The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-25
A Thrilling Historical Scene.

According to q letter received by a San
Francisco merchant from his Honolulu rep
resentative by the steamer arriving on
Thursday LnIUoKALANIh had ordered full
train gowns for the ladies Of the court and
magnificent purple robe for herself. to be
used at the restoration" the date for which
the letter fixed as last Tuesday. Nov. q.
II this report be true, LILIUoKALANI
showed by making such magnificent prepa-
rations for the occasion that even her dark
ened intelligence perceived Its unique sig
nifcance. The employment Of the power
OF the great American republic to restore
debauched and half-civilized queen to a
savage throne. which she had inherited
from cannibal chiefs. and from which she
had been driven by the enlightenment
brought about by self-sacrificinR Christian
missionary effort. would be an event I'M
paralleled In history.
hundred years ago the occasion would
have been celebrated by Offering up Presl-
dent DOLE and the rest Of the members OF
the Provisional Government as living sacri-
fees In Its honor; and the Queen and her
loyal subjects would have proceeded to de-
YOUR their hearts and livers as a tribute OF
gratitude TO Mr.. CLEVELAND. LILIUoKALA-
Nj has shown disposition to revert to many
OF the customs OF her savage ancestors, but
IL the restoration occurred last Tuesday,
1t is probable that she omitted that par
ticular ceremony out Of q nice regard for
the civilized prejudlces Of Minister WILLIS,
the chief functionary OF the occasion. At
the royal banquet. which. OF course. oc.
CURED after the imposing function Of the
restoration, viands more suitable to his APP
petite must have been provided.
The spectacle OF Minister WILLIS con-
Quoting the swarthy. purple-robed. and be-
spangled Polynesian to the bloody throne
OF her ancestors, through lines OF gorgeous
ly arrayed ladies OF the court" must have
been inspiring. The like OF it was never
seen before in the history OF the world. AS
he placed the savage crown on her head the
thunder OF the salutlng cannon On our naval
vessels must have united with the booming
OF the royal artillery and the blare OF the
royal trumpets to swell his breast with
pride In the glorious function committed to
him, the first and only American citizen
who ever was SO transcendently honored
As he kissed the dusky hand of the gracious
monarch and descended from the steps TO
the throne after the coronation. the scene |
must have been imposing.
The question OF the proper court costume !
for American diplomats has been much dis |
eussed. but as brought up hitherto 1t has no |
pertinenee TO the case OF Minister WILLIS |
as the chief functionary at this coronation
II he crowned LLIUoKALANI last Tuesday.
1t must have been manifestly improper
and homogeneous for him to appear other
wise than In some gorgeous. fantastic.
or grotesque habilimsnts. He could cas-
lily have obtained the toggery from a
theatrical oostumer before leaving this
country. His clothes must have been In
keeping with the imperial dignity and au-
thoTity which maze him the crowner OF
savage queen. and any expense to which
be was compelled 10 go In getting them will ]