The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-01-15
TWELVE MONTHS AG0NE.
REVIEW OF A COUPLE OF DAYS
LAST JANUARY.
A Constitution That was not Proclaimed
A Maddened acknowledgements
of Safety

of Safety.
Yesterday was the anniversary of one
of the most important days of the up
rising which has wiped out Hawaiian
Monarchy. The l4th of January, 1893,
witnessed the propagation of the Legis-
lature and the first open resistance to
the authority of Liliuokalani. She was
forced to forego proclamation Of the
new Constitution.
Between and o'clock ON the after
noon of the l4th the town was thrown
into a state of feverish excitement by
news that the Queen was determined
that her Cabinet should sign the new
Constitution and that she proposed pro-
mitigating the same at once. Political
happenings of the past week had been
portentious and threatening. There had
occurred such things as the want of con.
tidence vote, the secret attempt of the
Oueen to override her minister's the
star chamber plotting with Noble
Dreier and others, the signing of the
opium and lottery bills and the alarm
ing talks of House members. At a
general meeting of business men
measures to circumvent the predicted
appearance of the new constitution were
suggested, but SO preposterous did such
n line of action on the part of the ruler APP
pear, that no preventative measures were
taken. During the forenoon of the 14th,
however, it was learned positively that
the Queen had marked out her course of
rule or ruin and would follow it. The
Cabinet was urged to steadfastly resist.
Strange to say, the Legislature adjourned
quietly.
On the afternoon of the 14th the first
tremblings OF the upheaval were felt.
The program for issuance of the new
constitution was inaugurated by pre-
arranged request for 1t from a native
political society. This had been ordered
as feature of the measure of opposition
proposed. Some of the natives rebelled,
drawing the line when they were refused
even an intimation of the contents of
the infamous magma charta.
Crowds of natives had gathered in the
vicinity of the Palace. The Ministers
were summoned by the Queen. They
appeared to find her regally arrayed
and turning the pages of the new Con.
stitution. They had assured themselves
that a resolution would be precipitated
il the Queen persisted in violating ali
law and surrounding her authority.
Her final answer at this interview was
Gentlemen, do not wish to hear any
more advice. and intend to promulgate
the Constitution and to do it now" The
ministers were told that she would read
the Constitution on the steps of the Pal
ace if necessary. This would simply
mean a riot. An appeal to citizens wa
made by the Ministry. Leading men
assembled at w. o. Smiths office, and
decided with one voice that the hour
for decision and positive action
had arrived. 1t was a question of
liberty or worse than slavery. They
would resist to the bitter end this
revolution of the throne. With this
knowledge the Cabinet, in face of
the fear that they might be arrested
and punished returned to the Queen.
Liliuokalani was, after stormy
interview of two hours, convinced
that she simply held the throttle of
volcano. She most reluctantly and
without any attempt TO conceal bitter
ness yielded to the extent of agreeing to
temporarily postpone the new Constiu.
ton. Then the maddeied, disappointed
woman appeared before the invited as
semblage in the throne room. Her
!. memorable speech, adroitly couched in
clan. was delivered. Mr.. White thanked
the Queen, and she retired. Mr.. KauDa-
mauo, a fiery supporter of Liliuokalani,
made himself heard, said he wanted the
lives of the Cabinet and was thlrsting
= for blood. The Queen, now half-fright-
ened, but still mistaken in her inten'
tions, spoke from the upper balcony of
the Palace. She said she had been be-
trayed by her Ministers, but the new
Constitution would early be forthcom-
ing. Mr.. White. from the steps, de-
nounced the Cabinet and counseled
their murder. He was induced to cease
and the crowd dispersed. All this was
for Constitution that vested the Queen
with untrammeled power, exempted ma
tives from taxation and DISTINGUISHED
white men not married to natives.
That evening the Committee of
Safety was organized. On the morning
of the 10Th, year ago to-day, the
campaign of the Committee was mapped
out. All phases of the crisis were dis
cussed. They acted subject to the APP
proval of a citizens mass meeting,
which subsequently, gave them the
heartiest endorsement. The 10Th in
1893 was Sunday, but on that day the
foundation of the Provisional Govern.
ment was laid and the death knell OF
Hawaiian monarchy sounded. The
Queen and her retainers were not idle.
A truce was patched up with the lately
denounced ministry. The arrest of the
Committee of Safety was proposed, an
opposition mass meeting was designed
There was drafted, signed and dis.
tributed in printed form late next
morning an official statement that the
new constitution had been abandoned
and that changes in the old would
only be made legally and regularly.
The attempt to stay the uprising came
too late. On the 10Th, mass meeting
was held and on the 18th the waning
star of monarchy winked out