Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands -  Bayonet Constitution " of 1887-  Part 2

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Historical Collections of Hawai'i
Keepers of the Culture
1887 Constitution -part 2
The Hawaiian League
The Honolulu Rifles
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Part 2 

The Hawaiian League

The Hawaiian League was a secret organization formed about the beginning
of 1887. The idea from which it developed was first expressed by one of
the Physicians of Honolulu, Dr. S.G. Tucker, in a conversation with
Lorrin A. Thurston on December 26, 1886. Tucker suggested the formation
of an organization strong enough to demand and secure reform in the
Government and a limitation of the powers of the King so that he would
resign but not rule as he had been doing so in recent years. Thurston
liked the idea
and talked about it with several other men, among whom he mentions, W.A.
Kinny, S.B. Dole, P.C. Jones, W.R. Castle, W.E. Rowell, C. W. Ashford,
Major H.M. Benson, A.T. Atkinson, Dr. G.H. Martin, and Dr. N.B. Emerson
[ of the above 12 men metioned are among the first fourteen on the
record of members of the league. # 12 on the record is H.
Reimenschneider; # 13 is C. Furneaux. All these men were prominent
residents of Honolulu. On Feb. 1, 1887, Thurston and Kenny bcame
associated in
law practice with W.O. Smith, who did not become a member of the league;
prior to that date, Kenny was a law partner of Arthur P. Peterson. ]
The subject was discussed in a number of small gatherings; finally a
general meeing was held, sometime in January, and the Hawaiian League
was organized by the adoption of a constitution, which was drafted by
Thurston, and by the election of officers. No minutes of meetings seem
to have been kept ad it is not known who the officers were.

Active direction and management of the businee of the League was
delegated to an executive committee of thirteen members, commonly
referred to as the 
" Committee ( or Counsel  ) of Thirteen." The exact make-up of this
committee was a fairly well guarded secret; it is known, however, that
there were occasional changes in its composition, and it is believed
that most of the men listed above were among its first members.

During the early part of 1887, the efforts of the executive committee
were directed mainly to recuiting members for the League. Thurston who
kept the list of members, states that by the later part of May some 189
persons had joined; a month later the number was 342, shortly
therefafter,when enrollments ceased, there were 405 names on the total
membership did not exceed that figure. It was a haole organization;
there are no identifiable Hawaiian names on the roll, but there were a
few members of part-Hawaiian ancestry. The membership included a large
number of well known, representative members of the island community ---
" solid citizens" --- but, as in all movements of this kind , some
persons went into it for whatever personal advantage it might be to
them, and a few no doubt from sheer love of adventure. All, however,
took an oath to do all in their power to advance the cause for which the
League was organized.

The objective of the League. as stated in section two of its
constitution was 
" Constitutional, representive Government, in fact as in form, in the
Hawaiian Ialnds, by all necessary means."
Within the League there developed a radical wing and a conservative
wing. The radicals favored abolition of the monarchy and the setting up
of a republic; some of them wished to go furthe and seek annexation to
the United States. Te conservatives, on the other hand, favored
retention of the monarchy, but wanted a change of minisitry and a
drastic revision of the constitution of the Kingdom; for them a republic
was a last resort, in case the King refused to agree to the reforms
demanded. There is little doubt that the idea of a republic was
seriously considered in the meetings of the League. Among the Thurston
papers in the Public Archives of Hawai'i, there is a draft, in his
handwriting, of a proclamation abolishing the monarchy and establishing
a "Repubic of Hawai'i "; with this is  draft, also in Thurston's
handwriting, of " Order Number One " of the Council of State of the
Republic, containing provisions for its temporary administration. Both
of these documents promise that a constitution for the republic will be
drawn up and promulgated as soon as possible. Endorsements indicate that
these papers were drafted in may, 1887. In point is the statement by
Clarence W. Ashford: " the purposes [ of the league ] were, in brief,
such reformation of governmental conditions in Hawai'i as should
supplant the then outworn constitution of Kamehameha, and introduce in
it stead either a more liberal Constitution under monarchial
institutions, or Republic."

The Leaders of the Hawaiian League believed, with good reason, that
Kalakaua would not willingly agree to make the reforms desired by them
and that a show of force would be required to convince him of the
necessity for a change. Steps were therefore taken to provide the
members of the League with guns and ammunition. Local stocks of such
goods were bought up and Honolulu merchants ordered additional supplies
from San Francisco and Sydney. The San Francisco Chronicle on June
22,1887, reported that custom house records showed abnormally large
shipments of firearms to Hawai'i during the pas few days; it enumeratd
about nine hundred rifles and large quanities of ammunition shipped to
Honolulu firms, the largest consignments being to E.O. Hall & Son, Mrs.
Thomas Lack, and Castle & Cooke. Honolulu newspapers published numerous
items on this subject. The Hawaiian Leage also effected some sort of
alliance with the 
" Honolulu Rifles," and that volunteer component of the armed forces of
the Kingdom became a potent instrument of the reform movement.
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The Honolulu Rifles.

The Honolulu Rifles company was organized in the spring of 1884, by a
group of men reported to be" interested in the formation of a semi-
military and social organization." It had the approval of the Cabinet
and of Kalakaua, who suggested the name for the company, and it became
one of the recognized volunteer military companies of the Kingdom. It
was an all haole company, and made its first public appearance on April
26, 1885, by sending a sergeant's squad to do guard duty at the
residence of Queen Emma after the death of that noble lady. The early
enthusiasm soon waned and the Rifles attained relatively little
prominence or importance until after Volney V. Ashford was elected
Captain on July 28, 1886.

Ashford was a Canadian who came to Hawai'i about the beginning of 1885,
was granted letters of denization by the King on February 11, was
admitted to the bar soon after that date, and became a partner of his
younger brother Clarence W. Ashford in the practice of law. He had had
extensive and varied military experience both in the United States,
where he served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and later in the
Canadian army, in which he rose to the rank of Captain. Ashford was an
excellant drillmaster. Following Upton's system of infantry tactics (
the standard adopted for the United States Army ), he brought his littel
company up to a high state of proficiency, which called forth
complimentary remarks from the newspapers and from the King. In the
military drill competition among the several volunteer companies that
was a feature of the celebration of Kalakaua's fiftieth birthday, the
Honolulu Rifles won the prize.

The Rifles gained recognition as part of the social life of the
community. An exhibition drill and dance given by them on March 25,
1887, was described as a 
" brillant sucess" ; the guests included the King, General Dominis and
staf, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, the privy council,
legislature, and a large number of ladies and gentlemen. Following the
smartly executed drill, the King, on behlf of the wives of members of
the company, presented to the Rifles, a splendid Hawaiian Flag, assuring
them that, " as your King, I confide in your patriotism and courage, and
shall hope to see many an honorable record inscribed upon the flag I now
present." In accepting the national ensign, Captain Ashford testified to
the pleasure of the Honolulu Rifles on receiving it " through the hands
of Your Majesty, whose freindship to the Rifles is known and appreciated
by everyone of us," and he referred to the flag as " this beautful
emblem of the unity of many peoples who, blended together on a benignant
basis of political and race equality, combine to form the Kingdom of
Hawai'i, of which You Majesty is the honored Sovereign."

Durig the winter and sping of 1886-87 the newspapers printed requent
items about activities of the Honolulu Rifles and additions to its
ranks. On January 27, at the request of the military authorities, the
Rifles membership adopted a resolution declaring itself to be a
volunteer military company subject to the provisions of the Legislative
act of October 1, 1886." to organize the military forces of the
kingdom." By the end of March the organization had a hundred members,
and it was then divided into tw companies, A and B, forming a battalion.
Captain Ashford was elected major to command the battalion. Early in
April. Portugese residents formed a military company which, after some
instruction and training, became, on May 25, company C of the Honolulu
Rifles. Major Ashford was elected lieutenant colonel to command the
enlarged battalion. At the end of June, therefore, when the political
crisis came to a head, the Honolulu Rifles consisted of a battalion of
three companies commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Volney V. Ashford. The
membership of the battalion probably did not exceed two hundred men.

Beside the Rifles, there were five volunteer companies ( King's Own;
Oueen's Own; Prince's Own; Leleiohoku Guard; Mamalahoa Guard ) made up
of Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians. The volunteer companies and the regular
troops ( King's Household Guard ) comprised the military force of the
Kingdom. Over it, according to the act of 1886, there was a
commander-in-chief with the rank of lieutenant general. John O. Dominis
had been appointed to this position.( Actual title "Generalissimo" ) The
volunteers were subject to call for active service when needed.

At what time and by what process the Honolulu Rifles bcame a military
arm of the Hawaiian League it is impossible to determine with ay degree
of certainty. Thurston, in his account of the League, says that V.V.
Ashford, who had a decided military bent, was appointed by the executive
committee to organize the military forces, and was made colonal of the
Honolulu Rifles.......... It was expanded into three or four companies
..... The officers were league members. The first part of this statement
is incorrect if it means, as it seems to say, that Ashford was appointed
by the executive committee of the league to command the Honolulu Rifles,
for Ashford was commander of the Rifles before the Hawaiia League came
into existance. Further more, the officers of the volunteer military
companies were elected by the members of those companies and received
their commission from the King.

Dole's statement is more in accord with the known facts; " A military
organization of volunteers, young men of Honolulu, in several companies,
a growth from the original Honolulu Rifles, was won to support the
league, the commnder, Colonel V.V. Ashford, becoming an enthusiastic
advocate of its plans. In all probability it was not a mere coincidence
that the rapid expansion of the Honolulu Rifles occurred simultanously
with that of the Hawaiian League.

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Constitution of 1887 -- Reform

The first important duty of the Reform Cabinet was to secure a new
constitution, a task to which it was committed by the resolution of a
mass meeting of June 30. to which the King had asseted. The actual
drafting of the constitution appears to have been done by a cmmittee of
the Hawaiian League made up by the members who were, as Dole says, " by
common opinion, assigned to the task."
The work was begun on Friday evening, July1, and was carried on day and
night until about noon on Wednesday July 6, by which time the document
had been rewritten, printed and a copy engrossed for signature by the
King. The committee submitted it to the cabinet, by whom it was
approved; the ministers then, about four o'clock in the afternoon, went
together to the palace and submitted the constitution to the king for
signature and oath thereto.

Attorney General Ashford later wrote a graphic account of this meeting
of the cabinet with the King in regard to the constitution. " The
document was read to His Majesty, who listened in sullen and somewhat
appaling silence. And then came a general silence, followed by an
inquiry from Mr. Green, whether His Majesty approved and would sign the
document. This was a signal for the opening of arguement, which
preceeded until about sundown on that long summer day. The King argued,
protested, inquired a to the effect of certain phrases of the changes
made..... and for considerble periods appeared to be gazing into space
and weighing the possibilities of success in the event of a refusal to
comply with reforms demanded by the Cabinet and embodied in the
instrument presented for his signature." Finally, however the
thundercloud which had rested on the King's brow vanished and his "
sullen and forbidding countenance ....... dissolved into a smile, the
King reached for a pen and attached his signature to that instrument
whereby he reduced from the status of a autocrat to that of a
constitional Soverign. The chief justice was called in, and the king and
the cabinet minsiters took the oath to support the new constitution. 

On the following day, July 7, Kalakaua signed a proclamation setting
forth that he did on July 6, abrogate the Constitution of 1864 " being
moved thereto by the advice of my Cabinet Council; and in pursuance of
such advice for government safety, did sign, ordain, and publish a new
constitution." On the same day, July 7, the new constitution was
promulgated. " The Marshall, accompanied by several policemen, rode
through the streets of Honolulu, distributing the document, and
proclaiming it to be the fundamental law of the land."

The Constitution of 1887 was a revision of the constitution of 1864,
just as the latter was a revision of the constitution of 1852. In the
revision, the main objects sought were to take from the King the greater
part of the power exercised by him under the constitution of 1864 and to
make him in effect a ceremonial figure somewhat like the Sovereign of
Great Britain; to place the executive power, as a practical matter, in
the hands of the Cabinet appointed by the King but responsible to the
Legislature; to change the character of the legislature by making the
nobles as well as the representatives elective, by redifining the
qualifications of nobles, representatives, and electors, and by making
it less easy for the King to exercise a personal influence over members
of the legislature. For the latter object, it was provided ( article 20
) that no exective or judicial officer or employee of the government
could be elected to the legislature, and that no member of the
legislature coul be appointed to any civil office under the government
except that of a member of the cabinet.

In the parts of the constitution relative to the executive branch of the
government, very important changes were made. The King's authority as
commander-in-chief of the military forces ( article 26 ) was modified by
a new clause providing that 
" no military or naval force shall be organized except by the authority
of the Legislature." In article 31, the sentence  "To the King belongs
the Executive power," was made to read " To the King and Cabinet belongs
the Executive power." and a new article ( 78 ) was inserted as follows:
" Whenever by this Constitution any Act is to be done or performed by
the King or Sovereign, it shall, unless otherwise expressed, mean that
such Act shall be done and performed by the Sovereign by and with the
advice and consent of the Cabinet." The clause 
" the Kingdom is His " wa deleted from Article 34. The King's right to
appoint the cabinet ministers was left unchanged, but the right to
arbitrarily to dismiss them was taken from him and it was provided 
( article 41 ) that the ministers could be removed " only upon a vote of
want of confidence passed by a majority of all the elective members of
the Legislature, or upon conviction of felony." The ministers
had previously held seats, ex officio, in the Legislature, with the
right to vote; now it was provded ( article 42 ) that they had the right
to vote " except on a question of want of confidence in them."  Up to
this time the King's right to veto bills passed by the legislature had
been absolute; the new constitution provided ( article 48 ) that the
veto might be over-ridden by a two-thirds vote of all the elective
members of the Legislature. Under this constitution ( artcle 82 ) , any
ammendment of it was the exclusive prerogative of the Legislature; the
King's approval of constitutional amendments was no longer required.

A radical change was made in the composition of the Legislature,
especially in regard to the nobles. It was provided that there should be
twenty-four nobles, whose term of office should be six years, and each
of whom must be a subject of the Kingdom at least twenty-five years of
age, who must have resided in the Kingdom three years, and must own
taxable property of an unencumbered value of $3,000 or have an income of
at least $600 per annum; they were no longer appointed by the King but
were to be elected.

The number of Representatives in the Legislature was fixed at
twenty-four. He had to be at least twenty-one years of age, be able to
read and write, either the Hawaiian, English, or some European language,
and to understand accounts. There was also a residence requirement and a
small property or income qualification.

The privilege of voting was no longer restricted to subjects of the
Kingdom, but was extended to all male residents of Hawaiian, American,
or European birth or descent, at least twenty years of age, who had paid
taxes, who took an oath to support the constitution and laws, who could
read and write either the Hawaiian, English, or some European language.
To vote for representives , a person must also have been domincled in
the Kingdom for one year immediately proceeding the election. To be
eligible to vote in the election of nobles, a person must have resided
in the country for at least three years, and must own taxable property
in the counrty of a value of not less than three thousand dollars and
above all encumberances, or shall have received an income of not less
than six hundred dollars during the year preceding his registration for
each election."

It will be seen that under this constitution the privilege of voting was
extended under certain conditions to alien residents of American or
European birth or decent, but not those of Asiatic birth or decent. It
will also be noticed that the constitution created two classes of
voters. (1) those who could vote only for representatives; and (2) those
who could vote only for represntatives and nobles. From the latter class
many of the native Hawaiians were excluded by the high property
qualification. While these provisions did not actually take away from
the Native Hawaiians any right or privilege they had previously enjoyed,
save the possiblity of appointment as nobles, yet the voting privileges
extended to resident aliens gave to the haoles as a group a greatly
increased power in the government and reduced the Hawaiians to a
position of apparent and, for a while, actual inferiority in the
political life of the Country. This was during the next few years, one
of the principal grounds of objection to the Constitution of 1887 and of
efforts to amend or displace it.  It was no way approved at the signing
of the Constitution of 1887,  by the House of Nobles.

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