The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-11-18

I
isting government was oyerthrown and a
provisional government established in its
place, "to exist until terms of union with
the United States Of America have been
negotiated and agreed upon
No audience was present when the pro-
clamation was read, but during the reading
forty or fifty men, some of them indiffer
emily armed entered the room. The ex-
ecutive and advisory councils, mentioned in
the proclamation, at once addressed COM
munication to Mr.. Stevens informing him
that the monarchy had been abrogated and
a provisional government established.
On receipt of this letter Mr. Stevens
Immediately recognized the new govern
ment, and, in note addressed to Sanford
B. Dole, its president, informed him that
he had done so.
THE QUEEN DEPosED.
The same afternoon the Queen, her minis
tiers, representatives of the provisional gov
ernment and others held a conference at
the palace. Refusing to recognize the new
authority or surrender to it, she was in
formed that the provisional government
had the support of the American minister,
and, if necessary, would be maintained by
the military force of the United States,
then present; that demonstration on her
part would precipitate conflict with that
force; that she could not, with the hope Of
success, engage in war with the United
States and that resistance would result in
a useless sacrifc of life. Mr.. Damon, one
of the chief leaders of the movement, and
afterwards ce-president of the provisional
government, informed the Queen that she
could surrender under protest and her case
would be considered later at Washington.
Believing that, under the circumstances,
submission was duty and that her case
would be fairly considered by the President
Of the United States, the Queen 0lfaeR finally finally
yielded and sent to the provisional govern
ment a paper in which she stated: "That
l yield to the superior force of the United
States of America, whose minister plenipo-
Tertiary, his Excellency John L. Stevens,
has caused United States troops to be
landed at Honolulu and declared that he
would support the provisional government.
''Now, to avoid any collision of armed
forces and, perhaps, the loss of life, do,
under this protest and impelled by said
force, yield my authority until such time
as the government of the United States
Shall, upon the facts being presented to it,
undo the action of its representative and
reinstate me and the authority which L
claim as the constitutional sovereign of the
Hawaiian Islands.
WHAT MINISTER STEVENS REPORTED.
In his dispatch to Mr. Foster of January
IS, describing the so-called revolution, MIR.
Stevens says "The committee Of public
safety forthwith took possession of the gov
eminent building, archives and treasury
and installed the provisional government at
the head of the respective departments,
This being an accomplished fact, prompt
ly recognized the provisional government
as the de facto government of the Hawaiian
Islands.
In Secretary Fosters communication Of
February Is TO the President, laying be-
fore him the treaty of annexation, with the
view to attaining the advice and consent of
the Senate thereto, he says:
"At the lime the provisional government
took possession of the government building
no troops or officers of the United States
were present or took any part whatever in
the proceedings. No public recognition
was accorded to the provisional govern ment
by the United States minister until after
the Queens dedication and when they were
in effective possession of the government
building, the archives, the treasury, the
barracks, the police station and all the po-
tential machinery of the government"
Similar language is found in an official
letter addressed to Secretary Foster on
February by the special commissioners
sent to Washington by the provisional
government to negotiate treaty of annex
alton.
These statements are utterly at variance
with the evidence, documentary and oral,
contained in Mr.. Blounts reports, They
are contradinted by declarations and letters
of President Dole and other annexationists
and by Mr. Stevens's own verbal admission
to Mr.. Blouat.
ait is fair to say that Secretary Foster $
statements were based upon information
which he had received from Mr. Stevens
and the special commissioners, but | am
unable to see that they were deceived.
So says Secretary Gresham. "Fhe troops
were landed not to protect American life
and property, but to aid in overthrowlng
the existing government Their very pres
cnce implied coercive measures against 1t,
SECRETARY GREsHAMs CONCLUSIONS.
The earnest appeals to the American
minister for military protection by the
officers of the provisional government after
it had been recognized show the utter abb
surdity of the claim that it was established
by successful revolution of the people of
the islands. Those appeals were confess
sion by the men who made them of their
weakness and timidity. Courageous men,
conscious of their strength and the justice
of their cause, do not thus act.
Mr.. Blount states that while at Homo
lulu he did not meet single annexationist
who expressed willingness to submit the
question to a vote of the people, nor did he
talk with one on that subject who did not
insist that if the islands were annexed suf-
frage should be so restricted as to give
complete control to foreigners or whites,
and representative annexatiouists have re-
peatedly made similar statements to the
undersigned.
In conclusion Secretary Gresham writes
"a careful consideration of the facts
viii, think, convince you that the treaty
which was Withdrawn from the Senate fol
further consideration could not be resub
m:tted for its action thereon. Should not
the great wrong done to feeble but indie
pendent state by an abuse of the authority
of the United States be undone by restor-
ing the legitimate government? Any
thing short of that will not, respectfully
submit, satisfy the demands of justice.
HCan the United States consistently in
sist that other nations shall respect the in
dependence of Hawaii while not respecting
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