans, yet they are
wonderfully surprised if their subjects turr
them out and establish a republican govern
ment. 81 am an American in spirit, said he
"and our political system is in fact founded or
that of the United States, with this difference
in favor of the Sandwich Islands, that here
universal suffrage is exercised to the fullest ex
tent. | keep the title Of King, so as not tc
break too suddenly with old usages, but my
position is that of president Of republic
The legislature enacts the laws, as approved b,
my ministers, and am content to add my sig
nature. Like you in other things, | wish self
government in the territorial districts, educa
ton free of expense and compulsory on all such
as have established here, and which is care
fully superintendent. Every child at nine year.
Of age ought to know how to read and write
under penalty Of imprisonment for the parent.
who may have neglected their duty. We ad
vocate levying custom house duties for revenue
As TO the separation of church and state, thai
is already done. We do not contribute to an,
form of worship. Religion and what belong.
to it is, in Honolulu, a matter Of very little i'm
portance."
"Your theory is very 6ne," l interrupted
but II you went to Paris, you would have TO bs
very careful about utterine the ideas which 20,
have enumerated. You would be brought i'm
mediately before military tribunal. had moi
said as much before was sentenced TO pena
transporton TO military post"
: During this conversation the champaign,
circulated with alarming rapidity. There were
eight Of us, counting the ministers, and alread,
more than fifteen bottles had been drank. Thi,
adulteraied liquor, for champagne is not worth
anything il ii is not the genuine French article
would seem TO be the real god Of the country,
Kamehameha ~, the predecessor Of Kalakaua,
fell in his struggle with ia pemse Chesnof.. .
None the less did the present king give warm
welcome to this champage, which in such fash.
ion had given him his throne. He was aston.
ished at my abstinence.
:" But, in France, he asked, "you would
have drank il every day'" 81, was my an
swer; 81 have no, swallowed, in all my life,
what would amount TO four glasses. can not
endure it," No assertion could have given
greater establishment. The conversation be.
came general and quite animated. Kalakaua
led US around the room, showing us the por-
traits that hung on the walls. The position