He had played a part in a revolt in Java, had languished in Dutch fetters, and had risen to be a trusted agent of Brigham Young, the Utah president.
It was in this character of a Mormon emissary that he first came to the islands of Hawaii, where he collected a large sum of money for the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

At a given moment, he dropped his saintship and appeared as a Christian and the owner of a part of the island of Lanai.

The steps of the transformation are obscure; they seem, at least, to have been ill-received at Salt Lake; and there is evidence to the effect that he was followed to the islands by Mormon assassins.

His first attempt on politics was made under the auspices of what is called the missionary party, and the canvass conducted largely (it is said with tears) on the platform at prayer-meetings.

It resulted in defeat.
Without any decency of delay he changed his colours, abjured the errors of reform, and, with the support of the Catholics, rose to the chief power.