Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-16

bills which were generally defeated by the
ministry. Gibson had now thrown off the
mask, and voted for every one of the kings
and Moreno's measures. Among their bills
which failed were the ten million-dollar
loan bill, the opium license bill, the free
liquor bill, and especially the bill guaran-
teeing a bonus of Sl,000,OOO in gold to Mo-
reno's Trans-Pacifc Cable Company. The
subsidy to the China line of steamers was
carried by the lavish use of money, but 1t
was never paid. Appropriations were passed
for the education of the Hawaiian youths
abroad, and for the coronation of the king
and queen.
brought in a motion of want of conf
dence," which, after a lengthy debate was
defeated by the decisive vote of 30 to 10.
On the 14th the king prorogued the legis-
lature at noon, and about an hour later dis
missed his ministers without WORD vi
explanation, and appointed Moreno pre-
mier and minister of foreign affairs; ]. h.
Bush minister of the interior; w. c. Jones,
attorney general, and Rev. NJ. kuaea, min
lister of finance.
Tne announcement Of Moreno's appoint
ment created intense excitement. For the
hrSt time the diScordant elements were
united and supported by large majority
of the natives. The three highest and most
influential chiefs Joined in condemning the
kings course. Two mass meetings were
held to protest against the coup d'etat.
The ministers of the United States, Eng
land and France declared that they would
hold no further official intercourse with the
Hawaiian government as long as Moreno
should be premier. On the side of the king
r. w. Wilcox and others harangued the
natives. appealing to their jealousy of for
eigners. After four days of intense. eX-
element the king yielded to the storm.
Moreno's resignation was announced on the
18th and on the Both he left for Europe. 1t
was afterward learned that ne bore a
cret commission as minister plenipotentiary
and envoy extraordinary TO all the great
powers, as we'll as letters addressed TO the
governments of the United States, France
lam dam diney no a Of
representatives. Mr.. W. l.. Green was per-
suaded to accept the vacant place of min
lister or foreign affairs September %. In
Few days he discovered what had been done
and Immediately notified the representa-
tiVes OF the three powers concerned OF the
insult that had been offered them. The
outcome was the resignation of Mr. Green
and his colleagues.
The Green-Cartcr Ministry.
Mr.. Claus Spreckels, who arrived Septem-
Der 0, took an active part in these events
and in the formation of the new ministry,
which consisted of w. l.. Green minister
of foreign affairs: II. A. p. Carter, minis
ter of the interior; J. s. Walker minister
of finance, and w. n. Armstrong, attorney
general. Their first act was to annuI Mo-
reno's commission and dlsavow his letters.
Shortly after this King halakaua starteu
on his trip around the world. Al Naples
Moreno tried to again control his majesty,
during the king S absence ms SISTER, AIRS.
DomlnlS, styled LllluokalanI. acted as
gent. he Returned TO honolulu october ~,
leel. Just before the election OF lsS2 a
pamphlet appeared containing ScatnIng
exposure OF Gibson S past CAREER especially
IN connection with The Mormon Cnurcn,
backed ny d mass OF documentary. evidence.
StIli Gibson Was elected by a large major
lty OF the native voters OF honolulu. OnN
TWO other WHITE men were elected on the
Islands that year. The race issue was at
the front.
The Session of 1882.
The legislature of 1852 was one of the
weakest and most corrupt that ever sat in
Honolulu. The king was in control of a
majority. Gibson became premier May 19.
His colleagues were J. K. Bush. lately of
Moreno's cabinet; Simon Kaai. who drank
himself to death. and Edward Preston, at
torney general One of their first measures
was an act to convey to Claus Spreckels
2i.VOO acres of crown land to compromise a
claim. The prohibition against furnishing
Intoxicating liquors to the natives was re-
pealed with disastrous consequences. The
appropriation bill was double the receipts
OF the government. AT the last moment a
bill was rushed through giving the king
sole power to appoint district justices
through his creatures, the governors. This
was another step toward absolutsm. Claus
Spreckels was backing the Gibson ministry.
The Coronation.
King Kalakaua was recrowned February
II, 1883, with all the pomp, feasts and
dances that could surround it. The dances
were series OF nightly hulahulas, i. e.,
heather dances. accompanied by appropri-
ate songs. The printer of the coronation
hula program, which contained the subjects
and first lines of these songs was prosecut-
ed and fined by the court account of
their gross and incredible obscenity.
Kalakaua was no longer satisfied with
being merely King of Hawaii, but aspired
to what Gibson called the primacy of the
Pacific" He aspired to a virtual protector
ate of all the island groups. One of the in
cidents of this year was the coinage of
81 OvO, UVO of silver, the intrinsic value being
about 81 cents each. 1t was intended to
exchange this silver for gold bonds. But
the court decided that the exchange would
be illegal. But the decision was evaded by
a subterfuge. SpreckelS and kalakaua
made sl5OOOO on this transaction. Gibsoh's
first cabinet went to pieces in about year.
For some time he was in possession of near
ly all the cabinet positions. The treasury
was empty and government bonds had fall
en- to Is per cent. Then, to the surprise of
the public, Spreckels decided to support the
Gibson cabinet.
In the election of 1884 a reaction took
place and the palace party was defeated,
the reform party controlling the house. The
report of the finance committee was the
most damaging exposure ever made to
charter had been drawn up for Mr. Spreck-
els 1t provided for the issue of 81 200, 900
worth of paper, but the safeguards of a
sound banking system were omitted. 1t was
empowered to own steamship lines and rail-
roads and carry on mercantile business
without paying license fees. 1t was intend
ed to monopoliZe transportation and import
ing business. Indignation meetings were
held against it, and 1t was killed by an
overwhelming majority. At the same ses-
sion a lottery bill was introduced by agents
of the Louisiana company. In defiance of
public Indignation the bill was forced
through at second reading and then with
drawn. An opium license bill was also kill
ed, as we'll as an $S.O 900 loan bill.
Practical Politics Under Gibson.
During the next few years the country
suffered from a peculiarly degrading kind
of despotism. No reference is made to the
kings personal immortality nor to his sys-
tematic efforts to debauch and heathenize
the natives to further his political ends
For the first time in Hawaiian history
faithful officers were summarily removed
and their places filled with plant tools. The
various branches of the civil service were
made political machines. All who would
not bow the knee were Sneeringly styled
missionaries" Grog shops were licensed
in the country districts as rallying points
! for the national party" Race hatred was
fomented among the natives and class jeal-
ousy among the whites. Fortunately the
supreme court remained independent and