The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-03-05

as political party, dangerous to the
State. This persecucution being
confined to Honolulu, few of the
American missionaries knew of it
at the time. There is abundant |
evidence, however. that several Of |
them demonstrated with the chiefs
against persecution for religious
opinions. A published letter, ad
dressed by Kamehameha Ill to tie
American Consul, relates several in
stances of this. While many be-
lieved that the Hawaiian Government
had legal right under the law of
nations to exclude foreigners whom
it considered dangerous to the state,
there is no evidence that as body or
as individuals they advised the exer-
else of that right"
Governor Boki was an eccentric
character, who was born without
brains and never recovered from the
shock. He is chiefly celebrated for
his profigate character, his intemper-
ate habits, his evil influence over the
King during the latter's minority,
and his intrigues against the Queen
Regent, ending in his conspiracy to
otherthrow her and supplant her as
regent. A more sensible and en-
lightened career might justly have
been expected in one who had en-
joyed in England the enlightened
influences of culture and civilization.
All the advantages, however, that he
experienced while there and after his
return to his native land, were of no
avail, and going on from bad to worse
he started out on his chimerical Tex
petition" in the course of which the
sea swallowed him up. Under the
guiding influence of Kaahumanu
and her advisers, laws were passed in
1929 against murder, theft, gambling
and drunkenness, and others on the
subject of marriage and the observ-
ance of the Sabbath. This great and
good woman died on the 5th of June,
1882, leaving the country without her
equal, and bequeathing to her native
land a memory which will remain
illustrious while the pages of history
endure.
Kaahumanu was succeeded by Hi
nsu, and the following year Kauikea-
ouli (Kamehameha IID declared his
minority to be at an end nd assumed
the functions of his regal Office. His
reign lasted over twenty one years,
and in spite of foreign complications
which often threatened the existence
of the country, it was an era of great
intellectual and material progress.
Taken as whole, the events of the
first few years of his reign were COM
paratively unimportant, with the ex-
ception of the return of the Catholic
priests and renewal of the Catholic
persecution. "On the 18th of De-
cember, 1887, the king and chiefs is
sued a severe ordinance rejecting
the Catholic religion which forbade
the teaching of that religion, or the
landing of any teacher of it except
in cases of necessity. During these
years of angry controversy, contin-
ues Professor Alexander, sit is to be
deplored that the persecution of ma
tive Catholics was renewed. Toward
the end of 1885, and at different
times during the next three years,
nearly thirty persons were set al
forced labor, and few were even re-
CURED to work as scavengers in the
fort, which then served as prison"
The end came in due time, however,
and on the 18th of June, 1889, the
king, Influenced thereto chiefly by
the Protestant missionary, the Rev.
Mr.. Richards, issued his edict of
federation, (which ordered that ell
who were then in confinement should
be released, and that no more
punishment should be inflicted
on account of religion" About
three weeks later Capt. Laplace ar
rived in the frigate ''Artemise' and
exacted the well-known conditions
lin regard to Catholics and Catholic
Worship sat the price of which the
King of the Sandwich Islands shall
preserve friendship with France"
One of these provided that
French merchandise, especially
wine or brandy, shall not be prohib-
tied, nor pay higher duty than five
per cent. ad valorem." Laplace was
successful and left the islands in
three weeks.
A Declaration of Rights" called
by Professor Alexander the magma
Charta of Hawaiian freedom" was
promulgated on the 7th of June,
1889, and on the 9Th of October OF
the following year the first constitu-
ton was proclaimed, by the provi-
sions of which a Legislative body OF
fifteen hereditary mobiles and seven
representatives was organized. New
laws were added to the old ones, and
the collection was published in 1912
Two years before this a controversy
had arisen between the English Con
sui, Mr.. Charlton, and the Hawaiian
Government, which gave promise Of
: serious complications. Partially, al
J least, with view of preserving its
existence as nation, should seri
Gus crises occur, the government en-
tered into q contract with the ole
and well-known house of Ladd
Co, of Honolulu, by the provisions
of which that firm was permitted t.
lease any unoccupied and unimprov
ed localities in the islands, for one
} hundred years, at a low rental
Tho looco cyropfaI okill o1bo, o1-oa.