This queen's behavior
had been very bad, and her rule had been a disgrace to the islands for
some time. At last the people would stand it no longer, and so removed her
from the throne.
The people who revolted against the Queen were either Americans or people
born of American parents settled in Hawaii.
They formed a government, and after many troubles asked the United States
to take possession of the Hawaiian Islands, and, in return, to pay over
$3,000,000 of debts which Hawaii had contracted, and a yearly income of
$20,000 to the deposed queen, and also a lump sum of $150,000 to her
daughter, Princess Kaulani.
Mr. Cleveland, who was President, opposed the idea of taking possession of
the islands, and endeavored to restore Queen Liliuokalani to her throne.
His efforts were not successful. The Hawaiians would not have her back,
and having had time to establish a government for themselves, they felt as
if they could do without the United States as well as their dark-skinned
Queen. So the question of annexing the islands fell through.
Now it is before us again with greater force than before.
It is evident that if we don't want Hawaii, Japan does, and the time is
drawing near when some decided step must be taken.
The Japanese plan for securing Hawaii seems to be similar to the English
plan for getting possession of the Transvaal.
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