THE REVOLUTION OF 1887.
After the legislative session of 1886, the King was virtually his own prime minister, and went from one folly to another, until his acceptance of two bribes, one of $75,000 and another of $80,000 in connection with the assignment of an opium license, precipitated the revolution of 1887. Overawed by the unanimity of the movement, and deserted by his followers, the King yielded without a struggle. The Constitution which he was pleased to sign on the 7th of July, 1887, was a revision of that of 1864, intended to put an end to mere personal government, and to make the executive responsible to the representatives of the people. Office-holders were made ineligible to seats in the Legislature. The Ministers were henceforth to be removable only upon a vote of want of confidence passed by a majority of all the elective members of the Legislature. The Nobles, instead of being appointed by the King, were to be elected for terms of six years, by electors who should be possessed of taxable property worth $3,000, or in receipt of an annual income of $600.
THE INSURRECTION OF 1889.
The opposition of the Court and of other adherents of the old regime, to the reforms of 1887, led to an insurrection headed by R. W. Wilcox, on the 30th of July, 1889 which was promptly
put down, but not without bloodshed. Seven of the rioters were killed and a large number wounded.
There can be little doubt that the late King and his sister were accessory to this ill-advised outbreak.
ACCESSION OF LILIUOKALANI.
In order to recruit his health, the King visited California in November, 1890. In spite of the best medical attendance, he continued to fail, and breathed his last on the 20th of January, 1891, in San Francisco. His remains were brought to Honolulu in the U. S. S. "Charleston," arriving there January 29th, 1891. On the same day, his sister took the oath to maintain the Constitution, and was proclaimed Queen, under the title of Liliuokalani.
THE REVOLUTION OF 1893.
The ex-Queen in a published statement has since declared that she signed the Constitution unwillingly. The history of her short reign shows that it was her unaltered purpose to restore autocratic government. In short, she was determined to govern as well as to reign.