The Portland daily press., 1893-11-30

possessed attitude of the citizens, who
Assem- led in great mass meeting on
January 16, and consummated their
efforts for law and order by the estab-
lishment of the provisional government
on the nth, which was promptly acknow-
lodged by all the foreign representatives
who were familiar with the circumstances
of its creation. 1t was nearly fifty hours
after Lilinokalani and her favorites had
destroyed her throne by revolutionary
outbreak when the Boston men landed.
In the exciting hours preceding and fol-
lowing her fall, her representatives, as
we'll as those who formed the provisional
government had equal access to the lega-
tion. To all proper inquiries my answer
was that the United States marines
could not take sides, but whatever de
facto government might exist, would
have to be recongized. When I did
recognize it, late in the afternoon of the
18th, the provisional government was
complete master of the situation, had
eminent archieves, the police station be-
ing surrounded and at the mercy of the
provisional government. 1t was small
building in which the disorganized and
powerless followers of the fallen Queens
paramour marshal took refuge, and they
must surrender in a few hours by mere
force of hunger. The provisional govern
station at once, but
Wished Not to Take a Single Life
of it's occupants. 1t deemed it wiser to
await their surrender. Had the Queens
supporters dared to resist the organiza-
tion of the new government, their only
possible chance to do SO was during Sun
day and Monday of the 18th and 10Th,
while the citizens were attending their
mass meeting, selecting.their committee
of public safety and preparing to organ
1ze government, as openly as public
meetings are held in any American city.
They did not dare to attempt to arrest or
interfere with the aroused white citizens.
1t was united andsirresisGib BILE. movement
of the same men, with now increased
numbers, that took away the despotic
powers of King Kalakaua in 1857, and
crushed the Wilcox revolt of 1882 They
gathered at the armory with their rifles
in hand, which were increased by other
arms openly carried in a carriage from
a gun store, with only three men in
charge. The only government that
existed or could exist under these circum-
stances. was the provisional government.
| am fully aware that have made this
paper TOO lengthy. l regret to tax the
public patience with words of mine.
Against all just expectations | have been
forced to expose the anomalous, the un-
American and most unfair course of
Blount and associates against my official
conduct, my honor, and all that public
man holds dear. This extraordinary
assault on the American colony in
Hawaii, antagonizing the American
Observation-Disclosures there establishedsat
the cost of. the lives and labors of noble
American men and women, this strange
turning back on an American policy of
moresthan half century, this wanton
disregard of the opportunity to assume
jurisdiction and ownership of territorial
and maritime prize, with a clean title
and without the cost of a single life, is
justly causing profound indignation
among the American people. These
strange and unpatriotic proceedings in
the presence of our national rivals is
making most shameful page of Ameri-
can history. which our future, if not our
present, sta te m en- land generation W ill
repudiate and blot out by wise and effet-
tive measures.
JOHN STEVENS.
Augusta. Me-, November 49, 1883.