The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-04-19
THE EX-QUEEN'S PLEA.
FULL TEXT OF HER ALLEGED
EXAMINER LETTER.
She Does Not Deny ldolatrous Practices
But Makes A Spacious Elk
cuse For Them.

which is printed in the Examiner,
over the signature of "Liliuokalani X,
will be read with great amusement If
it were not well-known that +. Nj. Eng
lish wrote it, the English of the compo-
sition itself would betray the origin.
wish to supplement the statement
contained in the EXAMINER of March
9th by the correction of one or two un.
intentional mistakes to be found in the
introductory remarks.
In the first place, it is not correct to
ascribe the authorship Of the constitu.
ton proposed by int on the day of the
Propagation of the late Legislature to
w. X. Castle or to Paul Neumann. Ii
is true that w. X. Castle actually did
draw up and hand over to my native
subjects a copy of a proposed constitu-
ton. He gave 1t to the society known
as the Hui Kalaiaina, to be by them
handed to me for approval and promul.
cation, but as another had already been
given and approved as being fair
for the whole nation, Mr. C.'s draft
was rejected. A curious and start
ling illustration of the instability of
human affairs is afforded in the fact
that one who is now Commissioner
seeking to overthrow the monarchy IL
these islands was himself busily engaged
but very short time ago in formulating
new constitution and, strange to say,
it was due merely to an accident that
be is not to-day recognized as the
"Father of His Country" But | fail to
comprehend why he should so indig-
nantly denounce me for proposing that
on which he bestowed his best but un
successful attettion. This circumstanc,
| submit without comment.
Paul Neumann had no hand in the
framing Of the proposed instrument. 1t
was drafted by several lawyers of &C
knowledged standing and ability.
| may be permitted to alIude to a
foolish, but malignant, accusation hurled
against me by my enemies, and espe-
cially by certain gentleman who dis
plays more zeal than discretion, and
more discretion than charity, in his
words and writings concerning myself.
The Rev. S. E. Bishop is editor Of
the Friend. l am amazed at the pure
ly frivolous ground he has taken con
corning my alleged idolatry. | will
not controvert the gratuitous statements
made by Mr.. Bishop. l have already
said that a woman's best defense is
silence where her character is wrong
fully assailed by man. l would
rather prefer to suggest how easy
matter it is to prove idolatry against
anybody in this world.
Not long ago a certain Rev. DR..
Hammond visited Honolulu, and &C.
cupied the pulpit of what is now called
the American or Central Union Church.
He was listened to with rapt attention
while he proved to the entire satiSfac-
ton of those who now approve of Mr.
Bishops writings that all Roman Cath
oliCs were idolators. DR.. Hammond
subsequently proved to be a very I'm.
desirable person-in fact, a notable
criminal. Now, | ask myself, is it not
better to be an idolator with that
universally beloved and respected
Bishop, DIR. Hermann, and his sue
cessor, the present most honored in
cumbent of the office, than to be all
acCuser of the defenseless2 Old Haw-
allan customs are dear to me, even if
associated with religion that to me
most certainly is gone. When good
American people decorate their houses
and their churches with evergreen at
Christmas would it be fair to say that
they are at heart Druids And vet
everybody knows that the custom of
hanging boughs and twigs at Christmas
originated in the idea that certain gods
could only live in the boughs of trees
and would perish of cold if left in the
bitter winter air.
Is every girl that receives, or every
man that sends a valentine open to
the charge of the idolatry of ancient
Rome?
And yet the custom of sending what
we now call valentines is distinctly
pagan in its inception. Such charges
are foolish. | do not wish to publish
the record of my donations to the
churches in this kingdom, nor of the
number of children educated in the
Christian faith at my expense, nor of
the pastors whose slender salaries have
been supplemented or increased by my
constantly open purse. But it is true
to say that / have never been appealed
to without responding, and Mr.. Bishop
cannot bring forward a single instance
where my gifts have been directed to
the maintenance or support of any
Hawaiian custom unequivocally idola-
trous.
For years | was the scholar of the
venerable pastor of the Central U
Church, the Rev DR.. Beckwith. Is it
to be supposed that in spite of his
training am at heart an idolatress, or
have become one in later years? DIR.
Beckwith kRO1gS that this is not true;
that it is calumny on one who has for
years sat at his feet.
LILIUOKALANI K.