Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-18
MESSAGE ON HAWAII.
Continued from First Page.


\ brief statement of the occurrences that
led to the subversion of the constitutional
government of Hawaii in the interests of
| annexation to the United States will exhibit
the true complexion of that transaction.
The Committee of Safety.
On Saturday, January IA, 1S93 the Queen
CT Hawaii, who had been contemplating
the proclamation of a new constitution,
had. in Difference to the wishes and re-
monstrances of her cabinet, renowned the
project for the present at least Taking
this relinquished purpose as a basis of ac-
ton, citizens of Honolulu numbering from
fifty to one hundred, mostly resident aliens,
met in a private office and selected a So
called Committee of Safety, composed Of
thirteen persons. seven of whom were for
eign subjects. and consisted of five Ameri-
cans, one Englishman and one German.
This committee, though it's designs were
not revealed, had in view nothing less than
annexation to the United States. and be-
tween Saturday, the 18th, and the follow
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 Min
lister. On Monday morning the Queen and
her cabinet made public proclamation, with
a notice which was specially served upon
the representatives of all foreign govern
ments, that any changes in the constitution
vided by that instrument. Nevertheless. at
the call and under the auspices OF the Com
mittee of Safety. mass meeting OF cltl-
zens was held on that day to protest
against the Queens alleged illegal ana I'M
lawful proceedings and purposes.
Even at this meeting the Committee OF
Safety continued to disguise their real pur-
pose and contented themselves with procur-
ing the passage of resolution denouncing
| the Queen and empowering the committee
/ TO devise ways and means Ito secure the
permanent maintenance or law ana oroer
| and the protection of life, liberty, ana prop
| erty in Hawaii" This meeting adjourned
| between three and four O'Clock in the after
noon On the same day, and Immediately
/ after such adjournment. the committee uh-
Z willing to take further steps without the CO.
operation of the United States Minister, ad-
/ dressed him a note representing that the
public safety was menaced and that lives
/ and property were in danger, and concluded
/ as follows: I'VE are unable to protect our
/ selves without aid, and therefore pray Tor
/ the protection of the United states FORCES.
/ Whatever may be thought of the other con-
/ tents OF this note, the absolute truth or this
latter statement is incontestable. When the
note was written and delivered, the COM
mittee, so far as IL appears, mad neither
/ a man nor gun at their command, ana
after its delivery they became so panic
| stricken at their position that they sent
some of their number TO interview the Min
lister and request him not to land the United
States forces till the next morning. But ne
and whether the committee were ready or
not the landing should take place
The Landing of the Troops.
And so it happened that on the 10th day
I of January. 1898, between and . o'clock
in the afternoon, a detachment or marines
from the United States steamer Boston,
with two pieces of artillery, landed at hoh-
oluIu The men. upwards OF 16O IN all, We're
supplied with double cartridge belts hiied
a,,A NIT ha VarSackS
canteens, and were accompanied by hos
oiral CORDS with stretcners and medical
.,y.ivs ~~-.O.is - ,-.i~.. es'~--
lns ,oii OIL Iionviui1 "as "a i.seii AL act Va
usr, unless Iilaue either vain tne Consent "a
TIE sosernment Oh nawah Ut ior the poA@
due purpOse VI protecting the Imperfect
nves anu properly VI citiLe,is "a the Ihiteo
oIa,es ouI mere Is no pretense Oh any
suSn consent Oh the part OF The SoSerhmeht
OIL lne queen, winch at tnat tine was uh
oisputea ana was both the de Iacto anu
the de jure government. In point OF Iacl
the eNIsuns government instead Oh requeSe-
ing the presence or an armed force pro-
tested against II. There Is as little OASIS
for the pretense that such forces were ianu,
ed for the security OF American NE anu
property. If SO, they would have been sta-
toned in the vicinity of such properly anu
so as to protect it, instead of at distance
and so as to command the Hawaiian gov
eminent building and palace. Admiral
Skerrett the officer in command of our
naval force on the Pacific station, mas
frankly stated that in his opinion the ioca-
ton of the troops was inadvisable IL they
were landed for the protection of American
citizens whose residences and places OF
business, as we'll as the legation and con-
sulate were in a distant part OF the city,
but the location selected was wise one
II the forces were landed Tor the purpose
of supporting the provisional government
If any peril to life and property calling
for any such martial array had existed,
Great Britain and other foreign powers In
terested would not have been behind the
United States in activity to protect their
citizens. But they made no sign in that d.
rection. When these armed men were land
ed the city of Honolulu was in it's custom
airy orderly and peaceful condition. There
any quarter. Men. women and children We're
about the streets as usual, and nothing
varied the ordinary routine or disturbed the
ordinary tranquility, except the landing of
the Bostons marines and their march
through the 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 Committee of Safety them
selves requested the Minister to postpone
action, exposed the untruthfnlness of their
representatio of present peril to life and
property. The peril they saw was an
ticiration growing out of guilty intentions
on their part and something which, though
not then existing, they knew would GER
tainly follow their attempt to overthrow
the Government of the Queen without the
aid of the United States forces.
FOrcfble Possession.
Thus 1t appears that Hawaii was taken
possession of by the United States forces
without the consent or wish of the govern
ment of the islands. or OF anybody else so
far as shown, except the United States
Minister.
Therefore the military occupation Of Homo |
lulu 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 dangers
threatening American life and prop !
erty. 1t must be accounted for
in some other way and some other |
ground, and it's real motive and purpose !
are neither obscure nor far to seek.
The United States forces being now on |
the scene and favorably stationed, the COM |
mittee proceeded to carry out their original |
scheme. They met the next morning, Tues
day, the 18th, perfected the plan of tempo |
rary government, and fixed upon its princi- |
pal officers. ten of whom were drawn from
the thirteen members of the Committee of
Safety. Between one and two o'clock, by |
squads and by different routes to avoid no. |
tice and having first taken the precaution |
there to oppose Them they proceeded to the !
government.
No sign of opposition was manifest and !
thereupon an American citizen began to |
read the proclamation from the steps of |
the Government building almost entirely |
without auditors. 1t is said that before the |
reading was finished quite a concourse of |
yariousIv estima ted at from 10 fo