The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-02-17
THE OTHER SIDE.


deposed queen, of whom he is sup.
porter. The letter is addressed to Mr..
j. II. Cans, of this city, whose wife is
an aunt of Mr.. Colburn, and is as fol-
lows:
HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS,
Wednesday, Jan. IL, 1885, I
Mr.. ]. H Cans, St Louis. Mo:
Dear Sir: In view of the circumstances that
surround the situation of this, our Hawaiian
kingdom, take this opportunity Of writing you
this letter, trusting with your ability and influ
ence with some of the leading statesmen Of
your liberal American country you can help tc
place the situation Of affairs of this country in
such an impartial manner to them that the Ha
waian queen Liliuokalsni her government
and her native population can receive such a
hearing from your government that the Ameri
can nation will cause to be restored the queen
to her throne, the government to its power and
the Hawaiian native population to their natural
rights
On Thursday. January l2, 1893, the legislature
sitting In session, brought in resolution OF want
of confidence against her maiestys cabinet
which consisted of G. II. Wilcox. minister OF
interior. p. c. Jones, minister of finspee; w.
p. Robinson, minister OF foreign Lf1airs, and
Cecil Brown, who was carried by the constitu-
tional majority Of twenty-five members Of the
legislature out of house Of forty-eight elective
members. This cabinet that was voted out be-
longed TO party called the reform party, and
the same party that caused o revolution in the
country June So 1887 Upon their having been
voted out they retired and sent their resigna-
ti0ns to her majesty, the queen She accepted
them and on ths next dav, Friday, January l2,
1893, she summoned and appointed the follow
ing gentlemen as her cabinet: Samuel Parker,
minister of foreign affairs; William II. Corn
well. minister of finance: John f. Colburn,
s-,4a- Iaf
encouragement
Immediately upon appointment we repaired
to the legislative assembly and reported to
them that il had pleased her majesty to appoint
another cabinet Those OF the legislature that
were present, and the population TO the number
of about |, ,00), whe gathered there, received us
with applause. We took our seats and, after
going through the business of the house, it was
adjourned. The next day, Saturday, January
IA. the dav had been previously set apart TO
prorogue the legislature, came and we present
ed ourselves again, and, after going through
the business of the house, adjourned TO meet at
~ m.
may mention here that on Friday and Sat
urday, the days that we attended the legisls-
ture, the party to which this cabinet had be-
longed-the reform party-were so dissatisfied
and hostile over their defeat that on both days
they refused to attend the legislature and did
not have the courtesy to attend the prorogation.
While waiting for the hour, II noon, TO ap-
proach, / accidentally heard that the queen pro-
posed TO promulgate new constitution. I'M
mediately sought an interview with my col
leagues and notified them that il the queen in
tended TO act in such an arbitrary manner 1
would resign They answered that they were
willing to do the Same thing and we decided
that il the queen intended TO carry into effect
any such idea H,e would all advise her not 10 do
so at once repaired to the place OF the oppo-
sition AMI told them what 1 had heard and
what we had concluded 10 do.
The leaders of the party advised US strongly
not to resign. as il would then give the queen
an opportunity to appoint others, who would
be only too willing TO sign a new constitution.
We followed their advice, and they assured US
that II any conflict came between the queen
and US, her cabinet the community would give
US their support TO resist anything like this
measure.
At IL N. the legislature was prorogued and
We repaired to the palace to meet the queen.
She then and there told US to sign document
purpOrting to be new constitution. We told
her plainly we would not accede 10 her request
and advised her toabanion the idea.
She was very determined At FIRST, but after
wards yielded and gave it up. She came out
and declared openly 20 the Hawaiian reoule
that she could not give them a new constitution
and told them to endure their grievances.
The crowd dispersed, and Oh the next daT
leader of The reform party met US and made
proposition TO us, VIZ: That owing TO the
queens revolutionary actions in wanting; to pro-
mulgate new constitution, we should depose
her and declare provisional government "
Our answer was We would give them an answer
later on. In the meantime we. the cabinet,
summoned six Of the most responsible and con-
servatve business men of the city, as also the
diplomatic corps
They met us excepting J. L. Stevens, envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to
this country. We discussed the situation and
agreed that the queen was at first i'll advised,
but as she had abandoned the project we should
not depOse her and declare q provisional gov
ernment. We notified the leaders of this de-
tunct and malcontent party that we would not
agree to the proposition. Al the same time we
issued a PROCLAMATION and scattered it all over
town and delivered IL 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 the queen and
cabinet
This party was not satisfied with this. but
they. with the assistance of the American min
lister and the troops of the United States
steamer Boston, enlisted number Of men 10
the extent Of about 100. ana, aided by the
American troops. took possession and declared
by proclamation a provisional government. con-
trar7 TO the constitution now in force and con-
- ll4S nus Ot lOJUuJ lstODiSs
ton Of this country The cabinet notified
the American minister Of what had hap
pened and asked him TO assist the duly
organized government to suppress this re-
volt, or If he did not want to do that, then to
remove the United States troops on board the
Boston, ana we the government, could do it
ourselves. When we told him We had 200 men
under arms and were equal to the situation his
eply was that he ackno %ledged the provision
al government and would support it. We, the
government, came to the conclusion as We did
not wish 10 come into conflict with the United
States troors, 10 yield under protest
The queen and her cabinet are at present re-
moved under protest, pending hearing before
the United States This action the part Of
the American minister is degrading He has
upheld a mob and does SO against the wishes OF
the abOrigines OF this country. who are capable
Of taking care of themselves The provisional
government have put the country under martial
law. They are d dsratching q steamer now to
carry report 10 Washington. They are send
ing arbassa tors to Washington We have asked
that tho steamer take our representatives
so that both sides OF the case can be heard and
they refuse We will send them later We
pie are waliny for the loss OF their country.
Cannot America, ''the land Of the free and the
home OF the brave" undo this great wrong that
she by her troops and ambassador assisted to
do:
VIII you use your Influence for US: Act
promptl- and NAV Goa assist you and help US
Yours with consideration ana respect,
JOHN F. CoLBURS.
MiH.Siss OF the Interior.
Mr.. Torrey Not discouraged.