The record-union., 1893-11-27

report was given out by the State Depart
ment yesterday, consisting of all the dis
closures made by Blount in his dispatches
and with his report from Honolulu. 1t
is the testimony on which he bases his
report. Numerous affidavits bearing on
the day the Provisional Government
was proclaimed go to show that Minister
Stevens recognized the Provisional Gov
ernment and that troops were landed
from the Boston before the Queens forces
surrendered to the Provisional Govern
ment.
The statement of Liliuokalani addressed
to Blount is of special interest and impOr-
tance. On December II, 1892, she claims
she received al letter from source she does
not divulge, warning her that the Amer
lean representative was at that time pre-
pairing for the annexation of the islands.
She appealed to the British Commissioner
and he advised against her suggestion to
lay the matter before all the members OF
the diplomatic corps.
Continuing she says: 1.-THE morning of
January II, 1898, arrived, with all the
preparations for the closing Of the Legis-
lature. At the Cabinet meeting l told the
Cabinet it was my intention to promul-
gate new Constitution. At noon pro-
rogued the Legislature, noticing that
several members Of the reform party
were not present. On entering the
Palace l saw MIR. Wilson, and asked if all
was ready. He replied Yes,' and then L
said, You'll have TO be brave to-day L
went to the Blue Room and awaited the
Ministers. After some delay they ar
rived, and l judged from their counte-
nances that something was wrong.
-. 4 r.. \, IL ,1L tE,+
would sign the Constitution in the throne
room in the presence of the members of
the Legislature. many Of whom had been
elected for the purpose of working for the
new Constitution. AT the commence
ment OF my reign petitions were sent
from all parts ofthe kingdom asking for a
new Constitution. y month later, with
two members of the Legislature, [
started in to make a new Constitution
from that OF Kamahameha V. and that of
1887. After completing it | placed it in
the hands OF Apperson, asking him 70
correct and revise it. He consulted
many lawyers and others regarding it,
and when it was returned | found no
changes had been made, so concluded it
WAS all right.
"Early in January l mentioned to Cap
tain r,owlRin of the Household Guard and
Marshal Wilson my intention to promul-
gate q new Constitution, and told them to
prepare themselves to quell any riot or
outbreak from the opposition. They as
sured me they would be ready, and j
gave strict injunction of secrecy, and
showed Wilson the plan of the throne
room. Parker and Cornwall gave me as
surances of their support before their
appointment as Ministers, while Peter
son understood my intention, and Col
burn heard of it from Peterson.
1T appears that Colburn, on the morn
ing of the l4th of January, acted the part
of a traitor by going to Hartwell, a law
yer, and receiving instructions from him
to strongly advise me to abandon the
idea. This was the cause of the delay in
the blue-room. When the Ministers ar
rived l told them everything in the
throneroom was ready. l was surprised
when the Cabinet informed me that they
did not think it advisable for me to take
such a step; that there was danger of an
uprising, etc.
Il told them I should not have under
taken it if they had not encouraged ME.
They led me on TO the edge of the preci-
Dice and now were leaving me to take
the leap alone. It's humilating,' said l.
why not give the people the Constitu-
ton, and | will bear the brunt of the
blame.'
Peterson said he had not read the Con-
stitution. / told him he had it in his pos
session a whole month. The Ministers
left Parker to try and dssuade me from
my purpose, and in the meantime they
went to the Government building to in
form Thurston and his party of the stand
| took. OF course, they were instructed
not to yield.
1.-THE Ministers returned and I asked
them to read the Constitution over. l
then asked them what was injurious in
the document. Peterson said that some
l,o
suited l told him the Legislature could
make amendments. He begged that |
should wait for two weeks, and in the
meantime they would be ready to pre-
sent it to me.
with these assurances [ yielded, and
I'VE adjourned to the throneroom. 1
stated TO the guests present that my
reasons for inviting them was to promul-
gate new Constitution at the request of
my people; that the Constitution of 1887
was imperfect and full OF defects. Turn
ing to the Chief Justice, l asked, is it
not so. Mr.. Judd?' and he answered in
the affirmative.
II then informed the people that acting
under the advice of my Ministers l
yielded, as they had promised that on
some future day | could give them a new
Constitution. [ then asked them to re-
turn to their homes and keep the peace.
| heard commotion below in the yard
and hurried to the front veranda, and
from there addressed the people, saying
their wishes for a new Constitution could
not be granted Just then, but would be
some future day They must go home
and keep the peace and pray for me,
which they have done ever since.
Everything was quiet in the palace all
that night. Sunday Parker advised me
that the Reform party was holding
meeting, but all day Sunday everything
seemed duiet.
Monday the Ministers issued a notice
Of the position [ took and the attempts
made TO promulgate a new Constitution
at the earnest solicitation of my people
my native subjects. They gave asSur-
ances that any changes desired III the
fundamental law Of the land could be
sought only by the methods provided in
the Constitution itself and signed by my
self and Ministers. 1t was intended to
reassure the people. About O'Clock,
however, troops from the United States
ship Boston were landed by order of Min
lister Stevens. IN secret understanding
with the revolutionary party"
The statement of the circumstances re-
garding her authority to the Provisional
Government does not differ from the
statements already made. After detail
ing her subsequent appeals to the Gov
ernment of the United States, she says:
President Harrison's term OF office ex-
pired and President Cleyeland's in
auguration took place, and | hailed it as
a good omen, having met him IN 1857
while he occupied the Presidential chair,
and / have not been disappointed. Your
arrival brought relief to our people and