The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-09
THE CASE OF QUEEN LII
It Is Presented by Minister Col
burn, of Hawaii.
THE REVOLUTION AN OUTRAGE.
Would Not Have Succeeded But for
the Landing of q. S. Marines.
The Queen Had Withdrawn the Offend
ing Constitution When the Reyo-
lutionists Deposed Her-The Facts to
Be Laid Before President at Once,


Be Laid Before President at Once.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. S.-A letter has been re-
ceived here from John N. Colburn, min
lister of interior in Hawai-, in which he
outlinesthe position of the deposed queen,
of whom he is the supporter. The letter
is addressed to ]. H. Ganz, of this city,
whose wife is an aunt of Colburn, and is
dated at Honolulu, January Is. He asks
Ganz to get his letter "before some of the
leading statesmen of America and help
place the situation of affairs in this coun-
try in such an impartial manner to
them that the Hawaiian queen, her gov
ernment and the native population
can receive such a hearing from your
government that the American nation
will cause to be restored the queen to her
throne, the government to power and the
Hawaiian native population to their
rights"
Coiburn tells of the deposition of the
former cabinet and the summoning on
January 13, of one headed by Parker, and
in which he (Colburn) served. They inn
mediately repaired to the legislature and
announced their appointment. He con-
tinues:
Those of the legislature present and people to
the number OF about 1000 who gatherei there,
received us with applause. The next morning,
Saturday. January IA, the day that had been
previoufly set apart as the Gay to prorogue the
legislature, came, and We presented ourselves
again, and after going through the business of
the house, it adjourned to meet at the proro-
cation hour, IL o'clock noon. l may mention
here that Friday and Saturday, the
days on which We attended the legs-
iature, the reform party was 80 dissatis-
fed and hostile over their defeat
that on both days they refused to attend the
legislature and did not have the courtesy to at
tend the plorogation. While waiting for the
hour OF II to approach, accidentally heard that
the queen proposed to promulgate q new con.
stitution. / Immediately sought an interview
with my colleagues and notified them that If
the queen intended to act in such an arbitrary
manner would resign. They answered that
they were willing to DO the same thing, and we
decided that If the queen intended to carry into
effect any such idea, We would all advise her
not TO do SO.
l at once repaired to the place OF the opposi-
tion, the reform party, and told them what had
heard and what we had concluded to do. The
leaders OF the party advised strongly not to
resign, as it would give an opportunity to ap-
point others who would be willing to sign new
constitution. We followed their advice and
they assured us that if any conflict
came between the queen and US, her
cabinet, the community would give US
their support to resist anything of this
measure. At Il o'clock the. legislature wss
prorosued and we repaired to the place to meet
the queen. She then and there told us to sign
a document purporting to be new constitu-
ton. We told her plainly that we would not
accede to her request, and all advised her to
aoauoon the idea She was very determined at
first, but afterwards yielded and gave it up She
came out and declared openly to the Hawaiian
people that she would not give them a new con-
stitution. ana told them to endure their griev-
ancea.
The crowd dispersed and on the next day the
leader OF the reform party met us and made a
proposition to us, viz: That owing to the
queens revolutionary actions in wanting to
promulgate a new constitution we should de-
pose her and declare a provisional government
Our reply was that we would give them our
answer later on. In the meantime, we, the
cabinet, summoned six of the most responsible
business men of the city and also the diplomatic
corps They all met us, except ]. T. Stevens
the American envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to this country. We discussed
the situation and agreed that the Queen was
at first ill-advised. but she had abandoned
her project we should not depose her and de-
clare provisional government
We notified the leaders of the defunct and
maicoptented party that we would not agree to
the proposition. At the same time we issued
proclamation and scattered 1t all over town. and
delivered it to the diplomatic corps, that the
queen had abandoned the idea, and asking one
and all to accept the assurances given in the
proclamation By queen and cabinet The Re-
form party was not satisfied with this, but thew
with the assistance of the American minister
md troops of the United states steamship
Boston, enlisted number of men to the
extent OF 200 and, aided by American
troops, took possession of and declared
by proclamation a provisional government,
contrary TO the constitution now in
force and contrary TO the rights Of 100 GOO peo-
pie, the population OF this country The cab
met notified the American minister of what had
happened and asked him to assist the duly
authorized government TO suppress this revolt.
or II he did not want 10 do that, then 10 remove
the United States troops on board the Boston.
and We, the government, could do 1t ourselves.
When we told him that We had 700 men under
arms, and were equal to the situation, his reply
was that he had acknowledged the provisional
government and would support it, We. the
government, came to the conclusion that as we
did not wish To come into conflict with United
States troops. to yield under protest The
queen and her cabinet are at present removed
under protest, pending u hearing before the
United States.
This action on the part OF the American min.
lister Is degrading. lie has upheld the mob.
and does against the wishes of the aborigines
of this country, who are capable of taking care
OF themselves. The provisional government
has put the country under martial law They
are dispatchiug a steamer now to carry a re-
port to Warrington city. They are sending en-
bassadors to Washington City. We have asked
T. steamer 10 take our representatives, go that
both sides can be heard. aud they refuse We
trust IL will not be too late.
The Hawaiian people are wailing for the losa
of their country. Cannot America "the land
of the Tree and the home OF the brave" undo
this great wrong that she by her troops and
influence for us: Act promptly, and may God
sst and help you.
This letter has been forwarded to Presi-
dent Harrison, by GAM, who makes an
earnest appeal to the president and con-
gress not TO accede to the demands of the
provisional commissioners, "upheld and
sanctioned by the American minister
plenipotentiary. J. 7. Stevens, who has,
without authority from the American gov
ernment, taken upon himself high
handed measure in trying to overthrow
peaceful government"
The letter was brought over on the
Claudine by personal friend of Colburn,
who went out on business trip TO Cali
fornia and took passage with the commits.
sion. His sentiments were unknown To
his fellow passengers and he carefully
concealed the that Ea