Kaiuolani

The assembling of the patriots began early the next morning, and never before in the history of Hawaii had they witnessed such an outburst of genuine sympathy. A thousand troops were massed at the armory for distribution throughout the city in the maintenance of order or to march in unison with the forthgoing procession.

The day seldom dawned, even there, in such grandeur, and long before the appointed hour of advance the streets had lined up with gaily clad children and happy, contented mothers and fathers. Their queen should that day restore the law that gave them social being, and not a true voice or worthy subject deigned venture a protest.

The line began to form, and far down the clean-swept streets or back upon the palm-sheltered byways clattering hoofs and tramping feet foretold the readiness with which a loyal people responded to a ruler’s just and virtuous call. Civic orders turned out in uniform and bands played national anthems; soldiers stood guard, while the populace went wild with enthusiasm. At last, when it seemed none remained to do further honor, Kaiuolani rode into view at the head of a hundred mounted, royal daughters.

A shout went up, at the sight of their chosen princess, that must have convinced the last doubting Royalist, if such there was, and driven terror into the hearts of conniving Progressionists who skulked in the background or schemed in dark, significant places elsewhere about. With Kaiuolani in the lead the gaily mounted women galloped down the line,—their scarlet habits falling in graceful folds on either side: the crowns of leis foretelling a sworn allegiance,—and circling the farthest ranks returned to salute the commanding general and receive instructions for the day.

“We, sir, are the Royal Daughters, and in our humble way would do honor to the queen and serve faithfully our country. Command us,” demanded Kaiuolani, in a clear, ringing voice.

“Your position is at the front; please do me the honor to lead,” replied Aokahameha, duly recognizing her superior rank.

“Attention, platoons—into right and left columns, on either side the parchment bearers—forward, march!” rang out upon the still, vibrant air, to echo and reëcho in the hearts of all, from saint to sinner and palace to plantation, as the brave princess rose in her stirrups and shouted the command.

The constitution, carefully draughted in vellum, rolled, and wrapped round with yellow and gold cord, awaiting only the signature of the queen and the endorsement of the cabinet to make it the supreme law of the land and final arbiter of their peace and wellfare, lying exposed to view, on the quaintly embossed bearing tray, suspended from the neck of a past grand dignitary and guarded by a stalwart guide at either side, was carried proudly in front. Led by the Royal Hawaiian Band, the Hawaiian League, an organized society of Royalists and Patriots, escorted by the Royal Daughters, constituted the first and honorary division of the parade, while the troops followed, with the various organizations coming next in order; and a vast retinue of private citizens and high dignitaries, many thousand in number, afoot, on horseback, and in carriages, bringing up the rear.

It was a joyous day for the multitude, whose memory went back to the heroic feats of a rapidly fading past—when laws were enacted and government maintained at the expense of the strong and in behalf of the weak, bringing light and hope to the door of faith and endeavor. They believed in themselves, in their country, and in their God—who might there be to envy, to covet the occasion upon which a nation’s invincible necessities should be peaceably determined?

The old spirit revived—and why should it not? They had fought and died for those necessary lands, suffered the pangs of childbirth to do God’s will, worked out a happy interpretation of His laws, and were justly and commendably entitled to call upon the last right of mortal defense. They did breathe of the same temper that has from time unto eternity preserved the moral of human energy, and the sneers of sneaking barterers can but intensify the virtue of a last heroic stand. There was no trickery in their methods, no stealing behind stolen doors to undo the work of ages, sow the seed of discontent, and reap the reward of iniquity. They were simple-minded and pure of heart, and the world bows only to righteous accomplishment. Some day the noble deeds of fallen Christs will be sung over the forgotten graves of lust-ridden giants, whose bones shall lie void in the hollow space of everlasting nothingness, and then, perhaps, and then only, the purpose of Kaiuolani shall have wrought fully its inevitable good upon the tried and trusted destinies of humankind.

The word given, the long procession moved toward the palace. A thousand thousand huzzas broke harshly upon the listening ears of a dismal few. “Long live the queen,” rang significantly throughout the land. No man could have questioned that outpouring: the secret of their doom lay hidden in the dark recesses of a distorted and withered conscience; Xane Bender knew the consequence, and little heed was paid to an unorganized, however wholesome enthusiasm.

The idols of respectability entered as lightly into the composition of his morality as do the ethics of religion sway an abandoned imagination. The stern realities of the day fixed the limit of life’s usefulness, made progress subservient to delectableness, divorced right from justice, and chained man to the hard-driven stake of self-willed attainment. The means justified the end, and all the suffering of creation outside the sphere of his own little entity must not disturb a scheme of self-aggrandisement however faint the voice of concordance. The lion gave no quarter, the shark devoured its kind, the falcon pursued its prey—why should he not succeed, even at the cost of Kaiuolani’s sorrow? Only the crude wild answered: the star of ideality lay hidden behind the veil of his dull consciousness.

Down in the city, well removed from public notice, a clique of hirelings and associate schemers played hard and fast at the game he had fostered. Their hearts were set upon success—success at any cost, and with ears deaf to reason Martha Norton conjured in the immediate downfall of Young her own speedy attainment and his ultimate rise to power.

“I will pay the price,” said she, finally parting with Bender, under the stress of forced confidence.

“Then you have my best wishes, and—support,” replied he, confident of his own success.

Kaiuolani must be gotten out of the way,—that her sudden change in bearing could but deepen interest already aroused, Norton felt with a bitter heart; that Young loved the princess beyond hope, she believed to an extent bordering upon madness; that her own rise to place and preferment depended upon gaining his favor, there could be no question; she had set her mind upon marrying the colonel and in desperation turned her back upon decency and her face toward the only expedient within the scope of a crude comprehension,—Bender’s marriage to the princess would rid her of an intolerable foe, and when the smoke of battle had cleared away she herself could turn her intended’s defeat into certain victory: she held the power within her own secret grasp.

Aokahameha rode along, proudly leading the guards; there was no one’s love to swerve him from the bounden duty of a trusted patriot. His respect for Kaiuolani had risen to the height of admiration, but his heart remained at the palace—was the prize of one who cherished his coming, but centered her hope in a man whom fortune alone had raised to a seat in Sir Charles’s carriage. Ihoas looked yearningly out at the window and, when the certainty of his apparent preferment had dawned, jealousy stole deep into her heart; Elmsford seemed beyond her reach, enthused with but a single thought.

Though a multitude of obstacles stood in the way of final realization, each measured the scope of his prospect by the yardstick of self-proportioned desire. The lovers were all bent, individually, upon attaining but one particular end. A certain inevitable force of circumstances controlled the limit of personal security,—merging the lesser accomplishment with a greater whole,—and in the face of distrustful motives, bordering on frenzied action, older heads looked forward to an outcome born only of tried and true conviction.

An apparently endless concourse of supporters—some shouting, others deliberating—moved upon the palace. They carried in front the cherished instrument, that should soon release them from attempted oppression, resolve their liberties, and guarantee an undisturbed autonomy. Liliuokolani looked down with deep compassion upon the hopeful sea of happy faces below, and turning to the exalted personages, of many nations and various stations, who thronged the room in which she stood, expressed sincerely and heartily her appreciation of the respect and consideration shown. Was it half doubt that moved her, half appeal she sorely made? A cloud hung heavy upon her brow, and she may have then foreseen the terrible storm that should presently rend the foundation of her throne.