The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-01-03

Mrs. Dominis contributed very
long statement to Blount's report,
which contains a general review of
her reign and her wrongs. The
following extract contains her story
of the new constitution
At the commencement of my reign
petitions were sent from all parts of
the kingdom asking for a new consti-
tuition. Mr.. Iosepa, of Hama; Mr..
Kauhi, of Eva; Nahinu, of Molokai;
Kanealii, Of Waihee; KamauOha, of
Kohala, and other members came to
me repeatedly and asked for a new
constitution. Mr.. Parker, from the
commencement of his ministry, advo-
Gated a new constitution, as we'll as
most of my friends, but was cautious
in my answers to them, but to Mr..
Parker | had always said it would be
good thing, and he said he would
sustain me when the proper opportun-
ity arrived.
A month later | met two members
of the Legislature, and started in to
make up a new constitution from Ka-
mehameha V. and that of 1887. After
completing it, 1 kept it till the month
of October, aOhen placed 1T i9l the
hands Of Mr.. A. p Peterson, and
asked him to correct it, and if he
found any defects to strike them out
and to put in such clauses as he
thought would be good for the people
and for the country. He took it and
kept it whole month. To nay knOUL-
edge he consulted many t0aOyers
and others IN regard to many points
of interest IN the dOcun1 ent. When
it was returned / looked it over and
found no changes had been made, so
concluded that it was all right.
A week before the closing of the
Legislature / asked Mr.. Peterson to
make preamble for my new cOnsti
tuition, but up TO the day of prOrOga-
ton he had not made one.
Early in January | mentioned to
Captain Nowlein, of the household
guards, and Mr.. Wilson, the marshal,
my intention to prOmulgate a new
constitution, and to prepare them
selves 10 duell any lAoC VI OuCDIoah
from the opposition. They assured
me they would be ready, and / gave
strict injunctiOns of secrecy, and
showed Mr.. Wilson a plan of the
throne room on the day of the sign
ing.
Mr.. Parker and Mr.. Cornwell had
given me assurances of their support
before their appointment as ministers,
aOhiIe Mr.. Peterson u1lder8tOOd that
such 1UdS nly intention, and although
| had not mentioned it to Mr.. Col
burn, he had heard of it already from
Mr. Peterson.
Itappears that Immediately on their
learning of my intentions Mr.. Col
burn, on the morning Of the 18th OF
January, Immediately acted the part
of n traitor by going to Mr.. HaTtWeIl, |
a lawyer, and informed hIm Of my in
tentiOns, and OF course received in |
structious from him TO strongly adj |
wise me TO abandon the idea.
This, then, was the cause Of the de- /
lay and my long waiting ia the blue /
room The members Of the diplomat |
ic corps had been invited; also the !
members of the supreme bench and /
members Of the Legislature, besides q |
committee of the Hui Kalaiaina. The !
latter were invited TO be present be- !
cause it was through them that many !
petitions had been sent TO me. When |
the ministers arrived I told them ev- |
erything in the throne room was ready |
and that the guests were awaiting our |
presence; that we must not keep
them waiting. ] was surprised when |
the cabinet informed me that they did |
not think it advisable for me to take |
such q step, that there was danger Of |
an uprising, etc. / told them that ] !
would not have undertaken such a
step if they had not encouraged me.
They had led me to the edge of a pre-
cicipce and now were leaving me to
take the leap alone. 1t was humiliat
ing. I said, Why not give the peo-
pie the constitution and | viii bear
the brunt of all the blame afterward.n
Mr.. Peterson said, eve have not read |
the constitutions told him he had
had il in his possession a whole month.
The three ministers left Mr.. Parker
TO try to dissuade me from my pur-
pose, and in the meantime they all
Peterson, COrnwell, and COlburnI,
went To tine Government building 20
inform Thurston and his party OF the
stand / took. OF course they We're in
structed not 10 yield. When they went
over everything was peaceful and
quiet, and the guests waiting patient
U.s. I'm the throne room.
The ministers returned amt asked /
them to read the constitution over.
Al .Le end , asked them what they
-.w Injurious boa tine document. NIr.
Peterson -lid there were some points
which ha thought were uot exactly /