PATRIOTIC WOMEN.

They Object to the Wording of a Memorial.

The Hawaiian Women’s Patriotic League held its third business meeting yesterday morning at Arion Hall. Mrs. F. W. Macfarlane, President, called the meeting to order promptly at 10 o’clock. After reading the minutes by the Secretary, Mrs. Grace Kahalewai, the proposed memorial to United States Commissioner Jas. H. Blount was taken up. The Secretary read it once in Hawaiian, but the ladies in the rear part of the building could not hear her. They requested her to again read the rather lengthy memorial, which was done. The memorial was briefly in this wise:

To U. S. Commissioner James H. Blount;

Greeting: We, the members of the Hawaiian Women’s Patriotic League, formed for the sole purpose of perpetrating the independence of Hawaii, a kingdom for whom our ancestors fought and bled in war, do hereby implore Your Excellency to recommend to your Government the restoration of our beloved Queen on the throne of Hawaii, and that the present stage should be brought to an end. The people of Hawaii have received you with a warm welcome, and it would be a deed of humanity on your part to grant the earnest and humble supplication of the patriotic women subjects of the sovereign of Hawaii nei.

Several of the elder women were dissatisfied with the wording, and especially the utter absence of the name “Liliuokalani,” on the memorial. Mesdames J. Kaae, G. W. Miles, M. Kaaepa, Mele Alapai, and a few others sternly opposed the literary construction of the memorial, as it seemed too undiplomatic to them.

The President explained that the word “Queen” written in the memorial meant Liliuokalani, as Hawaii has no other queen at present. An old woman replied: “You might place Kaiulani there; we want you to put Liliuokalani’s name at the head.” Mrs. Mele Alapai, of Uhinipili fame, seconded the last speaker, maintaining, however, that Liliuokalani’s name should properly come at the end of the memorial.

At this moment about ten or fifteen old women were on the floor crying for “Liliuokalani.” Mrs. W. L. Wilcox ran across the building to the rear to explain to them the intention of the President. As there were more than twenty women speaking at once to her about “Liliuokalani,” Mrs. Wilcox was necessarily obliged to yell to the house in order to be heard, but the twenty were determined not to hear her.

Mrs. Nakuina, interpreter, here explained the words of the President. The women called out for another reading of the memorial which was readily complied with. The rival contention for the insertion of Liliuokalani’s name at the top of the memorial was again made. The old women became frantic  as they thought the younger and more intelligent members were trying to rob them of their Queen.

“Put Liliuokalani at the top and we’ll be satisfied,” cried the chorus of women from the rear part of the building.

Mrs. Mele Alapai took the leading part of the Opposition. The discussion occupied nearly two hours without coming to a vote. Of the three or four hundred women present only about twenty wanted the name of Liliuokalani inserted.

At noon the President became weary and dismissed the meeting subject to her call.

[This report received reactions like the one seen in the previous post.]

(Pacific Commercial Advertiser, 4/13/1893, p. 3)

The Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Volume XVII, Number 3353, Page 3. April 13, 1893.