THE SOUVENIR
After the overthrow of the monarchy, as soon as the PGs came into power, every government employee was required to take the oath of loyalty to the Provisional Government, and to swear that he would never take up arms against it or attempt its overthrow. This regulation continued throughout the Republic as well. Since my teaching all during this period of the PG and Republic as well. Since my teaching all during this period of the PG and Republic governments was at St. Andrew's Priory where, of course, no such requirement was made, I was spared the ordeal. But until June 14, 1900, when Hawaii became officially a Territory of the United States, the same oath was demanded by the new government of its employees. During this interval I had an opportunity to teach in the government schools, and I sorely needed the salary which was greater than I earned at the Priority. It meant--take the oath or give up the opportunity of the better paying job. I really had little choice, but I was a fervid Royalist, and you may be sure that taking such an oath went very much against the grain even after annexation. It was not so hard to take the oath since Hawaii had become annexed to the United States, for all hope of Hawaii's returning under Hawaiian rule was ended. I doubt that I could have taken such an oath under the PG"s or the Republic. Only dire circumstances could have forced me to do so.
It was not until sixteen years after annexation when, during the First World War our Hawaiian boys joined the American forces and left for the front that I became a good American citizen.
Hawaiians were much better off after annexation than during the previous five years while the PG and Republic governments were in power. Now no income or property qualifications hindered their vote, and there was not that uncomfortable feeling that their footsteps were being dogged by spies, and that they might find them selves jailed as a suspect at any moment.
I feared to tell the Queen that I was forced to take the oath because of the financial situation of my family, But when I finally told her, she did not react as might be expected after her long years of suffering. She laughed and said, "Keep your certificate of loyalty as a souvenir."
I still have my souvenir.
Note: There is a printed copy of such on the the otherside of this page. There was always another reason in all things that the Queen said in my opinion. I posted this piece for Andrew
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Tane.