The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1893-12-29
THE HAWAIIAN SITUATION.

III the AfguS-Leader had waited for
President Cleveland's message it might
have been spared a great deal of brain
effort in replying TO our recent queries
as to the policy OF the administration in
lhe Hawaiian matter. But we will no.
liee the points in its reply bearing on
the question as to whether Minister
stevens exceeded his authority and
gave undue encouragement to the pro-
posed provisional government, upon
which the whole discussion hinges,
The Argus-Lealer says:
MIR. Blounts statements founded upon
The atfidavits of half dozen members
of the provisional government remain
uncontradicted that MIR. Stevens landed
the Boston's troops twenty-four hours
before the revolution, thai he was in
consultation with the revolutionists for
several days before, that he marched
the troops not TO the United States
legation building nor to the stores of
American residents, but directly to the
government building, that the reyolu-
lionists waited until the troops fully
equipped for war were stationed before
reading their proclamation. that seeing
the troops the Hawaiian officials in the
capitol promptly surrendered and the
committee oil safety took their places,
that before waiting to learn the atti-
tude OF the queen or her army or in
Nuiring whether as Il matter of fact the
new government was defaclo and while
knowing that it represented only five
per cent. OF the population MIR. Stevens
recognized it, that his recognition was
used to bluff the queen into submitting,
that she stated sqnarely that her sub
mission was under protest. was due to
the action Of the american minister
and was made temporarily and until
ite minister's conduct could bt. review
I'd at Washington.
Upon this point Minister Stevens
says:
Amid the exciting events in Honolulu
following the revolutionary attempts OF
.iliuokalani To proclaim despotic con-
stitution, by which she lung away her
crown, a small force OF marines and sail
ors was landed from the United States
ship Boston as a precautionary step for
the protection of American life and
property, as safeguard against night
incendiarism stimulated by the hope Of
plunder, greatly feared by many of the
hest citizens. This was doing precisely
what had been repeatedly done in pre-
yious exciting days in Honolulu, dur
ing q period running back many years
The men of the Boston came on shore
nearly fifty hours after the fall of the
Queen, in whose defence no effective
aid was offered by those who had sur
rounded her in her carnival Of immor-
ality and official corruption. The naval
commander and the United States Min
ister earnestly sought TO carry out the
prior rules of the legation, especially
those contained in the last instructions
issued TO the United States Minister
;tnd naval commander by Secretary
Bayard, July II, 1887. Neither by
force, threats, nor intimidation did the
United States officials oppose the fallen
Queen or aid the Provisional Govern
lnent, the latter being supported by the
same mon with now increased numbers.
who found it imperatively necessary Ia
take despotic power from King kaia-
kaua in 1887, by the adoption OF the re-
form constitution. and who crushed out
,he Wilcox rebellion in 1889.
Every statement made by Minister
Stevens in his paragraph is corrobora-
ted by the statements of the Rev
Thomas l.. Gulick. pastor of the For
eign Church on Maui Sandwich Is
lands, and while some suspicion may
attach to the testimony of Mr.. Stevens
on the ground of personal and partisan
bias, there is every presumption II
favor of the evidence this reverend
gentleman gives, for he is q man OF the
highest character, speaking from per
sonal Knowledge, and free, apparently
from political interest. Ii was on Sat
urday, Jan. II, that the Queen was de
throned. DIR. Gulick says:
During Saturday, Sunday and Mon
day the city was full of threats OF VIC
lence, bloodshed and incendiarism
American lives and property were II
most manifest danger. The only posi-
bile course for the American Minister
in obedience to the wise Instruction
which he had received. was to brlnE
the American marines ashore, as NAV
repeatedly been done on previous occa
sions. He did so, distributing them a
three different points. but lhe troop
were commanded to remain peflec.l.
passive As between the contestants 10
power. -.
That the Minister and the troop
we're thus neutral is overwhelmingly
proved by three facts: First more ina
twenty hours after the marines ma
come ashore, when the l'rovislons
Government was established in power
having the Government building IN
archives, the treasury and 500 bayonel
behind it, the few forces OF Marsis MARSH Il
Wilson being surrounded IN lhe s.aol9
John l.. Stevens and asked him to US
the American forces to reinstate tn
Queen on the throne which She had d'
stroyed Second, the Queen slltfene
cred To the Provisional Government
not to the United States Minister. u,
was all an afterthought to say .he .he
were overborne by the Anerlci
forces. Third when the l'roVlsloh
Government became the de facto Go
eminent il. was recopniZed not only }