Though comparatively few in number, her enemies had so much power that they were able to overturn the Government with little difficulty.
Then they appealed to President Cleveland, asking that the islands be annexed.
As the President gave them no encouragement, they continued to govern Hawaii as a republic.
In 1895 an effort was made to place Liliuokalani again on the throne. It failed, and for a time the ex-Queen was held as a prisoner.
After her release she came to this country to try to secure the aid of our Government.
The Government, however, did not interfere.
Among our legislators and in our newspapers a great deal of sympathy was expressed for the revolutionists and a great deal said in favor of annexation.
At last the republic of Hawaii formally requested that it be made a part of the United States. This brought the matter before Congress, where, as we have said, it is now being carefully considered.
In her book, Liliuokalani makes this strong appeal to the people of the United States not to take sides with those who have driven her from her throne:
"O honest Americans, as Christians, hear me for my downtrodden people! Their form of government is as dear to them as yours is precious to you. Quite as warmly as you love your country, do they love theirs. With all your goodly possessions, covering a territory so immense that there yet remain parts unexplored, possessing islands that, although near at hand, had to be neutral ground in time of war, do not covet the little vineyard of Naboth's, so far from your shores, lest the punishment of Ahab fall upon you, if not in your day, in that of your children, for 'be not deceived, God is not mocked.' The people to whom your fathers told of the living God, and taught to call 'Father,' and whom the sons now seek to despoil and destroy, are crying aloud to Him in their time of trouble, and He will keep His promise, and will listen to the voices of His Hawaiian children lamenting for their homes."