of worship and the regulation of their schools (one of the points embraced in the ten demands), and securing the desired reduction in the duty on French spirits. It is due also to France to state that after the treaty of 1846 had been signed, the $20,000 which had been exacted as a guaranty in 1839 were returned, and delivered at Honolulu in the original cases and with the seals unbroken.[1]
The appearance of the French man-of-war in 1850, with the belligerent consul, was the last attempt of foreign aggression threatening the sovereignty of the islands. Twice had the British raised their flag, once the Russian, and twice the French, but the little kingdom had outlived the designs of these powerful states. It seemed now left, with the good-will of all the nations, to work out its own career. It provided itself with a new constitution in 1852, in which greater representation and power were given to the people. Religious liberty was guaranteed. Society and the industries were feeling more and more the influence of commerce and contact with the outside world. The government had the trials incident to all countries and some peculiarly of native origin. We shall see in a subsequent chapter how those elements worked together for its ultimate destiny.
- ↑ For. Rel. 1894, App. ii. 13, 70–78, 86–104; Alexander's Hist. 261, 264, 270.
