Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-19
WHEELING DAILY REGISTER TUESDAY. DECEMBER IT, 1888


attention is called to the fact that
on the day the above letter was written,
apparently unable longer TO restrain MS
.ardor, be issued proclamation where.
by 'In the name OF the United states
HE ASSUMED THE PROTECTION
of the Hawaiian Islands, and declared
that said action was "taken pending
and subject to negotions at Washing
ton"
OF course this assumption OF pro-
Electorate was promptly disav6wed by
our Government, but the American nag
remained over the government building
a Honolulu and the forces remained on
guard until April and after Mr.. Blount's
arrival on the scene, when both were
removed.
A brief statement of the occurrences
that led to the subversion Of the consti-
tutional government of Hawaii In the
interests of annexation to the United
STATES will exhibit the true complexion
OF that transaction. On Saturday, Janu-
arS IA, 1898, the Queen Of Hawaii, who
had been contemplating the proclama-
ton of q new constitution had, In defer
ence to the wishes and remonstrances
of her Cabinet, renounced the project
for the present at least. Taking this
relinouished purpose as basis OF
action, citizens Of Honolulu, numbering
from fifty TO one hundred, mostly resi-
dent aliens, met in private office and
selected a so.called committee OF safety,
composed OF fifteen persons, seven OF
whom were foreign subjects, five Amer
leans, one Englishman and one German
This committee, though its designs
were not revealed, had in view nothing
less than annexation. to the United
States, and between Saturday, the 14th,
and the following Monday, the 10th OF
January, though exactly what action
was taken may not be clearly disclosed,
they were certainly in communication
with the United States Minister.
On Monday morning the Queen ana
her cabinet made public a prociama-
ton, with a notice which was served
upon the representatives OF all the Tor
eign governments that any changes In
the constitution would be sought only
in the methods
PROVIDED BY THE INSTRUMENT.
Nevertheless, at the call and under the
auspices OF the committee OF safety q
mass meeting Of citizens was held that
dav TO protest against the Queens al
legged illegal aud unlawful proceedings
and purposes. Even at this meeting
the Committee OF Safety continued to
disguise their real purpose ana con-
tented themselves with procuring the
passage OF resolution denouncing the
Queen and empowering the Committee
TO devise WAYS and means ito secure
the permanent maintenance or law ana
order and the protection OF life, liberty
and property in Hawaii. " This meet
ing adjourned between three and IOur
O'Clock in the afternoon. On the same
day and Immediately after such ad-
iournment, the Committee, unwilling
to take further steps without the coop
peration OF the United States Minister,
addressed a note representing that the
public safety was menaced ana that
lives and property were in danger, and
concluded as follows:
owe are unable to protect ourselves
without aid and therefore pray Tor pro-
lection OF the United States forces"
Whatever may be thought OF the
other contents Of this note, the absolute
truth of this latter statement is incon-
testible. When the note was written
and delivered, the committee, so far as
il appears, had neither man nor gun
Mt their command and after its delivery
thev became so panic stricken at their
position that thew sent some OF their
nnmper TO interview the minister aud
renuest him not to land the United
States forces till the next morning, but
he replied that the
TROOPS HAD BEEN ORDERED,
and whether the committee were ready
or not the landing should take place
and so it happened that on the sixteenth
day of January, 1898, between four ana
five o'clock in the afternoon a detach-
nent of marines from the United States
steamer Boston with two pieces OF artll-
lery landed at Honluiu. The men, up
wards of 100 in all, were supplied
with double cartridge belts,
filed with ammunition and with
haversacks and canteens and
were accompanied by a hospital corps
with stretchers aud medical supplies.
This demonstration upon the soil OF
Honolulu was OF itself an act OF war.
unless made either with the consent OF
the government OF Hawaii or for the
bona fide purpose of protecting the i'm
periled lives and property of citizens OF
the United States. But there is no pre-
tence OF any such consent on the part
of the government Of the queen which
was at that time indlsputed, and both
the defac to and the de iure govern
ment. In point Of fact the existing
government, instead OF requesting the
presence of an armed force, protested
against il. There is as little basis for the
pretense that such forces were landed
for the security of American life and
property. II so, they would have been
stationed in the vicity OF such property
and so as to protect it, instead OF at a
distance and So as TO command the
Hawaiian government buildings and
p. ace.
Admiral Sterritt, the officer in COM
mand OF our naval force on the Pacific
station, has frankly stated that in his
opinion the location OF troops
WAS INADvISABLE
II they were landed ofor the pro-
lection Of American citizens, whose res.
licences and places Of business, as well
as the legation and consulate were in a
distant part of the city, but the loca'
ton selected was a wise one II the
forces were landed for the purpose of
supporting the provisional government.
If any peril to life and property calling
for any such martial array had existed,
Great Britain and other foreign pow
ers interested would not have been be-
hind the United States in activity to
protect their citizens. But they made
no sign In that direction. When these
armed men were landed, the city Of
Honolulu was in its customary and or
DERBY and peaceful condition. There
i. 4