No. 374.
Mr. Merrill to Mr. Bayard.
[Extract.]
Honolulu, July 30, 1887.
(Received August 17.)
No. 135.]
Sir: In order that the important events in the late
political commotion referred to in my dispatches may be more compact, I
inclose herewith the demands of the citizens, expressed by resolution, the
King’s reply to the resolutions, the new constitution* signed by His Majesty, and the
official promulgation† of the new constitution.
During the month of June there was evidently a quiet determination on the
part of those one met in business houses, or on the streets of Honolulu,
that sooner or later some change must be made in Government affairs.
This feeling seemed to be participated in and was most apparent among the
American, British, and German residents.
It was believed, however, that no action would be taken until replies were
received to the several petitions, and especially did I counsel Americans
not to encourage or participate in any act whereby trade and commerce would
be interrupted.
On June 28 I received information that Mr. Gibson and all the cabinet had
resigned.
The news rapidly spread through the town, and many were doubtful, but hoped
it was correct, while some of the extremists apparently hoped it might not
be true.
Then began speculation as to who would be called to form a new ministry; but
nothing definite was ascertained until the following day, June 29, when it
was generally known that Mr. W. L. Green, the present premier, had been
called upon.
On June 28, however, the steamer Australia arrived
from San Francisco, having on board a large amount of arms and ammunition
consigned to well-known firms in Honolulu.
The arms were delivered as consigned, and were soon thereafter distributed to
various individuals. On Wednesday evening, June 29, there appeared a printed
call for a mass-meeting, to be held at the armory building at 2 o’clock
p.m., and in accordance with that call, a mass-meeting was held at the place
and hour appointed.
During the day business houses were generally closed as by common
consent.
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From June 30, day of the mass-meeting, to the 6th instant, the date of
signing the new constitution, business was mostly suspended, although the
mercantile establishments were generally open.
During the whole affair no violence has occurred.
Reports from other islands in the Kingdom indicate a general acquiescence in
the change, while in Honolulu there is some dissatisfaction regarding the
distribution of the offices, as well as concerning some of the provisions of
the new constitution.
Mr. Gibson, who was arrested on a charge of embezzlement, was released and
sailed for San Francisco on the 12th instant.
Business is now moving along in the usual course and affairs have a quiet
appearance, yet I shall endeavor to exercise the strictest vigilance
concerning events and report as promptly as possible. I have, etc.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 135.]
Resolutions of a public meeting held in Honolulu
June 30, 1887
We, the citizens resident and tax-payers of Honolulu, acting, as we
firmly believe, in sympathy with and in behalf of all right-minded
citizens, residents, and tax-payers of this Kingdom, and being assembled
in mass-meeting in the city of Honolulu on the 30th day of June, 1887,
do resolve as follows:
- 1.
- That the administration of the Hawaiian Government has ceased,
through corruption and incompetence, to perform the functions
and afford the protection to personal and property rights for
which all Governments exist.
- 2.
- That while some of the evils of which we complain can not be,
at once adequately redressed and their recurrence prevented, and
many others are incurable except by radical changes in the
present constitution, yet there are some evils which we feel
must be remedied at once, before a permanent reform movement can
be inaugurated with any reasonable prospect of success.
- 3.
- Holding these views, we request of the King:
- First. That he shall at once
and unconditionally dismiss his present cabinet from
office, and we ask that he shall call one of these
persons, viz, William L. Green, Henry Waterhouse,
Godfrey Brown, or Mark P. Robinson, to assist him in
selecting a new cabinet, which shall be committed to the
policy of securing a new constitution.
- Second. That Walter M. Gibson
shall be at once dismissed from each and every office
held by him under the Government.
- Third. In order, so far as
possible, to remove the stain now resting on the throne,
we request of the King that he shall cause immediate
restitution to be made of the sum, to wit: Seventy-one
thousand dollars ($71,000), recently obtained by him in
violation of law and of his oath of office, under
promises that the persons from whom the same was
obtained should receive the license to sell opium, as
provided by statute of the year 1888.
- Fourth. Whereas one Junius Kaae
was implicated in the obtaining of said $71,000, and has
since been, and still is, retained in office as register
of conveyances, we request, as a safeguard to the
property interests of the country, that said Kaae be at
once dismissed from said office, and that the records of
our land titles be placed in the hands of one in whose
integrity the people can safely confide.
- Fifth. That we request a
specific pledge from the King—
- (1)
- That he will not in the future interfere
either directly or indirectly with the election of
representatives.
- (2)
- That he will not interfere with or attempt to
unduly influence legislation or
legislators.
- (3)
- That he will not interfere with the
constitutional administration of his
cabinet.
- (4)
- That he will not use his official position or
patronage for private ends.
Resolved, That Paul Isenberg, W. W. Hall, J. A.
Kennedy, W. H. Rice, Capt. Jas. A. King, E. B. Thomas, H. C. Reed, John
Vivas, W. P. A. Brewer, W. B. Oleson, Cecil Brown, Capt. John Ross, J.
B. Atherton, are hereby appointed to present the foregoing resolutions
and requests to the King; and said committee is hereby instructed to
request of the King that a personal answer to the same be returned
within twenty-four hours of the time when the same are presented j and
to further inform
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the King
that his neglect so to answer the same within said time will be
construed as a refusal of the said requests.
Resolved, That said committee, in case of the
King’s refusal to grant said requests, or in case of his neglect to
reply to the same, is authorized to call another mass-meeting at this
place on Saturday, July 2, at 2 p.m., to further consider the
situation.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 135.]
the king’s reply.
To honorable Paul Isenberg and the
gentlemen composing the committee of a meeting of subjects and
citizens:
Gentlemen: In acknowledging the receipt of the
resolutions adopted at a mass-meeting held yesterday and presented to us
by you, we are pleased to convey through you to our loyal subjects as
well as to the citizens of Honolulu our expression of good-will and our
gratification that our people have taken the usual constitutional steps
in presenting their grievances.
To the first proposition contained in the resolutions passed by the
meeting whose action you represent, we reply that it has been
substantially complied with by the formal resignation of the ministry,
which took place on the 28th day of June, and was accepted on that date,
and that we had already requested the Hon. W. L. Green to form a new
cabinet on the day succeeding the resignation of the cabinet.
To the second proposition we reply that Mr. Walter M. Gibson has severed
all his connections with the Hawaiian Government by resignation.
To the third proposition we reply that we do not admit the truth of the
matters stated therein, but will submit the whole subject to our new
cabinet, and will gladly act according to their advice, and will cause
restitution to be made by the parties found responsible.
To the fourth proposition we reply that at our command Mr. Junius Knae
resigned the office of registrar of conveyances on the 28th day of June,
and his successor has been appointed.
To the fifth proposition we reply that the specific pledges required of
us are each severally acceded to.
We are pleased to assure the members of the committee and our loyal
subjects that we are, and shall at all times be, anxious and ready to
co-operate with our counselors and advisers as well as with our
intelligent and patriotic citizens in all matters touching the honor,
welfare, and prosperity of our Kingdom.
Given at our palace this 1st day of July, A.
D. 1887, and the fourteenth year of our reign.
Kalakaua Rex.
