The morning call., 1893-01-30
KALAKAUA'S ELECTION.
A Naval Officers Historical Data and
Personal Experiences.


Theodore f. Jewell, a commander in the
United States navy. in December. 1892.
contributed a letter to the columns Of the
illustrated American. in which he gave
full history of the existing events which
followed the death of Kamehameha Y and
the subsequent election of Kalakaua as King.
Commander Jewell was at Honolulu when
these events took place and commanded the
first detachment Of American forces that
landed in that city, and which drove the
rioters out of the courthouse. where the
meetings of the Legislature were held.
These forces were from the United States
warships Tuscarora and Portsmouth, those
from the Tuscarora being under the per-
sonal command of Commander Jewell. aud
they were landed on February 10. 1874.
The letter of Commander Jewell gives
the following recital of the occurrences Of
that time together with an historical outline
of the events which led up to them:
The constitution OF Hawaii under which Kala-
kaua was elected King in 1874. had been
adopted some ten years before during The reign
OF kamehameha V. This constitution provided
thai, failing heirs OF his own body, the sovereign
might nominate, and, with the consent OF the
mobiles, appoint his successor by public prOciama-
tion. In the event that no such nomination and
the Legislature should elect the sovereign, who.
however, must be of the ALI OF the kingdom; I. e.,
lie must be u descendant OF Iii ancient chiefs.
Kamehameha " had died without Issue, aud
his successor, Kamehameha Y, was also child
less. The latter died in December, 1872, with
cut having appointed a successor in The consi-
tuiional manner. and with him the K mehameha
line end d.
His successor was LunaIlo who, In January,
1872. IN accordance with the constitution was
elected King by the Legislature. Queen Emma.
the widow Of kamehameha " was competitor
for the throne, as was kalakaua, the tate King.
Lunaiilo did not belong 10 tie royal line, but lie
was high Chief, 4 descendant Of the ancient
chiefs His reign lasted little more than year,
and he died on The Sd or 4th OF February. 1874
He had no heir. and had not appointed a success
sOT. as The constitution provided. Therefore a
special session OF the Legislature was called by
his Ministers to elect successor. in accordance
with the terms OF The constitution.
1t so happened that the biennial election Of
representatives To the Legislative Assembly had
occurred but a few days prior 10 tile death of The
King. This assembly was a remarkable body
from the fact that the Representatives, with a
single exception. were natives and. with few ex-
ceptions. they belonged to the popular party.
whose campaign cGy had been Hawaii for the
HawaiianS."
Two candidates for the throne we're nominal
didates at the previous election. One was David
Kalakaud, high chief, 3 descendant of ancient
chiefs, noble of the Kingdom and an intelligent
and educated man. He was candidate of the
native Hawaiian party, and was supported gener-
ally by those OF The people who were OF American
birth or descent. The other candidate was
Queen Emma. who was supposed 10 represent
The foreign Cor, more sGIictly speaking. the + G.
ltsD element In the Islands. She was the widow
OF Kamehameha ". and had son who died in
infancy. She was the adopted and putatiye
daughter OF an English physician. had a good
English education, and had visited England
VIII re she had been received with royaI honOrS.
Although she was descended on the maternal
side Iom the ancient chiefs, she was ia no sense
heir to lie throne, and, on account Of the lief
that she was under English influence, she had ae-
tnally no support outside OF Honolulu.
The time for the assembling of the Legislature
was fixed for noon OF February D. For an hour
or two before noon the grounds about the court
house had been filling up with people. few
minutes before noon procession OF some 200
of Queen Emma's adherentS marched down the
street wildly cheering and with drums beaIng.
As soon as the doors Of the legislative hall were