The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-19


"
Concluded from First Pageo
tablished International rules and prece-
dents in contingencies indicated in the
first part of this dispatch"
To a minister of this temper, full of zeal
for annexation, there seemed to arise in
y wSich Sa lS = the ha ,d P5seise S %a1fi5gmag for for
p~ortunity which, by timely deviation from
established International rules and prece-
dents. might be improved to successfully
accomplish the great object in view; and
we are quite prepared for the eXultant en-
thu sa with which, in F q letter t to the
declares: The Hawaiian pear is now fully
ripe, and this is the golden hour for the
United States to pluck it."
As a further Illustration of the activity
of this diplomatic representative. attention
is called to the fact that on the day the
able longer to restrain his ardor, he issued
a proclamation whereby, "in the name of
the tnet,o United e States he ASSUMED Is1nn the pro
clared that said action was taken pending
and subject to negotiations at Washing
tectorate was promptly disavowed by our
government, but the American flag re-
NAMED over the government building at
guard until April, and after Mr.. Blount's
arrival on the scene. when both were re-
moved
FROM A ROYALIST STANDPOINT.
A brief statement OF the occurrences that
~ ~ NHC VA LAX
government in the interests Of annexation
to the United States will exhibit the true
complexion Of that transaction. On Satur-
day, JAM Ia, 1898. the Queen of Hawaii.
who had been contemplating the proclama-
ton of a new Constitution, had, in defer
ence to the wishes and remonStranceS of
her Cabinet, renowned the project, for the
present at least Taking this relinquished
Honolulu, numbering from fifty to one num-
dred. mostly resident aliens. met in a pri-
vate office and selected a so-called commit
tee of safety. composed of thirteen persons,
seven Of whom were foreign subjects, and
consisted OF five Americans, one English
though it's designs were not revealed, had
in view nothing less than annexation to
the l4th, and the following Monday, the
18th Of J~anuary-though exactly what ac-
ton was taken may not be clearly disclosed
they were certainly in communication with
the United States minister.
n Monday morning the Queen and her
Cabinet made public a proclamation, with
a notice, which was specially served upon
the representatives of all foreign govern
mentS, that any change IN the Constitution
would be sought only in the methods pro-
vided by that instrument. Nevertheless, at
the call, and under the auspices of the COM
mittee of safety, a mass meeting OF citizens
was held on that day TO protest against the
Queens alleged illegal and unlawful pro-
ceedings and purposes. Even at this meet
ing the committee Of safety continued to
disguise their real purposes, and contented
themselves with procuring the passage of
a resolution d~enouncing the Queen and en-
towering the committee to devise ways and
means ito secure the permanent mainten-
ance Of law and order and the protection
of life. liberty and property In Hawaii"
This meeting adjourned between 3 and 4
o'clock In the afternoon
On the same day, and immediately after
such adjournment, the committee, unwilling
to take further steps, without the co-opera-
ton of the United States minister, addressed
a note. representing that the public safety
xrva O. ~ en- GOD 0nH t6nt 1iyoc on6 nrNflnrtyy
were in danger, and concluded as follows:
W are unable to protect ourselves with
lection 49a Snu Of the the united Idtedi States f force est III" What Rat-
ever may be thought OF the other contents Of
this note, the absolute, truth of this latter
was written and delivered the committee,
so far as it appears, had neither a man
nor a gun at their 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 re-
forces till the next morning, but he replied
that the troops had been ordered. and
whether the committee were ready or not
the landing should take place.
LANDING OF THE MARINES.
And so it happened that on the 18th day
of January, 1888, between 4 and 8 o'clock in
the afternoon, q detachment of marines
from the United States steamer Boston,
with two pieces of artillery, landed at Hon
olulu. The men, upward Of 160 In all, were
supplied with double cartridge belts. filled
witt ammunition, and with haversackS and
canteens. and were accompanied by a hos
pital corps, with stretchers and medical
supplies. This demonstration upon the soil
of Honolulu was of itself an act of war
unless made with the consent of the gov
eminent of Hawaii or for the bona fide
purpose of protecting the imperiled lives
and property of citizens of the United
States, but there is no p~retenSe of any such
consent on the part OF the government or
the Queen, which was at that time undiS-
puted, and was both de facto and de jure
In point Of fact, the existing
government, instead of requesting the pres
ence Of an armed force, protested against
It.
There is as little basis for the pretense
that such forces were landed for the secur-
iy Of American life and property. II SO,
they would nave been stationed in the vi
cinity of such property and so as to pro-
tect 1t, instead of at a distance and so as
to command the Hawaiian government
officer in command of our naval force on
the Pacific station, has frankly stated that,
in his opinion, the location OF troops was
inadvisable IL they were landed for the pro-
lection of American citizens, whose resi-
denceS and places of business, as we'll as
the legation and consulate, were in a dis
tant part of the city, but the location Sc
lected was a wise one II the forces We're
landed for the purpose OF supporting the
provisional government. III 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 con-
dition. There was no symptom of riot or
disturbance in any quarter. Men, women
and children were about the streets as
usual, and nothing varied the ordinary
routine or disturbed the ordinary tran
quiility, except the landing of the Boston's
marines and their march through the town
to the quarters assigned to them. Indeed,
the fact that, after having called for the
plea of danger TO life and property, the
committee 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
growing out of guilty intentions on their
part and something which, though not
then existing, they knew would certainly
follow their attempt to overthrow the gov
eminent of the Queen without the aid Of
the United States forces.
AS Lifts FRIENDS VIEW 1T.
Thus it 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 min
lister. The military occupation of Honolulu
by United States forces on the day men
toned was wholly without justification,
either as an occupation by consent or as
an occupation to avert danger threatening
American life and property. 1t must be ac-