The record-union., 1893-12-19

ing 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 and
her Cabinet made public proclamation,
with notice which was specially served
upon representatives of all foreign Gov
ernments, that any changes in the Con-
stitution would be sought only in methods
provided by that instrument. Neverthe-
less, at the call and under the auspices OF
the Committee of Safety, a mass meeting
of citizens was held that day TO protest
against the Queens alleged illegal and
unlawful proceedings and purposes.
Even ats this meeting the Committee
OF Safety continued TO disguise their real
purpose and contented themselves with
procuring the passage of resolution de-
nounclng the Queen and empowering the
committee to devise ways and means TO
secure the permanent maintenance of
law and order, and protection to life,
liberty and property in Hawaii. This
meeting adjourned between 3 and in the
afternoon.
PROTECTION ASKED FOR.
On the same day, Immediately after
such adjournment, the committee, unwlll-
ing to take further steps without the CO.
operation of the United States Minister,
addressed note, representing that pub
lie safety was menaced and property In
danger, and concluded as follows:
1--WE are unable to protect ourselves
without aid. We therefore pray for the
protection of the United States forces"
Whatever may be thought of the other
contents OF this note, the absolute truth
of this latter statement is incontestable.
When the note was written and delivered
the committee, so far as it appears, had
neither man nor gan at command,
and after its delivery they became so
panic-Stricken at their position that they
sent some of their number to interview
the Minister and request him not to land
| the United States forces Till next morn
ing; but he replied that the troops had
been ordered, and whether the committee
was ready or not the landing should take
place. And so it happened, on the 10th
day of January, 1893, between and 3
O'Clock in the afternoon, detachment of
marines from the United States steamer
Boston, with two pieces of artillery,
! landed at Honolulu. The men, upward
of $50 in all. were supplied with double
cartridge belts, filled with ammunition,
and with haversacks and canteens, and
were accompanied by the hospital corps
with stretchers and medical supplies.
AN ACT OF WAR.
This demonstration upon the soil of
Honolulu was of itself an act of war un-
less made either with the consent of the
| Government of Hawaii, or for the bona
| hde purpose Of protecting the imperiled
lives and property of citizens of the
United States, but there is no pretense of
any such consent on the part of the Gov
ernment of the Queen, which was at that
time undisputed, and was both the de
fdctO and de jlCre Government. In point
of fact the existing Government, instead
of requesting the presence Of an armed
force, protested against it. There is as
little basis tor the pretense that such
forces were landed for the security of
American life and property. If so, they
would have been stationed in the vicinity
Of such property and so as to protect it,
instead of at a distance, and so as to COM
mand the Hawaiian Government building
and palace.
THE LANDING OF MARINES.
Admiral Skerrett, 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 inad-
visable if landed for the protection of
American citizens, whose residences and
places OF business, as well as the legation
ana consulate, were in distant part of
the city, but the location selected was q
wise one if the forces were landed for the
purpose of supporting the Provisional
Government. Ii any peril to life and
property calling for any such martial
array had existed Great Britain and
other foreign powers interested would
not have been behind 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
orderly and peaceful condition. There
was no symptom of riot or disturbance
in any quarter. Men, women and chill
dren were about the streets as usual, and
nothing varied the ordinary routine or
! disturbed the ordinary tranquility, eX-
cept the landing of the Boston's marines
and their march through town to the
quarters assigned them. Indeed, the fact
that, after having called for the landing of
| the United States forces on the plea of
danger to life and property, the Commit
| tee of Safety themselves requested the
| Minister to postpone action, exposed the
untruthfulness of their representations of
present peril to life and property. The
| peril they saw was an anticipation grow
! ing out of guilty Intentions on their part
and something which, though not then
| existing, they knew would certainly fol-
| low their attempt to overthrow the Gov
| ernment of the Queen without the aid OF
United States forces. Thus it appears that
Hawaii was taken possession of by
or wish of the Government Of the islands
or of anybody else, as far as is shown,
except the United States Minister. There
| fore, the military occupation of Honolulu
| by the United States on the day men,
| toned was wholly without Justification,
either as an occupation by consent or as
an occupation necessitated by the dam
gers threatening American lie and prop
ertY. 1t must be accounted fOr in some
other way and on some other ground, and
its real move and purpose are neither OBJ
scure nor far to see.
The United States forces, being now on
the scene and favorably stationed, the
committe proceeded to carry out the orig
nal scheme. They met next morning
! Tuesday, the 18th, perfected plan of a
| temporary Government, and fixed upon
it's principal officers, ten of whom were
drawn from thirty members of the Com
mittee of Safety. Between and O'Clock,
| by squads and by different route, to
avoid notice and having first taken the
precaution of ascertaining whether there
! was anyone to oppose them, they pro-
! ceeded to the Government building to
proclaim a new Government. No sign
| of opposition was manifest, and there
| upon an American citizen began to read
| a proclamation from the steps of the
! Government building, almost entirely
! without auditors. 1t is said that before
| the reading was finished quite con-
course of persons, variously estimated at
from fifty to one hundred, some armed
and some unarmed, gathered about the
committee to give them aid and conf
| dence This statement is not important,
| since one controlling factor in the whole
affair was unquestionably the United
| States marines, who were drawn up
under arms and with artillery in readi-
ness, only sevehty-six yards distant, and
who dominated the situation.
RECOGNITION OF THE PROVISIONAL Gov
ERN MENT.
! The Provisional Government thus pro-
claimed was, by the terms of the procia-
| nation $50 exist until farms of union