Blount Report: Affairs in Hawaii
[ Previous Page ] --
[ View PDF ] -- [ View
in MS Word ] -- [ Next Page ]
[ Return to Table of Contents ]
986 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
counted, and shortly after he was himself acquainted with his own condition.
According to the constitution, which he had himself promulgated in 1864, he had the right to appoint his
successor. Urged to do so, he demurred. His nearest kinsman was Lunalilo, a Kamehameha by his mother. But be
was addicted to drink, and somewhat of a wag. The King hated him, the feeling being reciprocal. How well I
remember the scenes at the old palace the day before the King's death. Most of the chiefs were there, all of the
pretend ants to the throne. The dying King was urged to make an appointment; Mrs. C. R. Bishop (Pauahi) urged her
own claim. Friends of Kalakaua, of Queen Emma, widow of Kamehameha IV., urged their respective claims.
Lunalilo kept silent, never went near the King's room. At last, in my presence, the King said: "The throne belongs to
Lunalilo; I will not appoint him, because I consider him unworthy of the position. The constitution, in case I make
no nomination, provides for the election of the next King; let it be so." He died the next morning. Thus ended the
hereditary monarchy in the islands.
To this very important point I beg to call your special notice, as I will refer to it hereafter.
After a short interregnum, just long enough to get the Legislature together, Lunalilo was elected unanimously, and
his election indorsed by public opinion, foreign as well as native. For the first time in many years our missionary
friends and their sons and relatives mustered courage to recover their long-lost power. They used flattery, claimed
recognition for their support towards the election, and Mr. E. O. Hall, father of the present W. Hall, had the
formation of the new cabinet. I was the physician and friend of the King. I did not interfere in politics, and limited
myself to my duties as such. I had a good deal of influence with him, but often, when I would be away, he would
start drinking again in spite of me. Some good qualities in the man had strongly attached him to me.
One night, after a bout on board one of the American warships in port, he returned to Waikiki, went to sleep
under his veranda, with thin underclothing, exposed to the strong trade wind. Within twenty-four hours pneumonia
set in and for days his condition was serious. He recovered, however, but remained suffering from chronic
pneumonia and pleurisy.
We decided on going to Kailua, Hawaii, a splendid health resort specially for lung troubles, and a favorite place
of the Hawaiian chiefs. As soon as I decided to take the King off to Kailua, the chiefs and pretendants understood
that his condition had become critical, and all insisted in following the King.
Mrs. Bishop (Pauahi), Queen Emma, now dead, Liliuokalani, the deposed Queen, her sister Likelike, now dead,
Kapiolani, wife of Kalakaua, and others, came along with us, and none left the King's side either by day or night.
We lived in a very large native hut, and I dare say not less than 30 or 40 people slept there at night. I was the only
white man there, and it was, I assure you, interesting to watch the chiefs, their rivalries and intrigues.
Lunalilo was constantly urged as Kamehameha V. had been, to appoint his successor; he had a great regard and
perhaps a softer feeling toward Queen Emma, and would, I think, have married her, had it not been the influence of
an old mistress, a half-white, who was also there with us. Mr. C. K. Bishop, Dominis, Kalakaua, the cabinet
ministers, and the chief justice made flying visits to us, never remaining more
Back to top of page
[ Previous Page ] --
[ View PDF ] -- [ View
in MS Word ] -- [ Next Page ]
[ Return to Table of Contents ]
