and counter-plots, vigilance on the part of the progressive element to keep pace with and circumvent the intrigues of the royal party, and attempts at resistance instigated by the Queen.

The Bill to legalise the sale of opium in the Islands, another to establish a national lottery, two schemes never relinquished by King Kalakaua during the latter years of his reign, were revived by the Queen and her party. And this, with the determination to abrogate the Constitution which she had sworn to support, to promulgate a new one in which the whites should be disfranchised, were the main issues of her brief rule. She went to the throne with the best wishes of her people, who hoped that the troubles which had distracted the country for twenty years were to cease. Had Liliuokalani been content with the authority of the sovereign of the British Empire she never would have been molested, and not only might have enjoyed a reign of peace and prosperity, but have been a true benefactor to her country and her people. It was a great opportunity, which, like most such opportunities neglected, will

never return.

It is not necessary to review the steps which led to the crisis of January 14th, 1893, the final culmination of years of misrule, held in abeyance only when a responsible Ministry could be secured and kept in office. The people at last were forced to acknowledge that nothing more could be hoped for from

A CRISIS OF JANUARY, 1893.

17

the monarchy. It brought them face to face with the only possible alternative: the establishment of a republic, with ultimate annexation to the United States; or the abandonment of the country, its relapse into barbarism, or its forcible cession to Japan or to some European power.

The story of the Queen's last decisive act is briefly told. From June 1892 until January 1893 a contest was waged between the Queen and the Legislature, the former claiming the right of personal choice of Cabinet officers; the latter contending that the Cabinet should represent a majority of the Legislature. Three of the Queen's Cabinets were voted out in quick succession. The Queen then, apparently submitting, appointed a Cabinet representing the Legislature; but immediately entered into a conspiracy with persons seeking an opium licence law and a lottery franchise, she agreeing to assist these measures in return for their help in overthrowing the Constitution and establishing a new one, disfranchising the whites and giving the Queen arbitrary powers. In pursuance of this agreement the Cabinet was voted out, the opium and lottery bills passed and signed by the Queen, a new Cabinet, supposed to be subservient to the Queen, appointed, and the Legislature prorogued.

A deputation of the best and most intelligent women in the Islands waited upon her before she signed the Bill, and besought her not to take a step

2

that must be fatal to the morals and the real prosperity of the country; but their prayers were of no avail.

On the morning of January 14th it became known that the Queen had arranged to promulgate the Constitution that day. She was admonished, but refused to alter her purpose, and the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce was informed of what was about to happen. A message was also sent to the late Captain G. C. Wiltse, in command of the U.S.S. Boston, which was then in harbour, having returned unexpectedly from Hilo, where the vessel had gone for target practice. The Legislature was prorogued at noon with unusual pomp and ceremony. The anti-lottery members and the white residents were absent. Those present, with forty members of a royalist society called the Hui Kalaiaina, marched to the Palace, one of the latter carrying a flat package, suspended from his breast by ribbons. This was a new Constitution. The procession proceeded to the Throne Room, the household troops being drawn up in line from the west gate to the entrance of the Palace, armed and wearing their cartridge belts. Amongst the audience in the Throne Room were some of the members of the Diplomatic Corps, Chief Justice Judd, and the late Justice Bickerton of the Supreme Court.

In the meantime the Queen was closeted in the Blue Room of the Palace with her refractory Cabinet.

THE QUEEN AND HER CABINET.

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She was endeavouring to force them to sign the document which was to undo all that had been accomplished for the cause of justice and good government. They by this time had become thoroughly alarmed at the storm of public disapproval which they had roused. The Queen was in a measure justified when she upbraided them with "having led her to the brink of a precipice and then abandoning her to take the leap alone." She was told by her Minister of Foreign Affairs that her attempt to abrogate the Constitution was a revolutionary act, while the AttorneyGeneral excused himself and his coadjutors on the plea that they had not read the document. The Queen is then said to have exclaimed, "How dare you say that when you have had it in your possession for a month!" She asked for their resignation, which they refused; and when she threatened to announce their refusal to the crowd of sympathisers which by this time had surrounded the Palace, three of them made their escape, one remaining in order to prevent the Queen from proclaiming the Constitution from the Palace steps without their sanction, and upon the plea that the Ministry and the Supreme Court refused to aid her in what she had undertaken.

The Attorney-General called a conference of four leading citizens, representing the Queen and the people respectively, and asked for instructions. The Ministers were urged not to resign, and in the midst

of the discussion a message from the Queen arrived, commanding the Attorney-General to return to the Palace. The absconding Ministers received like orders. But all refused to obey, on the ground that their lives were in danger.

They were presently joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had remained behind.

The result was, after due consideration, that the Ministers were induced to concur in issuing a proclamation declaring the Queen in revolution and the throne vacant.

As on a former occasion, when aid was required at the time of the election of her brother King Kalakaua, the American Minister was notified of the Queen's conduct, and the assistance of United States troops was requested “to maintain order and support the Government."

It finally became necessary to organise a committee of public safety. A call was issued for a mass meeting, which was fixed for the evening of Monday, January 16th, and which was attended by a large audience, and was addressed by representatives of the American, English, and German residents, and the best of the native element.

The Queen's unlawful acts were unsparingly reviewed, and the outcome of the meeting was the appointment of a committee of thirteen, composed of representative men. A proclamation was issued, in which it was set forth that, five uprisings and con