ACCESSION OF LILIUOKALANI.

In the summer of 1889, for the second time since the establishment of the Hawaiian monarchy, the forces of the United States. were called upon to intervene, in a time of popular uprising, for the protection of the lives and property of Americans. On the thirtieth day of July, in that year, an insurrection against the government broke out in the city of Honolulu. It was led by Robert W. Wilcox and Robert Boyd, two half-caste Hawaiians, who had gathered a body of about one hundred adherents. Although these two men were the actual leaders of the attempted revolt, it is asserted that their act was instigated by a person of high social and political distinction. It should be explained that in the year 1877, three years after the accession of Kalakaua, Prince Leleiohoku, the heir apparent to the throne, suddenly sickened and died. Upon the prince's death the king, exercising his constitutional privilege, appointed his own sister, Lydia Kamakaeha Liliuokalani, to the succession.

The year 1887 was prolific of incidents of

moment in the history of the Islands. In that year the substantial people, tired of the king's many acts subversive of popular liberty, and gross in their venality, rose in their righteous wrath and indignation. A mass meeting of the people was called, at which demands were made which the king dared not refuse. Evidently, he felt his throne tottering; and to the new constitution which was framed he gave his ready assent. The preamble of this constitution recited that the "constitution of this kingdom heretofore in force contains many provisions subversive of civil rights, and incompatible with enlightened constitutional government," and that it had become imperative, "in order to restore order and tranquillity and the confidence necessary to a further maintenance of the present government, that a new constitution should be at once promulgated." This new constitution, as may be inferred from this preamble, contained many liberal provisions, and gave good satisfaction to the people. The heir apparent to the throne, however, made no secret of her implacable hostility to the idea of a liberal government. She is

said to have openly upbraided her brother for his lack of vigor in failing to assert his royal prerogatives, and to have longed for a return, so far as possible, to that ancient absolutism of the sovereign which prevailed before the white man imported the idea of a constitutional government.

Such being her attitude, it may be true, as was openly charged, that the Wilcox-Boyd rebellion was incited by her, in the hope of dethroning, by this means, her brother, and placing herself in absolute power.

At an early hour on the day of the insurrection a messenger from the king hurried to the house of the minister resident of the United States. He brought the intelligence. that the palace grounds and the government building and offices were in the hands of insurgents. The representatives of foreign governments in the city were hastily consulted; and an attempt was made to communicate with the leader of the insurgents, in order to ascertain what were his demands. This effort failed, and soon the sound of rifles and of cannon at the government building came to the ears of all in the city. The

tops of the surrounding buildings were occupied by government sharpshooters, whose rapid and accurate fire soon disconcerted the enemy.

At this exciting juncture the sound of the drum and fife was heard approaching in the streets, and an armed force of marines from the United States steamship Adams appeared. A retreat was made by the insurgents to the king's "bungalow," or private residence, adjoining the palace grounds. This building they succeeded in holding throughout the day. As night approached, and as more and perhaps really severe fighting was expected in order to dislodge the insurgents, it was deemed prudent to land the remaining forces on board the Adams. This having been done, soon after the insurgents - disheartened, and seeing themselves surrounded by the government forces and all decided to surrender. escape cut off

In this united action of the American minister and Commander Woodward, of the Adams, strict neutrality was maintained; and not the slightest movement was made by the force of marines which could be construed as

giving military aid either to the government forces, or to the insurgents. The sole motive in landing these troops was that they might be held in readiness to protect the lives of Americans, should they be menaced, and to prevent the destruction of American property. In acting thus prudently, the commander of the forces of the United States followed the general custom adopted in such crises by all civilized nations, to protect its citizens and their property in foreign lands.

In the spring of the year 1890 the International American Conference was convened in Washington. At the suggestion of President Harrison, and in pursuance of a resolution of Congress, an invitation was extended to the Hawaiian king to send a delegate; and, although the delegate thus sent failed to reach Washington until after the close of the Conference, the incident is significant, as showing not only the good feeling which existed between the two governments, but also the sentiment at Washington, which regarded the Hawaiian Islands as essentially a member of the family of American nations.

In December of the same year, King Kala