"
Cleveland therefore refused to annex the islands. He even offered
to restore the Queen to her throne if she would promise to forgive
all those who had helped to dethrone her. At first she would not
promise this, but declared that the leaders of the revolution must
be beheaded. In the end, however, she gave way.
"I must not feel vengeful to any of my people," she said. "If I am
restored by the United States, I must forget myself, and remember
only my dear people and my country. I must forgive and forget the
past, permitting no punishment of any one."
But when Dole was asked to give up the islands he refused. He and
his party were ready to fight rather than allow the Queen to be
set again upon the throne. And seeing him thus determined President
Cleveland gave up his efforts on behalf of the Queen.
So for several years Hawaii remained a little independent republic
with Dole as President. Then when McKinley came into power the
United States was again asked to take the islands under protection.
And in July, 1898, while the Spanish War was being fought, Hawaii
was annexed, and with solemn ceremony the flag was once more hoisted
in Honolulu.
A few years later the islands were made a territory. So the people
are now citizens of the United States, and send a representative
to Congress.
No President perhaps grew in the love of the people as McKinley
did.
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