The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-03-20

revolt against the existing constitu-
ton which she had sworn to support
that she acted "under stress of hel
native subjects"
Passing by the fact that the exist
ence of this ''stress" is not established
by any satisfactory evidence, the ref
ereace to it in this proclamation dis
closes her willing connection with the
purpose 20 disfranchise her foreign.
born subjects, that being the effect OF
the provisions of the "new cOnstitu-
ton" that she in fact promulgated, 50
far as she could, but hesitated to
swear TO for the want of suffi-
cient support from cher native
subjects" The assurance given
that future efforts "to change
the constitution of 1857 should be con-
Quoted only in the method therein
prescribed, was 10 assurance that her
foreign born subjects should be pro-
tected in their vital liberties To the
reverse, IL was a continuing threat
that they should be DISTINGUISHED and
placed at the mercy of racial aggres-
sion, backed by the power of the
crown. The declarations of the Queen
made in person to Minister Willis, on
| three occasions, and at long intervals
of time after the lapse of nine months
of sedate reflection, show that this
assurance, given in fact by her min
| listers, was only thin disguise of her
real purpose TO drive out the white
| population and confiscate their prop
erty, and, if need be, to destroy their
lives. The people made no mistake
as to her animosity toward them, and
| proceeded in the same orderly manner,
for which the ministers gave them
thanks in this proclamation, to desig-
nate an executive head of the Govern
| ment in place of the abdicated Queen,
the abdication being completed and
confirmed by the only authentic ex-
preston of the popular will, and by
the recognition of the Supreme Court
of Hawaii.
Another fact of Importance con-
nected with the situation at that time
is that committee of law and order,
consisting of supporters of the Queen,
had on Monday morning posted in
public places in Honolulu the follow
ing call for public meeting and ex-
PLANTATION of the purposes of the
Queen in abrogating the constitution
OF 1857 and in substituting one which
she desired and attempted to promul-
gate by their authority as the organic
law of the land. This proclamation
was printed in the Hawaiian lam
guage, and a translation of it is APP
pended to this report. 1t was printed
in an extra edition of a newspaper
called the Ka Leo o Ka Lahui, pub
Iished in Honolulu in the Hawaiian
language. "The stress of her native
subjects" which is mentioned by the
Queen in the proclamation which was
posted in English on the morning of
January Is, is evidently expressed in
the terms of this announcement and
call, and it shows that it was based
upon racial distinction and prejudice
entirely, and indicates the feeling OF
resentment and controversy which, if
carried into effect as the Queen pro-
posed to carry it into effect under the
constitution which she intended to
proclaim, would have resulted in the
destruction of the rights of property
and lives of those persons who were
styled missionaries and their pos
terity, from whom Hawaii had derived |
her enlightened civilization, Chris |
tianlty, constitution, laws, progress,
wealth and position amongst the |
nations of the earth. This was a
threat of dangerous significance, and
1t shows the spirit of the controversy /
that was then pervading the minds of
the people of Honolulu, and illustrates
how easy it was to foment strife that
would result in the worst of evils, in a
thus divided and thus
excited. The abuse of the missionaries
ana missionary party in this call
shows that the Queen and her i'm
mediate followers had concentrated
heir efforts upon the disfranchise-
nent of all white people in Hawaii,
md the return of the Government to
hat condition of debasement from
which these very people and their
athers had relieved it.
The second paragraph in this call is
Is follows:
THE VOICE OF THE CHIEF.
'On the afternoon of Saturday last
he voice of the Sacred Chief of Ha-
vail, Liliuokalani, the tabued one,
peaking as follows:
30, we people who love the Chief, |
hereby say to you, am now ready to
|
thinking that it would be .
uccessful, but behold obstacles have
risen! Therefore 1 say unto you,
owing people, go with good hope and [
10 not be disturbed or troubled in
our minds. Because, within the
ext few days now coming, l will
the new constitution.
"'The executive officers of the law {
the cabinet) knew the errors in this {
ew constitution. but they said moth I
lg. :
"'TherefOre 1 hope that the thing i
yhich you, my people, so much want |
I'LL be accomplished; it also is my |
trong desire'" I
Here is direct accusation by the I
tueen against her cabinet, all of whom |
nth one exception, were white men, t
nat they had misled her as TO the q
fleet of the constitution, and had i
.iled to point out errors in it which, a
5 a pretext, led to its rejection by b
hem, causing them to refuse at the t
ist moment to join with her in its d
This call was, in fact. 5
new promise which was made by t
&c Queen, with the evident consent [