The record-union., 1893-11-11
act together for the protection of the city.
Respectfully yours,
SANFORD B. Dole.
Chairman Executive Council

new authority, or surrender to it. She
was informed that the Provisional Gov
ernment had the support of the American
Minister, and ii necessary would be
maintained by the military force of the
United States then present; that any
demonstration on her part would precIpl-
tate a conflict with that force; that she
could not, with hope of success, engage
in war with the United States, and that
resistance would result in useless sacrl-
flee of life. MIR. Damon, one OF the chief
leaders of the movement, and atterward
Vice-P President of the Provisional Gov
ernment, informed the Queen that she
could surrender under protest, and her
case would be considered later at WASH
ington. Believing that under the circum-
stances submission was her duty, and
that her case would be fairly considered
by the President of the United States, the
Queen finally yielded, and sent the Pro-
visiOnal Government a paper, which
reads:
81, Liluokalani. by the grace of God
and under the Constitution of the Hawa-
iian Kingdom, as Queen, do hereby sol
emnly protest against any and all acts
done against myself and the constltu-
tioDal Government of the Hawaiian
Kingdom by certain persons claiming to
have established Provisional Govern
ment of and for this kingdom; that
yield to the superior force OF the United
States of America, whose Minister Plen1-
potentiary, 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 collls-
ion of armed forces and perhaps 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 rep
resentative and reinstate me and the
authority which claims the constitutional
sovereign OF the Hawaiian Islands,
'tWhen this paper was prepared, at the
conclusion of the conference, and signed
by the Queen and her Ministers, num-
Der of persons, including one or more
representatives of the Provisional Gov
ernment, who were still present and
understood its contents, and by their
silence at least, acquiesced in its state
ments and when it was carried to Presi-
dent Dole he indorsed upon it, Received
from the hands of the late Cabinet, this
18th day OF January, 1885, without chal-
lenging the truth of any OF its assertions.
Indeed, it was not claimed on the 18th
day of January, or for some time there
alter, by any of the designated officers of
the Provisional Government, or any an
nexationist, that the Queen surrendered
!
'sIn his dispatch to Mr.. Foster on Janu-
ary 18th, describing the successful revo-
luton, Mr.. Stevens says: The Committee
OF Public Safety forthwith took possess
sion of the Government buildings and
treasury, and installed the Provisional
! Government without the aid of United
States troops. This being an accomplished
fact, l promptly recognized the Provi-
sional Government as the de facto Gov
ernment Of the Hawaiian Islands,
Secretary Fosters communication of
February 18th to the President, laying
before him the treaty of annexation, with
the view of obtaining the advice and
consent of the Senate thereto. says: AT
the time the Provisional Government
took possession OF the Government build
ings no troops or officers OF the United
States were or took any part whatever in
the proceedings. When they were in full
possession OF the Government, the bar-
racks, the police station and the whole
potential machinery of the Government,
United States troops were landed to pro-
tect American property
1.-THE special Commissioners sent to
Washington by the Provisional Govern
ment to negotiate treaty Of annexation
in their statements are utterly at vari
ance with the evidence, documentary or
oral. contained in Mr.. Blount's report.
They are contradicted by declarations
and letters of Presidenti Dole and other
anneXationists, and by Mr.. Stevens
admissions to Mr.. Blount. The Pro-
visional Government was recognized
when it had little other than paper exist
ence, and when the legitimate Govern
ment was in full possession and control
of the palace, the barracks and police
stations.
'sMr. Stevens welI-known hostility,
and the force landed from the Boston,
was all then that excited apprehension in
the mind of the Queen, her officers and
| loyal supporters. 1t IS fair to say that
Secretary Fosters statement was based
upon information which he had received
| from Mr.. Stevens and the special Com
missioners, but am able to see that they
were deceived. The troops were landed
not to protect American life and prop
erty, but TO aid in overthrowing the ex-
| listing Government. Their very presence
implied coerciye measures against it. In
a statement given to Mr.. Blount by Ad-
miral Skerrett, ranking naval officer at
| Honolulu, he says: IF the troops were
| landed to protect American citizens in
terests they were badly stationed in the
hall, but if it was TO aid the Provisional
| Government they were wisely stationed.'
This hall was so situated that the troops
in it easily commanded the Government
/ building, and the proclamation was read
under the threat Of American guns.
understand that Mr.. Stevens prom
| ised the annexationlsts that as soon as
| they obtained possession of the Govern
ment building and read the proclamation
above referred to, he would at once re-
cogniZe them as the de facto Government
and support them by the landing of
troops from the warships then in the
! harbor, and he kept that promise. This
! assurance was the inspiration of the
! Government, and without it the annexa-
tionists would not have exposed them
selves to the consequence of failure.
! They relied upon other force; for their
/ own they had none worthy that name.
after the Provisional Government
was established by action of the Ameri-
can Minister and the presence of troops
/ landed from the Boston, its continued
| existence was due to the belief that if an
! effort should be made to overthrow it it
would encounter an armed force of
! Americans.
''The earnest appeals to the American
Minister for military protection by Off
GERS of the Provisional Government,
alter it had been advanced, shows the
utter absurdity of the claim that it was
established by successful revolution Of
the people. These appeals were con-
fession by the men who made them of
/ their weakness and timidity. Courageous
men, conscious of their strength and the
Righteousness of their cause. do not thus
act.
SIT is now claimed that majority of
the people who have the right of voting
under the Constitution of 1877 have never
favored the idea of annexation to this or
! any other Government. Mr.. Blount
states that while at Honolulu he did not
meet a single annexationist who ex-
pressed a willingness to submit the ques-
lion to vote of the people, nor did he
| meet with one favoring that subject who
did NOT insist that if the islanders were
annexed suffrage should be so restricted