Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-06
A LETTER FROM HAWAII,

"A LETTER FROM HAWAII.
The Queen Said to Have Been Fad All
Through and Bound to Rule Ruin.
Theodore Richards, now the literary editor of
! an American magazine, but for many years a
resident OF Honolulu, has received from one
OF the most most prominent American mer-
chants of Hawaii, says the New York Times, the
following letter. which not only corroborates
the accounts of the Hawaiian commissioners of
the revolution. but furnishes an interesting in
side view of the troubles on the islands
sentence near the close Of the letter would
| seem to indicate that not annexation alone but
protection or annexation was in the minds of
| the Honolulu merchants when the commission
was sent from there. The letter is as follows:
HONOLULU, Jan. IS, 1898.
| You will have had Geographic news some days
before this reaches you of the revolution that
has taken place here and the complete change
OF government since Saturday last. Only one
man has been injured so far, and this person
| was a policeman who attempted to stop a
wagon with guns and ammunition. The man
| In charge shot the policeman to save the wagon
| and its contents. Fortunately, although shot
| through the lungs, DIR. Wood tells me he will
recover.
The times have been stirring. and many
1
| at once. There had been many rumors but
| they we're not believed. and the people were IN
| prepared. However, the mass meeting on Mon
day afternoon showed the temper of the people
tothe committee Of safety. They went right
ahead, and the people of all classes and nation
alities responded.
The provisional government was formed,
good men OF different nationalities and creeds
were selected, the military was organized, and
today 1t is in full possession without blood
| shed
The late queen forfeited all her rights when
| she attempted by coup d etat to force a new
| constitution on the country. She had been de-
! feated in the legislature on the call for a con.
! stitutional convention and SO tried to have her
own constitution by force.
! She had just previously (the day before)
| signed three infamous bills, the opium license
bill. the distilery bill and the lottery bill. All
| had been bitterly opposed, and would have been
| defeated had they been pushed earlier in the
session, but the first reading created so great
| an cutlery that they were kept back, and then
| sprung on a small legislature. Many Of the
best members had become weary of the long
eight months session and were forced to go
| home to look after their own long-neglected
affairs.
You will see in the papers which send you
the action of the chamber Of commerce on the
lottery bill. But all WAS of no use. The queen
was bad all through. She was bound to rule as
q Observation-Disclosures ruin. She did
! not understand quite the temper Of the for
eigners who were not her immediate advisers
and hence made a huge mistake and has lost her
crown and kingdom. The foreigners will have
no more irresponsible native rule.
This whole revolution ia the result of the
| action of the queen and her evil native counsel
ors. No woman ever had better chance in
the world, but, being bad in heart, she must
correct not only herself, but her family or
heirs. Some Of the finest natives on the islands
men like kauhanne, Josepa, Kauhi and others
-sympathiZe in this revolution. and already a
petition is being circulated in the native tongue
| asking for annexation to the United States.
The Portuguese are all with US and have a
company on guard. There is a German guard
as well, so, you see, the movement is not one of
| Americans only, although they lead. The
American minister thoroughly posted in
| all that was going on, and, at our request Or
dered troops on shore from the Boston to pro-
! tect American property. large number of
them marched into our yard, remained for two
| hours with their Calling guns and moved
down and camped in the building back of the
music hall.
This move Was very timely and was strong
moral influence on all the people. 1t meant no
riotin2 and there was none. Two small fires &C.
CURED during the night. These were, no doubt,
set by boys and were soon put out, as the fire.
men were on duty all night
You see we have accomplished quietly and
without rioting or bloodshed, what the peonIe
determined to do--that is, have a good. honest,
square constitutional government, a govern
ment that the people of the United States will
feel glad 70 receive when it asks for protection
or annexation. The old government was cor
rupt, smuggling was open. business depressed
and the poor people and laboring classes were
suffering because there was no work for many
of them.
believe now that this change in government
will in time work wonders for this country and
10 O., .xo H.. ia
l believe he must, the labor will soon come.
The naval station must be developed and busi-
ness will revive.
There are soreheads, as you know, many En-
glish and some American, the latter boodlers
enough to come out under their own signatures.
We are satisfied if the truth is presented, and
are sure in our position today. The commits
sioners who 60 to the United States are good
men.