The morning call., 1893-12-13

lug as socn as the f0rceS were
landed is grossly misleading, and
had you given me the opportunity which
so frequently asked in Washington of
making detailed statement of the occur
rences Of that time. cannot believe that
you would have fallen into the error. The
troops landed at o'clock on Monday, the
18th, and the Committee of Public Safety
seized the Government building at 8
O'Clock on the afternoon of Tuesday,
nearly twenty-four hours later. II was |
who entered the building half an hour
before the committee because it had
been rumored that there was a guard
in concealment therein. | found none.
There were eight Government officials
and clerks in building which ordinarily
teemed with the ministers, Judges and
some forty or fifty officials and clerks. l
was told that the Cabinet had left the
building The Queens adherents had
neither the character nor ability to resist.
L was afterward told by Marshal c. B.
Wilson. then in charge of the Queens
civil forces, that they had left the building
because they were afraid of their lives,
we'll knowing that to be the point which
the revolutionary forces would attack,
and but for their cowardice or treachery.
the Marshal did not know which, in refus
Ing 10 allow him to send a guard TO that
building we would not so easily have Sc
cured possession; that be had concealed
ammunition in the Foreign Office, which
was indeed afterward found there. and
that it was his purpose to send men there
prepared TO use it. The proclamatio was
read as soon as the building was surren-
dered by the highest official in charge
thereof, aud as soon as this order
of the Provisional Government call
ing for support from loyal citi-
Zens was issued $50 or more
armed and determined supporters, who
had rendeZvoused at the old armory,
marched to the building and were sta
toned as guards to defend and protect
the new Government While they were
gathering there was some anxiety, and
Mr.. Damon asked me to seek out Captain
Wiltse and ask for an armed guard. |
objected. because we we'll knew we could
expect no such assistance. but finally went
and was not surprised when Captain
Wiltse peremptorly refused.
The Queens Cabinet. in response to the
demand for the surrender of the station
house, had sought an interview with Mr..
DUlc, WulCH was Icdully granted. Alter
some parley, in which their absurd propo-
sition that their forces and those of the
Provisional Government combine to keep
the peace during the night was refused.
they had acqulesced and surrendered, M K
ing verbal protest against the Provis-
ional Government which was agreed
should be extended later. They had asked
that Mr.. Damon accompany them to the
palace in order that they might explain
the surrender to the Queen. Mr.. Damon
had not returned. The request for the
immediate support of the United States
forces. contained in Mr.. Dole's letter, of
itself should indicate that up to that
moment there had been no such support,
and furthermore was intended only for
that night and for the purpose of patrol
ling the town. Can it be possible that
you have not been informed that the reply
to that request was a second absolute
refusal from Captain Wiltse?
You speak Of the special commissioners
sent to Washington by the Provisional
Government to negotiate treaty of an
nexatIon, and you say their statement Is
are utterly at variance with the evidence,
documentary and oral. contained in MIR.
Blounts report. Those Com missioners
had no opportunity from you to make any
statements. You absolutely aud persist
emily evaded any opportunity for that
purpose. Commissioners Wilder and
Marsden were the first to leave Washing
ton, which they did about the time of the
Inauguration. Mr. Castle stayed but few
days longer. having but one interview with
you, In which you declined to say whether
or not you cared to have the commissioners.
as body, remain In Washington. When
Nj r. Castle left Mr.. Thurston went to Chi
cago, and / was alone in Washington.
where l -emsined for two months. Yon
cor stantly declined to allow me an inter
view for the purpose Of making state
ment Tor the commissioners or on behalf of
the Provisional Government. AL the in
terviews which We did have you pointedly
evaded all the attempts which made Mt
giving you statement, once going so far
as to interrupt me by rising from your
seat. excnsing yourself and abruptlv
leaving the room. The day that the news
reached Washington of the lowering of
the flag l called upon you and asked YOU
If the report were true. You stated that
you had no official information on the SUBJ
ject, but assumed that the newspaper dis
patches were correct. and asked me
whether in my opinion the course followed
by Mr.. Blount would be likely to lead TO
bloodshed or violence in Honolulu
/ replied to you that the Provisional
Government was amply able to take care
of itself. and that there would be no dan
ger unless the lowering of the flag were
the first step toward the restoration of the
Queen. You stated positively that there