The herald., 1893-12-19
BADLY MUDDLED.
IcontInasd iIom Second page:


the security of American life and prop
ertv: il so, they would have been sta
toned in the vicinity of such property,
and 90 as to protect it, instead OF at a
distapce. and so as to command the
Hawaiian government building and pal
ace.
ADMIRAL sKERRETT's sTATEMENT.
Admiral Skerrstt, the officer in COM
mand of our naval force on the Pacific
station, has frankly stated that in his
opinion the location of the troops was
inadvisable if landed for the protection
of American citizens, whose residences
and places OF business, as well as the le-
cation and consulate, were in distant
part of the city, but the location eelected
was a wise one if the forces were landed
for the purpose of supporting the pro-
visional government. If any peril to
life and property, calling for an army OF
such martial array, had existed, Great
Britain and other foreign powers inter-
ested 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; powerful con-
ldition. There WAS no symptom OF riot
,or disturbance in any quarter. Men,
women and children were about the
istreets as usual, and nothing varied the
Ordinary routine or disturbed the crdin-
sry tranquility, except the landing OF
the Boston's marines and their march
through the town to the quarters as
signed them. Indeed the fact that,
after having called for the landing of
lthe United States forces on the plea OF
danger OF life and property, the commit
tee of safety themselves requested the
minister to postpone the action, ex-
posed the untruthfulness of their
Representations OF present peril
to life and property. The peril they
saw was the anticipation growing out OF
Ignilty intentions on their part, and
something which, though not even OK
listing, they knew would certainly iol-
! low theta attempt to overthrow the gov
eminent OF the queen, without the ala
of the United States forces. Thus, 1t ap-
pears, Hawaii was taken possession of
| by United States forces without the
consent or wish OF the government OF
the island, or OF anybody else, so far as
shown, except the United States min
lister.
WHOLLY UNJUsTIFIED.
Therefore, the military occupation of
Honolulu by the United States on the
day mentioned was wholly without
justification, either as occupation by
consent or as occupation necessltated by
dangers threatening American lie and
property. 1t must be accounted for in
some other way and on some other
ground, and it's real motive and purpose
are neither obscure nor hard to see.
The United States forces being now on
the scene and favorably stationed, the
committee proceeded to carry out the
original scheme. They met next morn-
ing, Tuesday, the 18th, perfected the
plan of temporary government, fixed
upon its principal oflicera, 10 of
i13 members O.; the committee
OF safety. Between l and O'Clock, by
squads and by different routes to avoid
notice, and having first taken the pre-
caution of ascertaining whether there
was anyone to oppose them, they pro-
ceeded to the government building TO
proclaim the new government. No sign
OF opposition was manifest, and there
upon the American citizen began t. read
the proclamation from the stsps oi the
government building, almost entirely
without auditors. 1t is said, before the
reading was flushed, quite concourse
of persons, variously estimated at from
80 to 100, some armed, some unarmed,
gathered about the committee to give
them aid and confidence. Thts state
ment is not important, since the one
controlling factor in the whole affair was
unquestionably the United States ms
rines, who, drawn up under arms and
with artillery in readiness, only 76 yards
distant, dominated the situation.
HAsTY RECOGNITION.
The provisional government, thus
proclaimed, was by the terms of the
proclamation "to exist until terms OF
union with the United States had been
negotiated and agreed upon" The
United States minister, pursuant to g
prior agreement, recognized this gov
eminent within an hour after the
reading of the proclamation, and before
s O'Clock, in answer to an inquiry on be-
half of the queen and cabinet, an.
nounced that he had done go. When
our minister recognized the provisional
government, the only basis upon which
1t rested was the fact that the committee
of public safety had in the manner
sbove stated declared it to exist. 1t
was neither government de facto, nor
de jure.
That it WAS not in such possession OF
OF the government property and agen-
eies as entitled it to recognition, is con-
lclusively proved by note found in the
files of the legation at Honolulu, ad-
dressed by the declared head of the
provisional government to Stevens,
dated January II. 1898, in which he
acknowledges with expressions of appre-
citation the minister's recognition OF the
provisional government, and states that
1t was not yet in possession OF the sta
tion house (the place whore large
number of the queens troops were quar-
tered), though the same had been de-
manded OF the queens officers in charge.
THE QUEEN PERPLEXED.
Nevertheless, this wrongful recogni-
tion by our minister placed the govern
ment of the queen il position of most
perilous perplexity. On one hand she
had possession of the palace, of the bar
racke and of the police station, and at
her command at least 500 fully armed
men and several pieces Of artillery, in
deed the whole military force of her
kingdom ON her side and at her disposal,
while the committee of safety, by actual
search, had discovered there were but
very few arms in Honolulu not in the