The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-05-25

barbaric Queen and the clique of ad
venturers around her. To fortify them
selves In their schemes of usurpatiol
and robbery, they must have a new Con
stItutIon. They were afraid the Su
preme Court would decide their lottery
bill unconstitutional The Supreme
, Court must be reconstructed so that the
Queen could reappoint the judges anc
give the final appeal to the Queen her
self. The new Constitution was to be
proclaimed III way that the existing
Constitution expressly prohibits Hel
four new ministers were in the plot
While the Boston was coming into the
harbor OF Honolulu, on the forenoon oil
January 14th, the mob of hoodlums, at
the call of the Queen and her retainers.
were gathering in the palace grounds.
The Legislature was prorogued at II AN.
The revolutionary edict of Hawaiis mis-
guided sovereign was ready to be pro-
claimed, rurnors of which were already
In the public ear. The storm of public
indignation began to gather. A few
minutes before the appointed hour for
the coup detat, Immediately after my
reaching the Legation from the Boston,
L was urged to go at once to the English
Minister to ask him to accompany me to
the Queen and try TO dissuade her from
her revolutionary design. / promptly
| sought TO comply with this request,
| went Immediately to the English Minis
ter, who was ready to cooperate with
me if there were any possibility of effect
| ing any good We went Immediately TO
the Foreign Office to seek access to the
| Queen in the customary manner. The
| hour of proroguing the Legislature had
| arrived. The ceremony concluded, the
| Queen went Immediately to the palace,
| around which the mob was gathering.
| II was too late for the American and
| English Ministers even 10 attempt
to reason with the maddened, mis-
| guided woman, who had already
| launched the revolution which could not
| be arrested, though her cowardly minis
| tiers OF the lottery gang became alarmed
| and drew back. She scorned their cow
| ardice and pushed on to her doom. Sat
| urday night told every intelligent man
in Honolulu that the Hawaiian mon
archy was forever at an end-that the
| responsible persons OF the islands, the
property holders and the friends OF law
and order, must thereafter take charge
of public affairs. The great mass meet
ing of January 16th-worthy of the best
American towns, of the best American
days, was held. 1t was made up of the
best and chief men of the Countrywide
owners of property, the professional and
educated citizens, merchants, bankers,
clerks, mechanics, teachers, clergymen.
This assemblage was unit III opinion
and purpose. 1t was stirred by Il COM
mon sentiment, the love of country and
the desire for public order and public
security. IT took its measures wisely
and prudently. It's Committee of Pub
lie Safety asked us to land the men of
the Boston, lest riot and incendiaTism
might burst out in the night, for no re-
liable police force longer existed, and
whatever there was OF this force, was
now in the control of the usurpers and |
the lottery gamblers, who had initiated |
the revolution. Under the diplomatic |
and naval rules, which were and are I'M |
perative, the United States Minister and |
naval commander would have shamefully |
ignored their duty had they not landed |
the men of the Boston for the security |
of American life and property and the |
maintenance of public order, even had |
the Committee of Public Safety not re- |
quested us to do so. AS American rep |
resentatives, five thousand miles from |
our Government, we could not have es-
capped our responsibilities, even had We |
desired TO do so. Fortunately the com
nander of the Boston and those under |
his command had no desire to shirk |
their duty. They appreciated the obi
cations of American patriotism and the |
honor of the American navy. The allure
ments of a semi-barbaric court and'pal-
ace udo UOG bl1Cll OsCo W tIAC
condition of things in Honolulu. On
shore in perfect order, they stepped not
an inch from the hne of duty. They
never lifted finger N aid of the fallen
monarchy or the rising Provisional Gov
eminent. The former sought its aid,
but neither party had the least assis-
lance of force by Captain Wiltse and
those under his command. All asser-
lions to the contrary, by whomsoever ut
10 fol n1c without |
a semblance of truth. The conduct of
the United States officers and men III
their seventy-five days on shore in Homo
lulu is to the credit of their intelligence,
their patriotism and their self-control-
an honor to the American navy. With
out the loss of a single life, this remark
able revolution in the Hawaiian Islands
was accomplished. They have to-day
the best government those islands ever
stronger than on the days when it
sprang into life. It is supported by all
the best citizens, and by seven-eighths
of the property of the country. Both
the Provisional Government and those
supporting it strongly desire Hawaii to
become a part of the Great Republic.
Their American sympathles are loyal to
the core. Those who fought at Bunker
Hill. and wrote their names in large let
tiers in independence Hall, We're not
more thoroughly American than those
who have sent their Commissioners to
Washington to negotiate fine terms of
annexation. Men of our blood, familiar
with our history, united to us by COM
mon interest, hopeful of Americas great
future, they ask that the American flag,
the American Constitution and the Am
erican laws may shelter and protect
them. Without the expenditure Of a
single American life, or dollar of Am
erican gold, they offer the rich prize,
this splendid possession of the Pacific,
to the American Government, in trust
for the American people. Never was
such prize before offered as gift to
great nation. Rome annexed many dis
tant countries by force of arms-often at
an enormous cost of blood and treasure,
both of the conquered and the conquer
ors. Alexander added TO his dominions
by vast campaigns OF slaughter and ruin.
Great Britain, for century, has been
constantly augmenting her territory in
India, in Egypt, and in other quarters of
the globe, by the strength of her arms,
often at great cost of blood. Her diplo
macy and her treasury have placed her
in the possession of Hongkong, of Malta,
and of Cyprus without ever taking the
vote or any form of consent of the peo-
L n IL I