Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands -  Kalakaua -- Part 11

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Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands
" Keepers of the Culture "
A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands
As told by the ancients--
Kalakaua ---Part 11
The Election Campaign and Campaign Newspapers--
as told by the Ancients--

by Darlene E. Kelley
April 30, 2001

http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374

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Kalakaua  -- Pt 11
The Election Campaign and Campaign Newspapers--

The day after Lunalilo died, Kalakaua declared himself candidate for the
throne. The next day Queen Emma did the same. The first real animosity
between the Kamehamehas and Kalakaua begun to appear. The proclamation
that Kalakaua put forth was a dignified one, as published;

" To the Hawaiian Nation." 

" SALUTATIONS to YOU--Whereas His Majesty Lunalilo departed this life at
the hour of nine o'clock last night; and by his death the Throne of
Hawaii is left vacant, and the nation is without a head or a guide. In
this juncture it is proper that we should seek for a Sovereign and
Leader, and doing so, follow the course prescribed by Article 22nd of
the Constitution. My earnest desire is for the perpetuity of the Crown
and the permanent independence of the government and people of Hawaii,
on the basis of the equity, liberty, prosperity, progress and protection
of the whole people.

It will be remembered that at the time of the election of the late
lamented Soveregn, I put forward my own claim to the Throne of our
beloved country, on Constitutional grounds -- and it is upon those
grounds only that I now prefer my claims, and call upon you to listen to
my call, and request you to instruct your Representatives ro consider,
and weigh well, and to regard your choice to elect me, the oldest member
of a family high in rank in the country.

Therefore, I, David Ekamackamacanaia Naloiachu Kalakaua, cheerfully call
upon you, and respectfully ask you to grant me your support. "

D. KALAKAUA
Iolani Palace, Feb. 4, 1874.

Queen Emma issued her proclamation te next day;

" To the Hawaiian People:
" WHEREAS, His late lamented Majasty LUNALILO died on the 3rd of
February, 1874, without having publicly proclaimed a Successor to the
Throne; and whereas,
" His late Majesty did before his final sickness declare his wish and
intention that the undersigned should be his Successor on the Throne of
the Hawaiian Islands, and enjoined upon me not to decline the same under
any circumstances; and wereas.
" Many of the Hawaiian people have since the death of His Majesty urged
me to place myself in nomination at the ensuing session of the
Legislature;
" Therefore, in view of the foregoing considerations and my duty to the
people and to the memory of the late King, I do hereby announce and
declare that I am a Canadate for the Throne of these Hawaiian Islands,
and I request my beloved people throughout the group, to assemble
peacefully ad orderly in their districts, and to give formal expression
to their views on this important subject, and to instruct their
Representatives in the comng session of the Legislature.
" God Protect Hawaii ! "

"Honolulu, Feb. 5, 1874.
EMMA KALELEONALANI. "

It was evident from the beginning that many of the Hawaiians and the
British preferred Queen Emma. The pro-United States faction opposed her
on the basis of her pro-British leanings, but only halfheartedly
supported Kalakaua because of his strong " Hawaii for Hawaiians"
position. Yet, he seemed, the lessor of two evils.

Remembering how Lunalilo had virtually proclaimed himelf King, the
backers of Kalakaua moved swiftly to bring in legislators from the outer
islands to demand a proper legislative election. On Oahu, mass meetings
were held and Queen Emma seemed to be te favorite. She, like Lunalilo,
promoted a " popular election, " but as the vote took place at her home,
the results were disregarded.

The mood of the election was ugly, and the haole of Honolulu requested
warships to stand by. For nine days the campaign raged in the newspapers
and in privately printed pamphlets.

While it seemed that the majority of the haole papers favored Kalakaua
and negated Emma, some Hawiian papers and all the privately printed
pamphlets favored Emma. The latter were printed in Hawaiian and not
translated until after the election.

The " Nu Hou Extra" on February 6, 1874, gave a gentle reprimand to
Queen Emma that it was known that Lunalilo had not appointed her his
successor. The writer blamed " unwise friends " for prompting her to put
forth her claim and begged her to " be content to be hailed as Queen of
Benevolence and Mercy- and not as ueen of a small political party ---
the waiian people will love her as benefactress and hate her as a
politician."

In the " HAWAII PONOI EXTRA " of February 7, Charles Reed Bishop was
quoted as saying that although King Lunalilo had been " repeatedly urged
--- to nominate a Successor to the Throne, he had nominated no one
whatsoever," either officially, or in private. It ended by proclaiming
Kalakaua as having the strongest claims to the votes and confidence of
the people. " He is the eldest male representative of a Princely
Hawaiian family, which is undoubtedly next to the House of Kamehameha,
and is entitled to the highest consideration in this country."

The news article was followed immediately by a pamphlet entitled " To
the Public " from Queen Emma in which she resorted to establishing her
genealogy as superior to " any other person ;" She was quoted as having
established 
" Queens Hospital;" and as being a person of wealth. As " a person of
weath and extensive lands," being heir of Lunalilo, she would save a
government money---- -
" The Queen, if made our Sovereign, would be the person to contribute to
that discharge [ government debt ] by living on her own private income,
and dispensing with any allowance from the Treasury."

The NU HOU EXTRA of February 10, published a rebuttal: 
" The unwise friends of Queen Emma have again published a very foolish
paper." It denied her being the heirness of King Lunalilo. The
refutation went on to say; " They say she built the Queens Hospital. But
this is not true. It was built with the money of the people-- native and
foreign. Her Majasty's Name only was givn to it, because it was built
during the reign of her husband. They speak of Queen Emma's benevolence
to her servents, and to many children whom she educates, which is true
and is true of all chiefs, but it must be remembered that she receives
six thousand dollars a year from the representatives of the people which
enables her to perform her good deeds. It is said that we want to ignore
her Majesty's desire for the Throne, but we do not, as we are now
satisfied that she has been planning for a long time to gain the
position--- "

Newspapers raged on Against a 
" petticoat government " it was better to have " that garment than a
pair of pants, with boots for the purpose of kicking people about."

One mass meeting followed another with proclamations read by the
candidates. Queen Emma had a letter read from the    High Chief Charles
Kanaina, father of Lunalilo, saying that at Kailua-Kona 
( where the late King had been attempting to recover his declining
health), Lunalilo had expressed his intentions to appoint Queen Emma,
but that his cabinet refused to act. She had been making other promises
such as that she would select "natives to fill all the offices," revise
the constitution of Kamehameha and reduce salaries of government
officials.

Kalakaua's second proclaimation came out simular to the first, tying him
to the constitution and claiming that the Kawaiahao Church mass meeting
had selected him " Successor to the Throne: "

" His late Majesty died without nominaing or proclaiming a Successor to
the Throne, and it therefore devolves upon the Legislation Assembly,
under the Constitution, to elect a Sovereign.
I accept your nomination of myslf to this high and responsible position
of Guardian of the Government, with the earnest hope that Government may
be conducted wisely, and so as to secure and perpetuate our national
independence and the preservation and prosperity of our race.
" God Preserve Hawaii ! "

KALAKUA. "

The GAZETTE of February 11, calling him for the first time " Prince,"
indicating he came from a royal household, gave three reasons for him to
be elected King.
" 1-- He has been nominated unanimously by mass-meetings, not only in
this city, but in various districts on this and the other islands of the
group, clearly indicating the popular preference for Sovereign.
" 2 -- His election will result in providing a Prince to succeed him [
his younger brother] even should he leave no children, and thus prevent
the recurrence of these dangerous interregnums, which are so
demoralizing to the people, and which ought to be guarded against.
" 3 -- A King will be more acceptable and undoubtedly be able to give
more satisfaction to his people in the administration of the Government
than a Queen could possibly give."

Numerous other circulars, mostly anonymous, were printed in Hawaiian,
favoring Queen Emma. They were incendiary in style, but repetitious in
content except for a few additions such as one exhorting women to put
forth their claims for Queen Emma:
" Ye wives of the Representatives, beg, coax, and draw the hearts of
your husbands. Induce, persuade and lead the thoughts of your husbands
to the one you are thinking on. If your husband does not consent to your
desire, it will show that he dispises you. Husbands and wife should be
of one mind, not merely companions."

Reassurance was given by Queen  Emma's supporters that Emma would not
marry a foreigner, and if not a high chief, a Hawaiian commoner.

Despite a campaign that seemed to make Emma the favorite, the
Legislature elected Kalakaua King, by a thirty nine to six vote. A
violent disturbance broke out.

When the announcement was made that Kalakaua was King, cheering began
but was silenced almost immediately by the police. Cheering was heard
outside, but it was mingled with yells and cries of rage.

The Queenites incited the crowd against the Representatives who had
voted for Kakakaua. The cry was that they had voted " against the wishes
of the People." When the committee that was to notify the King of his
election left the office, the outbreak began. The carriage was attacked
and demolished. The rioters used the spokes and other pieces of the
carriage to attack the committee. The members then sought refuge in the
courthouse. The riot continued threatening their lives despite
intervention of the Marshall and Deputy and " many well known
foreigners." The native police, according to the newspapers, were of
little or no use. "

The doors of the courthouse were broken down and the mob surged in.
Furniture was broken and thrown from the building. Papers were
indiscriminately destroyed. Only the library and the office of the clerk
and the sheriff persuaded the rioters that 
" the contents were properties of the people." 

After destroying property, thw rioters began attacking the committee
members. The scene of violence continued threatening the lives of the
committee. One person was killed and many were wounded.

While Emma waited in her home, Kalakaua waited in Kapiolani's home where
were gathered Kalakaua's brother
Leleiohoku, his sister Lydia Kamakaeha, and Princess Pauahi Bishop. The
news, not only of the election but of the riot, was brought by Charles
Reed Bishop and John Owen Dominis [ Lydia's husband }.

Bishop recommended that protection be immediately called for. To his
chargrin, Kalakaua's first offiicial act as King elect was to call on
Foreign ships for aid. He must have remembered the Barrack's Revolt an
its unforunate results. A request from the King elect, the minister of
foreign affairs and the government of Oahu was made to the
representatives of Great Britain and the United States for land forces.
In a short time, marines and sailers from the USS TUSCARORA and
PORTSMOUTH and BHS TENDOS landed and took possession of the courthouse
and grounds.

The hostilities gradually ceased. A few rioters were arrested, but most
walked off in triumph to Queen Emma's residence. The Queen was cheered
and incendiary speeches cotinued to be made.

A paper supportive of Kalakaua noted:
" In this [riot] connection it should e stated that while the riot was
at its height, a member of the House of Nobles drove to the Queen's
residence and begged of her to go down to the courthouse to use her
personal influence in dispersing the mob and preventing the spilling of
blood which he represented as imminent. The Queen is stated to have
treated this message with indifference, as no concern of hers.
Subsequently she promised another gentleman that she would go, but did
not go. She sent, however, a note to be read to the rioters, which was
addressed to
' My People,' and was in substance to this effect: That if they could
not obtain their desires now, perhaps they had better wait until the
morrow, when a new election for Sovereign could be had !"

The press lamented the lack of effective police action: " As no outbreak
of this kind had been anticipated, no firearms had been provided. The
Marsal had one or two pistols in his office, and two representatives
were armed with pistos, but they were not used; and it is perhaps as
well that they were not discharged, as the number could have had but
little effect in staying the riot, and may have increased it. Had there
been twenty five armed persons in the building at the onset, there would
have been no outbreak. It was this entire absence of means of defence
that encouraged the rioters--- They had assembled in the morning at the
residence of Queen Emma, and by a little before noon marched in squads
of a hundred or more to the Courthouse, where they remained till the
election was over, the leaders constantly haranguing the populace.
Although there were several hundred engaged in the riot, it will
probably be found that the leaders and promoters do jot exceed a dozen
---"

The last of the mob was finally dispersed from Queen Emma's yard by the
Marines. Queen Emma did not insist on a new election. Shortly after the
foreign representatives had acknowledged Kalakaua, King, Queen Emma
proclaimed allegiance to him.

It was an inauspicious beginning for Kalakaua. It left him uneasy about
his position, and because of rumors and threats of assassination, he
became deeply concerned for his personal, safety and that of his
immediate and extended family.

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