The assembly halls echoed an ominous awakening on the following morning
when the legislature began to hustle within the broad corridors or
gather upon the marble steps in front. Liliuokolani, composed and
reliant, sat in regal attire, not far away, anxiously awaiting the word
that should confirm or deny her most sanguine expectations. Uniformed
couriers ran to and fro over the smooth-paved streets, carrying alike
the letter of commendation or the communication of state.
An _oo_ fluttered in at the open window, and perching upon the gilded
scepter warbled a friendly note. The queen looked up with softened eyes
at its yellow-purpled tufts, and reveried a deep-felt thought:
“How innocent, yet supremely beautiful. I wish I were you,--no; they’d
pluck my feathers,--singing the song of freedom, basking in the
God-light of truth.”
Only striven duty answered; she must grind out the essence of her
existence as countless numbers of mere humans before had done. Shortly
the high chamberlain approached and bowing low notified his sovereign
that the legislature stood convened, humbly awaiting her majesty’s
pleasure. Liliuokolani hesitated, then bending forward, with parchment
in hand, said kindly but firmly:
“The Queen’s Message.”
The high chamberlain--Jefferson Pauahieu Arnstook, a half-caste
prince, formerly resident of Lanai, banker at Honolulu, and broker to
his majesty, Kalakaua--took the significant document from the queen
with feelings of respect, though somewhat of misgivings, and without a
word forthwith dispatched his charge to the halls of legislation.
Its arrival at desk became the signal for renewed interest,
particularly in the galleries where had gathered the fortune and the
flower of social Hawaii. Hans Gutenborj was there, surrounded by
Progressionists, Royalists, and Patriots alike. Norton and Wayntro, Lou
Isaacs, a money changer, and Ah Mla, the Chinese merchant and opium
dealer, buttonholed or importuned members who came into the balconies
to greet a friend or scent the trend of opinion. Bender busied himself
on the floor, while a host of the fairest, in flowing garments and
modest adornment, looked down from the circle above. Kaiuolani leaned
from a box in the rear, and Ihoas glanced guardedly at her idol, the
artist member from Diamond Head. When the chairman had ceased rapping
and the queen’s message was announced, a momentary quiet broke into an
uproarious hand clapping and the shouting of hearty cheers.
Each member hastened to his seat, while Don Dupont, the dapper
sergeant-at-arms, arose and with a clear voice and pronounced accent
read the message through. A painful silence ensued, then Xane Bender
led, and every patriot in that house and not a few of the Royalists
applauded with zest. Barely respecting the occasion Colonel Young,
member from Honolulu, marvelled at the measures proposed, while
Kaiuolani rose in her seat and waving a handkerchief cried approval.
Gutenborj, too, showed conservatism, though from a different motive,
and Varnum, the banker, colored with anger. Now and then a submerged
hissing feebly issued aloft, though few there heeded the portent and
none of the more ardent, excepting Aokahameha, divined the measure of
its significance.
After the first shock had passed and the importance of the queen’s
recommendations commenced to unfold, the spectators began shifting
about or settling in corners discussing the probabilities and searching
for a motive.
“It is an outrage upon decency!” shouted Varnum, to his neighbor
Gutenborj, who sat quietly contemplating the best means of turning a
dilemma into a resource of safety.
“There is more behind this latest move than the most vigilant among
us dare suspect,” continued Varnum, not having made any apparent
impression upon his immediate listener.
“Things have come to a pretty pass, if law and order shall abide
savagery!” burst again from the irritated banker’s lips, just in time
to greet the ears of Mr. Whilom S. Harvenoiq, the American minister,
who had edged himself into an audience, uninvited.
“See here, Varnum,” ventured Gutenborj, the largest individual property
holder in the Islands, whose patience no longer bore him silence;
“that sort of talk can do no earthly good, and what is more, it may do
irreparable harm. My humble advice, if such be meet, would be to hold
your tongue.”
“I am a white man, sir; and I believe in the domination of
superiority,” replied the injudicious Progressionist.
“There are others, I believe, who are also considered white,”
pleasantly retorted the modest Royalist.
“Would you so forget our wives and daughters as to tolerate these
infernal schemes, make of our land a gambling dive and an opium joint?”
queried the excited financier, with vehemence.
“Hold! man; I would neither forget our pocketbooks. Both of the
measures are expedient, and would replenish the national treasury
without taxing you or I a cent or interfering with our morals one
whit. I am not sure but the queen is more prudent than we, after all,”
answered Gutenborj, thoughtfully.
“A clever monstrosity; and, if I mistake not, the groundwork for a
larger army! That is where we shall end, Hans Gutenborj,” growled the
intolerant Varnum, with more of heat than prudence.
“I dislike your intemperance; please excuse me, my good friend,”
replied the philosophic planter, as he arose and walked away in company
with Harvenoiq.
The suspense following the reading of the message bore heavily upon
all those members who were already pledged to support the queen’s
proposals. Bender had been active among local politicians and, though
in fact a resident of Honolulu, his membership from the lower island,
Hawaii, gave him a powerful influence with the outside and preponderant
constituency. He could already count a safe majority, and felt that by
the time the orators had finished debating the question, the Patriots
for and the Progressionists against the bills, the patriotism of the
Royalists had made certain Liliuokolani’s victory.
Elmsford was entrusted with making the opening address,--quite willing
to do anything that might encourage his chance with the princess,--and
when he had ceased haranguing, and proudly looked hence, only Ihoas led
a fairly hearty encouragement from the gallery above.
Kaiuolani, too, seemed not any the less enthusiastic, but her interest
apparently centered in the subject alone, for when Young arose, cool
and magnificent, to lead the opposition her eyes riveted upon him and
did not relax until the last word had fallen from his lips; when she
arose and clapped her hands vigorously, to the utter astonishment of
all--Patriots, Royalists, and Progressionists, none of whom ventured to
emulate her example. Even Martha Norton dared not voice a sentiment,
though she sat facing the speaker and coldly smiled; whereupon Bender
laughed and imprudently cheered.
It now came Aokahameha’s turn to urge the passage of the bills, and
as the tall man arose and thundered forth his native eloquence, in
support of ancient law and traditional right, roar after roar of
applause went up from the floor only to be hurled back again doubly
strong by the galleries. There was no mistaking the sentiment of either
the legislature or the audience there assembled, and as the speaker
waxed hotter and grew stronger the hearts and minds of men and women
ceased to bicker and barter the crimsoned promise or lofty notions of
race superiority. It were enough that man should resolve the virtue of
higher being in the light of righteous intent, and the power of oratory
swept them into the vortex of larger truth.
When the last round of applause had died out a deep, strange
uncertainty seized upon the more thoughtful and everybody breathed
heavily in the pause that followed. There seemed to be no unity
of purpose, not a fixed ground upon which to base a reasonable
presumption. Men and women, completely wrapped in mysticism, groped
through the dismal halls, unsettled in bearing and doubtful of their
safety, while Xane Bender moved freely about and hovered over all like
a sphinx in lowering darkness.
The queen sat some distance away silently, hopefully awaiting the vote
that should restore a lost and beneficent heritage. She had more at
stake than any other living soul in that land, yet bore the suspense
with a fortitude and dignity that none had hitherto shown.
The inactivity either in the balconies or upon the floor did not
last so very long, however, for the Progressionists soon came to
realize that in some mysterious way their schemes were being placed
in jeopardy; and that, too, by one of their own number. They could
understand how Bender, a shrewd cattle man from the mountain wilds to
the southward, might stoop to any expediency, would for a purpose play
them false, but what was the consideration? How should he profit by the
ruse?
Throughout the halls little knots of members or interested spectators
eagerly sought for the secret or discussed plans to check their
opponents’ rising strength. On the Patriots’ side of the house each
moment lent enthusiasm and Bender’s leadership grew in popularity:
rapidly moving from one to another his judgment soon became the keynote
to success and his counsel was finally heralded with respect. Not a few
volunteered their hitherto doubtful support, and everywhere he went,
among his adherents, they loudly proclaimed him “The Champion Ranger
from Waiahiui.”
Amid the confusion upon the floor, led by Bender on one hand and
Varnum, an outsider, on the other, a far more significant gathering,
though small in numbers, sitting in the extreme front of the balcony,
discussed seriously the impending crisis and prospective ballot.
Guttenborj, Harvenoiq, and Young thus constituted their own audience,
and the subject that concerned them most grew out of the likelihood,
should the queen gain control, of Young being dismissed from the army;
or, if retained, would he be placed at its head? A grave matter this
was, and not from choice did the ambitious young officer tolerate the
presence of an American diplomat in the ventilation of a question so
personal, but out of respect for his employer’s wish made no protest,
feeling it a duty to express himself freely and without reserve. The
man whose confidence and favor had raised him from a small mercantile
clerkship to the position of chief adviser to the largest concern in
the Islands, made it possible for him to win social distinction, stand
at the head of one branch of the militia, and meet and gain the love of
a prospective occupant of the throne, wielded an influence little short
of conviction; hence, perhaps unwittingly, Young freely subordinated
his own interests to those of Gutenborj.
Directly facing them, far back to the rear, sat Kaiuolani, Ihoas, and
Norton--who had nosed herself into an unwelcome tolerance. They were
admiring the beautiful costumes or casting side glances at the young
gallants, particularly the one in the farther end of the balcony.
Presently Aokahameha entered the box; and complimenting him upon his
splendid success in debate Ihoas, after a little, withdrew.
Norton acted less discreetly, and took it upon herself to lead in a
decidedly frigid conversation. Neither of her listeners paid more than
civil attention to her stilted remarks or considered seriously the
silly effusion of weak sentimentality indulged; though immediately she
broached the subject of Young’s emulation, and undertook foolishly
to elicit an expression, they rebelled and politely made known the
agreeableness of her absence. Then and not until then the piqued woman
arose and excused herself for having intruded.
“I really pity Martha,” said Kaiuolani, sympathetically, though
contemplating more the situation of a menial than of a lady.
“I am not quite certain that she deserves as much,” replied Aokahameha,
recalling his accidental but well-fixed opinion.
“But she is ambitious, and I do so love to see a deserving person
succeed,” continued the princess, with no thought of Norton’s really
patent but unsuggestive designs.
“A very laudable termination for truly worthy effort,” remarked her
listener, with due respect.
“I should believe her worthy, if, perhaps, well advised,” remarked
Kaiuolani, still heedless of the young lady journalist’s aspirations.
“Possibly. I presume there are circumstances under which she might
be considered the equal of the man she covets. At all events, their
marriage could in no manner influence our regard for them,” said
Aokahameha, adroitly, though fully anticipating the force of his
remarks.
The shock proved greater than he had expected. It opened Kaiuolani’s
eyes and she faltered helpless under the stress of a sudden realization
of her predicament. She had chosen so to forget as to love beneath her
station; and Aokahameha knew it: possibly all of her friends at that
moment, out of respect, withheld their condemnation. Then the bare
consciousness of a rival seized upon her and, in consequence, what
cared she for rank or birth? Love reasserted its sway, and bald reason
fell a weakling at the call of heart. She would face even an inferior
to win love’s trophy, though triumph cost her undoing.
The observant prince left her there to conjure an undisputed
feeling, and hurried to his seat on the floor; the vote upon the
enactment--framed into one sweeping bill--had been called, and no time
or strength must be lost. Aokahameha proved faithful, and when the
“Ayes” had determined a safe majority a thunderous applause startled
the dead walls within or rent the still air without. In the pandemonium
that followed the efforts of weak-kneed statesmen to change face,
Young’s fruitless ballot was lost to notice; and turning--doubtfully
conscious--he read in Kaiuolani’s tears a kindly consolation. She had
this time happily expressed a becoming loyalty, but her heart was his;
and out of their love arose a strength to measure any destiny.
The queen alone remained fixed and undisturbed. The news of victory
only impressed her more deeply with the gravity of an unalterable
situation. She was not there to exult over a triumph conceived in
justice, nor to sympathize unduly with those who would base their
contentions solely upon material progress. Life to her held a deeper
meaning, and turning thought to loftier ideals her majesty awaited
calmly the conclusion of business, then forthwith and unhesitatingly
prorogued that legislature.