The Washington herald., 1909-08-31
LILIUOKALANI AT SEVENTY
Former Queen of the Hawaiian Islands Lives in AtmOs-
phere of Contradiction

spoke enthusiastically Of the appropriate
words so well adapted 70 the air and TO
the purpose for which they were written
AS a child Liliuokalani met her future
husband, John o. Dominis. the son Of an
American sea captain. He attended n
I boys school adjoining a sort OF rovaI
boarding institute. and Il Is related thar
the pupils were In the habit Of climbing
the fence 10 catch a glimpse Of the dusBv
princes and princesses DOminis married
Liliuokalani in 1852. rose 10 be q general
and governor Of Oahu. and died In 1901
some months before his Queen lost her
throne
In 1887 Liliuokalani. Doninis. Queen
hapioiani. and retinue went 20 London
70 attend Queen Victoria's Jubilee. They
were well received 5y British royalty.
but their visit was cut short by news that
a revolutionary movement had manifest
ed itself In Hawaii BY the time they
reached home King Kalakaua was ready
70 sign what Lniuokalani describes as
the "Bayonet Constitution Finally. the
King departed for the United States in
search Of health. leaving his sister. Lii
7 uolakant. 70 occupy the position of regent.
I Il was not a pleasant billet. ewing 70
4 the unrest OF the country. and matters
! were further complicated for the regent
=
Led Into n Trap.
Before I had time TO collect myself
before my brothers remains were buried .,
writes the ex-Queen. a trap was sprung
/ upon me by those who stood waiting as
"A wild beast watches for his prey. The
ministers. who were apparently Of ons
mind with the justices OF the supreme
court. called together the members OF the
council, and. when all had taken their
seats. sent for me. I turned 10 Gov
| Dominis before entering the chamber and
I inquired Of him, What Is the object OF
this meeting? He said that they had
come together 20 witness my taking Of
! the oath Of Office. I told him at once
! that / did not wish 70 take the oath just
! then. and asked why such PROCEEDINGS
could not be deferred until after nv
brothers burial. He said that others
had decided that I must take the oath
then and there.
Few persons have ever been placed
without word Of warning in such q
trying situation, and I doubt II there
was any other woman IN the city who
could have borne with passable eQuanim-
ity what I had TO endure that day.
viii scarcely limit the comparison TO my
sex. I doubt If many men could have
passed successfully through such an or
deal Ere 7 realized what was involved.
1 was compelled 70 take the oath TO tho
constitution, the adoption OF which had
led TO my brothers death"
The Queens Downfall.
The Queen. in the hands Of poor ad-
visers, proved 10 be a reacuonary. She
and her friends drafted a new constitu-
tion which was intended 70 disfranchise
all foreigners, who were disliked by the
more ignorant class Of Hawalians The
majority Of the foreigners were American
planters and merchants. and they made
haste 10 protect their interests. They
formed a committee of public safety"
depOsed Liliuokalani established a pro-
visional government. with the stars and
Stripes as its flag. and sent a commission
to Washington to ask President Harrison
10 annex the group.
Harrison favored the plan. but went
out OF Office before the matter had been
thoroughly thrashed out in the Senate.
His successor. President Cleveland, took
the opposite view and withdrew the Unit
ed States protectorate after sending q
commissioner 20 study the situation In the
Islands. Some Of the imperialistic Amer
lean newspapers mace a great OutCry. the
President was abused. and Queen Ill"
as she was called, was held up to ridicule
Liliuokalani was tried on charges OF
treason, convicted. and sentenced TO pay a
fine of 5000 and 70 serve FIVE years in
prison She declared the sole purpose OF
the trial was 20 terrorize the people and
70 humiliate her. At all events. the SEN
tence was not carried out. for it was ap-
parent that Liliuokalanfs cause was lost.
On July 1. 1894, a republic was proclaim
ed. with Sanford 3. Dole as President.
and on July Z. 1898. the islands were an
nexed to the United States
Mrs Dominls had paid several visits to
the country since the event. always hav-
ing IN view her claims against the gov
ernment. She has apparently taken her
lot with good grace, II one may judge
by her first authorized interview, pub
lished IN a Honolulu paper IN 1906. These
were her sentiments:
The past and the monarchy are only a
memory with US. We are satisfied that
the country and the people will be prop
erly cared for BY the officers of that gov
ernment whose keynote is liberty and
equality The Hawaiians OF the Islands
OF Hawaii are faithful to me without
weakening the allegiance they and have
for the flag that has taken Us all under
!ts protection"
Rubhfuu IL IN