The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-21

nifty.
In the legislatures OF 1890 and 1892
many petitions were filed asking for a
new constitution. Many were present
ed to the king and queen. The discon.
tent with tho constitution Of 1887, and
the esgerness to escape from it, con.
trolled the elections against the party
which had established it. Divisions on
the mode OF changing the constitution,
whether by legislative action or by con-
stitutional convention, and the neces-
sity Of two.thirds vote OF the legisla-
turc to effect amendments, prevented
relief by either method. Such was the
situation at the prorogation Of the leg
islature OF 1902.
"This was followed by the usual cere.
monies at the palace on the day OF pro-
rogation tho presence OF the cabinet,
supreme court Judges, diplomatic corps
and troops. The queen informed her
cabinet OF her purpose to proclaim a
new constitution, and requested them
TO sign it.
THE LAST REVOLUTION.
He then tells how tho cabinet re-
fused to sign the constitution and the
displeasure of the queen. On January
l6, a proclamation was issued by the
queen and her members saying that
what she proposed to do on the Satur-
day previous was compelled by stress OF
her native subjects. This was sent to
Minister Stevens to which there was no
response. On the 18th, she sent an
other letter telling him that the preseus
constitution would be maintained. On
the back OF this was written the word
Declined" also the time received
noted.
Mr.. Blount says the cabinet could not
be removed for two years, and it being
against new constitution there was no
possibility OF 1t being proclaimed. His
description OF the revolution is as fol-
lows:
"Nearly all OF the arms on the island
OF 0ahuh, in which Honolulu is situ-
ated, were in the possession OF the
queens government A military force
organized and drilled, occupied the
station house, the barracks and the
palace-the only point OF strategic
significance in the event OF n conflict.
"The great body OF the people moved
on their usual course. Women and
children passed to and fro through the
streets seemingly unconcerned OF any
impending danger and yet there were
secret conferences held by small body
OF men, some of whom were Germans,
some Americans, and some native born
subjects OF foreign origin. On Saturday
evening, the 14th OF January, they took
up the subject of dethroning the queen
aud proclaiming n now government
with q viewto annexation to the United
States.
"Ehe first and most momentous ques-
ton with them was to devise some plan
to have tho United States troops land
ed. Mr.. Thurston, who appears to have
been the leading spirit, on Sunday
sought two members OF the queens
cabinet and urged them to head move
ment against the queen and to ask MIR.
Stevens TO land the troops, assuring
them that in such an event Mr.. Stevens
would do So Failing to enlist any OF
the queens cabinet in the cause it was
necessary to devise some other mode to
accomplish this purpose. A committee
Of safety, consisting thirteen members,
had been formed from a little body OF
men assembiedin W. .. Smiths Office.
A deputation OF these, informing Mr..
Stevens OF their plans. arranged with
him to land the troops il they would ask
il "for the purpose OF protecting lie and
property" 1t was agreed between him
and them that in the event they should
occupy the government building and
AZ ha
recognize it. The two leading members
OF the committee, Messrs. Thurston and
Smith, growing uneasy to the safety OF
their persons, went to him to know il
he would protect them in the event of
their arrest by the authorities, to which
he gave his assent. At the mass meet
ing called by tho committee on safety
on the 10th OF January there was no
communication to the crowd OF any
purpose to dethrone the queen or to
change the form OF government, but
only to authorize the committee to take
steps to prevent a consummatien OF the
queens purposes and 70 have Guaran-
tees OF public safety. Tho committee
on public safety had kept their purpose
from the public viow at this mass meet.
ing and at their small gatherings for
fear OF proceedings against them by tho
government Of the queen. After the
mass meeting had closed call on the
American minister for troops was made
and signed Unfortunately by Ger
mans, by Americans and BY Hawaiians,
subjects OF foreign extraction"
THE TROOPS LANDED.
The commissioner says the response
to that call does not appear on the files
of the legation. That very night the
committee on public safety assembled
in a house next to Minister Stevens
residence. J. n. Soper, an American,
was elected to command the military
forces. 1t was on Monday evening,
January 16, at 8 o'clock, that United
States troops we're landed. Not much
time elapsed before it was given out by
members OF the committee OF safety
that they were designed to support
them. At the palace, with the cabinet
amongst the leaders OF the queens mil
itary forces, and the great body OF the
neople, who were loyal to the queen,
the apprehension came that twas a
movement hostile TO the existing gov
ernment. Protests we're filed by the
minister OF foreign affairs and BY the
governor OF the island against landing
OF troops.
Messrs. Parker and Peterson testified.
that on Tuesday at o'clock they called
ON Mr.. Stevens, and by him were in.
formed that in the event the queens
forces assailed tho insurrectionary
force, she would intervene. At 2;SO
the same day the members OF the pro-
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