862 "HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. ©

they were successful. They did not like the actions of the cabinet when
it became known that the ministry had no consideration for the Queen
and were carrying things in such a high-handed way. en -
_ These members had been deceived by the Thurston party, and they
now combined to help the Liberals. Mr. White was the introducer of
the bill providing for a constitutional convention; also the opium and
_ lottery bills. He watched his’opportunity and railroaded the last two
bills through the house, but he failed in regard to the first bill. |
A vote of want of confidence was then brought in. Three days —
_ before members flocked in at Washington Place and wanted to know -
if I wanted to get rid of my ministers. I said ‘No, it is not my priv-
ilege,” they departed and others*came and went. Mr. Colburn and
_ Ashford called and said they understood it was my wish. 1 answered
_ them as I did the others. Mr. Ashford said “I see, Mr. Colburn, we
have made a mistake, but Your Majesty, should it be your dgsire to be
rid of your cabinet, we can be of great service in bringing it about,
but we would expect to have a representation in the new cabinet.” I
asked who of their number they would put forward, and Mr. Ashford
replied “Mr. Cummins, Bush, and myself.” I made no further reply,
and they left. . | me as Co
It was a practice among some of the native members to sell their
votes for a consideration. This was taught them by the Thurston
party. They would come to me and then return to that party and
repeat all that was said, for which they were usually paid something. |
Lhe Liberals won and the cabinet was voted out, partly because they _
were so sure of their success and on account of their own corrupt prac-
tices. ° a
_ Mr. Geo. N. Wilcox and Mr. Robinson I have a high consideration
‘for. Mr. P.C. Jones is a hearty sympathizer with his party, while I
think Mr. Cecil Brown capable of doing anything that the Reform
party directed him to do. Mr. Berger’s vote was the casting vote. It
was decided between Mr. Parker and myself that Mr. Widemann was to
be a member of the next cabinet and for that reason Mr. Berger voted
against the Wilcox cabinet. And so it was, for Mr. Widemann °
gave his consent and afterwards he withdrew. The next day Mr. Par-
ker, Cornwell, Colburn, and Peterson were appointed. These gentle-
men were accepted by the majority of the people in the house, who
applauded them on their entrance, because they were men of liberal
views, although they were not considered representative men, because
they were not backed by moneyed men. —— | | |
The same day of their appointment they advised me to sign the
opium and lottery bills. I declined at first, as I wanted to please my
lady friends, but they said there should beno hesitation on my part, as
the house had. passed those bills by a large majority, and they had
been signed by the President and committee. I had no option but to
sign. 1t took place on the 13th of January, 1893. |
During the month of November, 1892, a private note was sent me in-

7 forming me of the intentions of the American minister, J. L. Stevens,

with the aid of some of our residents, to perfect a scheme‘of annexation,
and that the cabinet had knowledge of the fact, but I gave little heed
- to it at the time. - 8 |

On the 17th of December, 1892, another note was received, of which
the following is a copy: | a - |
Her Majesty Queen LILIUOKALANI, may it please your Majesty:

Mapam: Referring to the confidential communication I took the liberty of address-
ing your Majesty a few weeks ago, about the attitude and utterances of the Ameri-