The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-01-11

It is true that the germs of many Of
the evils of Kalakaua's reign may be
traced to the reign of Kamehameha
". The reactionary policy of that
monarch is well known. Under him
the s1recrudescence'' of heathenism
commenced, as eyinced by the Pagan
orgies at the funeral of his sister, Vic
toria Kamamalu, in June, 1866, and by
his encouragement of the lasciyious
hulahula dancers and of the pernicious
class of Kahunas or sorcerers. Closely
connected with this reaction was a
growing jealousy and hatred of foreign
erS.
INTRIGUES DURING LUNALILo'S
REIGN.
During LunaliIo's brief reign, 1873
IA, this feeling was famed into a
fame by several causes, viz, the exc
cution of the law for the segregation
of lepers, the agitation caused by the
proposal to cede the use of Pearl Har-
Dor to the United States, and the IA
nous mutiDy at the barracks. This
disaffection was made the most of by
Kalakaua, who was smarting under
his defeat IN the election of January
S, 1873. Indeed, his manifesto previ-
Gus to that election appealed to this
race prejudice. Thus he promised, If
elected, "to repeal the poll tax" "to
put native Hawaiians into the Gov
ernment Offices" to "amend the Con-
stitution of 1S64,n etc. Beware he
said, .sof the Constitution of 1852, and
the false teaching of the foreigners;
who are now seeking to obtain the di-
rection of the Government, IL Luna-
lilo ascends the throDe.n Walter
Murray Gibson, formerly Mormon
apostle and shepherd of Lanai, then
professional politician aud editor of
that scurrilous paper, Nuhou, was Bit
terly disappointed that he had been
ignored in the formation OF Lunalilo's
cabinet. Accordingly he took the
role of an agitator and attached him.
self to Kalakaua's party. They Were
both disappointed at the result of the
barracks mutiny, which had undoubt-
edly been fomented by Kalakaua.
THE ELECTION OF KALAKAUA.
Upon Lunalilo's untimely death,
February 5, 1874, as no successor TO the
throne had been appointed, the Iegis-
lature was summoned to meet on the
18th, only nine days after his death.
The popular choice lay between Kala-
kaua and the Queen-Dowage Emma.
The Cabinet and the American party
used all their influence in favor of the
former, while the English favored
Queen Emma, who was devoted to
their interest. AT the same time ka-
laksilda'S true character was not gener-
ally understood. The natives knew
that his family had always been an
father, Kamanawa, had been hanged,
October 20, 1910, for poisoning his
wife, KamokuilSi.
Under Kamehameha Y. he had al
ways been an advocate of absolutism,
and also of the removal of the prohi-
bition of furnishing alcoholic liquors
to natives. While he was postmaster
a defalcation occurred, which was
covered up, while his friends made
good the loss TO the Government.
Like wilkins Micawber, he was impe-
cunious all his life, whatever the
amount of his income might be. He
decorations and military show long
before he was thought of as a possible
candidate for the throne.
1t was believed, however, that If
Queen Emma should be elected there
would ie no hope of our obtaining a |
reciprocity treaty with the United |
States. The movement in favor OF |
Queen Emma carried the day with |
the natives on Oahu, but had not time \
to spread to the other islands. 1t was |
charged, and generally believed that |
bribery was used by Kalakaua's |
friends to secure his election. BE /
that as it may, the Legislature was
in the old court-house (now
occupied by Hackfeld & Col and |
elected Kalakaua King by 80 votes
TO g.
THE COURTHOUSE RIOT.
A bowling mob. con1posed Of Oueen
Emma's partisans, had surrounded
the court house during the election,
after which they battered down the
back doors, sacked the building, and
the representatives with
clubs. Messrs. c. G. Harris and S. B.
Dole held the main door against
hem for considerable time. The
mob, with one exception, refrained
rom violence TO foreigners, from fear
,f Intervention by the men of war in
port.
The cabinet and the marshal had
leen warned of the danger, but had
made light Of It, The police appeared
o be in sympathy with the popuiace,
md the volunteers, for the same
eason, would not turn out Mr.. H. |
\. Pierce, the American Minister, |
however, had anticipated the riot,
md had agreed with Commodore |
SelKnap, OF the Z. =. =. IuScarOra, |
-nd Commodore Skerrett, OF the
upon signal for land
ng the troops under their command.
1t last Mr. G. r.. Bishop, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, formally applied TO
lin and to Mai Wodehouse, II. b. s
4. .'s Commissioner, for assistance in
'utting down the riot.
A body of 150 marines Immediately | /
anded from the two American men
fvar, and in q few minutes was !