The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-03-25
The Overthrow of Monarchy
The Provisional Government.

The Overthrow of Monarchy
The Provisional Government.
The feeling is still too bitter between
the Republicans or r. G.'s, as they are
contemptuously called by their enemies,
and the Royalsts for the exact truth as
to the overthrow of the monarchy 10 be
obtained. The POLITICAL feeling here is
at about the same heat it was in the
United States in 1866. The Royalists
still call the government provisional, ="
and refuse to recognize it.
To understand the cause CT the over
throw Of monarchy one must have some
knowledge of the history OF Hawaii. 10
the latter part of the 18th century pow
erful chief of Hawaii, known as Kane
hameha, captured two American sailors
named Davis and Young. The latter
was boatswain on the Boston frigate
Eleanor, the former on little sloop, the
| Fair American. The latter vessel was
seized, its captain and crew, with tine ex-
ception of Davis, killed, and its ramon
taken on shore. Young and Davis, being
expert gunners, were spared to manage
| the artillery for Kamehamehs, who at
once began the conquest of the whole
group of islands. The two Americans
were his generals, they married the
daughters of chiefs or princes, and were
given high Offices.
After several years of war all the Sand
witch Islands were conquered, and Kane.
hameha declared king over all. He was
| succeeded by four direct descendants
known as Kamehameha H., Ill, w., V.
The natives having abolished idolatry, in
the year 1920 the missionaries sert by
the American Board of Missions came to
convert them. They were kindly received
| by the natives, but by this time the
! islands had become q rendezvous for
whaling vessels, whose officers and crews
we're lcwd, lawless men, and they OBJ.
| jected to the restraints OF religion and
decency.
The missionaries, however, had come
to stay, and, in an earnest manner, began
the conversion of the heather. They
were often threatened by the lawless
sailors, who regarded their upright lives
as standing rcbuke TO their own i'm
morality. But, in spite OF all threats
and danger, tile missionaries held their
ground. They had the respect and con-
fidence of the kings, who remained their
friends, and the cause of Christianity ad,
vanced until all of the islands were
brought under its sway. Missionaries
who came to the islands young men,
raised families of children, grew old, and
died. Children born on the islands grew
up, died, and left children, natural born
Hawaiians, the same as any American
citizen to-day is an American.
The business interests OF the islands
soon began to attract the attention of
the world. Americans came to engage
10 agriculture or mercantile pursuits.
These dots on the face of the globe as.
| sumed great importance, and the English,
always jealous of any advance of Amer
leans in the acquisition Of territory, be-
gan to turn their attention toward the
Islands.
As the American Congregationalists
and PIesbyterians had succeeded so well,
the Church OF England, from purely
political motives 1t is claimed, began a
religious conquest of the islands. From
this time on there was a struggle between
Americans and English to control the
ruling monarchs.
Kamehameha III gave tho people the
fret liberal constitution. All the Kam-
ehamehas seem to have been friendly to
the Americans, as they were probably
under the influence of Young and Davis
ard their descendants.
The anti-missioaary party in time be-
came the anti-American party. History
shows how England has sought in the
past to get control OF the islands, and
how she objected to the annexation Of
them TO the United States during the
Foriies, as the trade at that time with
the United States was increasing in pro-
portions that alarmed her.
The direct line OF Kamehamehas ended
with Ksmehameha V. After one or two
short reigns, David Kalakaua was elected
king. Tho q dissoute man, with many
weaknesses, he seems to have had an idea
OF justice and right. But he tried to
please all parties, and, OF course, failed.
By this time sugar and rice plantations
had become source Of great wealth In
the Islands, and Americans with pluck
and energy were peopling the country
and getting the cream of its industries.
The lands had previously been divided
among the common people in way that
was equitable to all, the assertions made
on the floors of the American Congress
to the contrary Notwithstanding Under
the old kings all land was invested In
their name, as lands originally were in
Great Britain. These kings distributed
them somewhat according to the feudal
| system, to chiefs, reserving great tracts
| Of what are still called crown lands. AL
the suggestion OF the missionaries large
| quantities Of lands were set apart for the
common people, and these lands, tho
small In acreage, composed nearly all the
very best soil on the islands. They were
the taro patches and rice fields, some of
which are to day worth five hundred dol
lars per acre, while there are vast tracts
OF lava-strewn mountain land not worth
one dollar for five hundred acres.
Among the many American emigrants
to the islands were shrewd business men,
who procured long leases on sugar lands
aud bought large tracts from the king.
British influence was brought to bear
upon King Kslakaua. He was told to be
ga real king and have great army and
navy" Public improvements were neg
lected, roads became almost impossible,
while the king secured large loan from
England, and squandered vast sums of
the revenue in loans and on Hula dancing
girls.
Kalakaua was not a bad man. He was
weak, vain man, aud easily influenced
by bad surroundings. He was constantly
in need of money, tho his annuity was
greater than the salary Of the Prt sident
Of the United States. He found himself
hampered by the constitution which lin
tied his power, and declared his intention
of giving the people another constitu-
ton which was in reality a return to
absolute monarchy.