Home: The Annexation Of Hawaii: A Collection Of Document
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HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 795 employed, liquor was allowed to run in a tide, promises of office were given, intimidation was resorted to, and in one district a number of soldiers were taken up to outvote the opposition candidate, while in another the voting lists were openly tampered with. With a Legislature composed of such materials, and obtained by such means, it is not surprising that the right of free speech was cut off, and that a reckless disregard for the rights of capital and brains reigned supreme. The session lasted from April 30 to October 16-a period of 170 days. The results were an appropriation bill of somewhat over four and a hull' millions of dollars, the income of the country being about two millions. A loan bill was passed authorizing the Government to borrow $2,000,000, the affair to be managed by a syndicate in London. A free-liquor bill had been passed in the Legislature of 1884, and that of 1886 gave an opium bill, which was so framed that bribery could be freely used to obtain the license. The results of this bill will be seen later on. Then there was an army bill, authorizing the expenditure of a very large sum of money, and creating generals, colonels, intelligence officers, and no end of frippery. The buying and lit ting out of a man-of-war was authorized, and the vote for foreign missions was still further increased. One thing was made clear, during the session, and that was the ministerial view of the constitution. In open debate the question was argued: "Where lies, or should lie, the preponderating, the actual ruling power*" One of the independent members maintained "In the legislature;" the ministry held "In the crown;" and the latter theory was acted upon. Great dissatisfaction was felt at the close of the Legislature; but matters were not so bad yet as to cause all men to unite. What the Government intended to do soon o began to be developed. An embassy, under charge of John E. Bush, was sent at great expense to Samoa. A large sum of money was expended over festivities in honor of the King's birthday. The Explorer (re-named the Kaimiloa)-a vessel totally unstated for the purpose - was purchased by the Government for $20,000, and some $50,000 or $60,000 were expended in turning her into a man-of-war. The crew was largely made up of boys from the Reformatory School, and their conduct, together with, that of some of the officers, created a perfect scandal. On the evening before the day appointed for the sailing of the vessel a mutiny broke out, and several of the officers were summarily dismissed. Meantime, money was very scarce, the loan was bungled, and though the money had been subscribed in England, it was not forthcoming in Hawaii. The roads all over the group were in a terrible condition; the harbor had not been dredged for months, no funds being forthcoming for the purpose; the landings were neglected and Government indebtedness was not liquidated. So bad had things become that men sot seriously to work to right them, and early ill the present year a number of gentlemen in Honolulu and on the other islands began to consider the boat means for putting an end to the then state of affairs, and placing the Government of the country on a basis which should for the future do away with the system of corruption and fraud which had ruled so long. For this purpose arms were imported, and every preparation made beforehand. The organ- ization took the name of the Hawaiian League, and had enrolled among its members some of the weightiest men in the city. The agitation was progressing favorably, when a weapon was put into the hands of the patriotic party which served to unite the whole population as one man against the regime under which such iniquities could be perpetrated. We nave spoken above of the opium law which was passed in the Legislature of 1886, and which had received the King's signature in spite of the most vigorous protests from all classes of the community. The bill provided that a license for the sale of opium, at the rate of $30,000 per annum, should be given to whomsoever the minister of the interior might choose. The facts in the matter, furnished on undeniable authority, were published in the Hawaiian Gazette of May 17, and from that paper we quote. The paper said: "Early in November, 1886, one Junius Kaae, heretofore conspicuous for nothing except being a 'palace hanger-on' (since promoted to the office of 'register of deeds), went to a Chinese rice-planter named Aki and asked him if he did not want the opium license. Aki said he did. Kaae then informed him that he could help him to get it, and that the first step necessary was to pay the King the sum of $60,000. but that he must hurry up about it, because there were others trying to get the King to give it to them. After some discussion, Aki agreed to act upon Kaae's suggestion. About the 6th of December, in the afternoon. $20,000 were taken to the palace in a basket. The King, seeing others around, told the bearers to come in the evening. They came in the evening and met the King, who directed them to see Kaae. Kaae, being present, conferred with the King, and then went to the King's private office, and he there received the $20,000, and put it in the King's private drawer. A few days after, the King stated to the owner that he had received the $20,000. Shortly after a check on the bank for $10,000 was handed to the King personally. The same day Kaae returned it, saying that they preferred coin to