Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-13

agent in attempting such a great offense
against American civilization, justice and
law. His intense hostility to ex-President
Harrison and to the illustrious ex-Secretary
Of State. who passed to his grave in jan
uary last, is well known. 1t was that which
caused him to betray and desert the great
political party whose honors he had shared,
and brought him to his present attitude to-
ward his former associates and their work
So far as his recent manifesto on Hawaiian
affairs cast reflection on my official action
1 care little except to the degree that his
cruel and untruthful words strike at the
noble band Of men and women who have
for ten months stood so devotedly and
unitedly in defense of American civilization.
The remarks made by me before the
chamber of commerce in San Francisco June
l. and before the citizens of Augusta, June
%, republished in the Kennebec Journal of
today, are answers to most of the shame
fully unjust imputations on my official ac-
ton, under circumstances requiring my
deepest anxiety to faithfully serve my coun-
try and the cause of humanity. Perhaps
nothing better shows the character of the
Secretary's assault than what he says about
the hall which the men OF the Boston oc-
cupied few days, and until better quarters
could be procured.
After 1 had made my request to Capt
Wiltse to land his men, as a precautionary
safeguard to American life and property he
and his officers informed me that their men
must have shelter for the night. Without
special information in that regard I had
supposed that the ships marines had tents
OF their own for their customary use in
| case of emergency on shore. / at once wrote
a note and sent 1t by a messenger to secure
large hall that was supposed to be avail
able. The man in charge of the hall was
several miles away. had not known of the
existence Of the Arion Hall until that even
| ing, when a messenger with my note was
sent to the supposed agent of the Arion
Hall, who was a royalist. He returned me
| courteous answer, saying he would be
pleased to let the hall for the specified pur-
pose. but he had ceased to be the agent. in
| forming me- who then had charge OF the
hall. This required a third note. and third
effort of messenger, which proved sue
cessful.
so much time had thus been consumed
that the Boston's marines and sailors were
obliged to stand weary hours in the street
before they were able to go to their night
quarters. All Of them would have been
lodged at the legation and consulate, but
for want OF room, where as many as pos
sibie were received these localities being
several streets and squares from the palace
and government building.
The Queen Caused the Revolution.
Queen Liliuokalani inausurated the revo-
luton by attempting to destroy the consti-
tuition by revolutionary means. From Sat
uday afternoon, January II, to January l6.
there was no government in Honolulu ex-
cept in the united and self-possessed atti-
tude of citizens, who assembled in a great
mass meeting on January 16 and consum-
mated their efforts for law and order by
the establishment of the provisional govern
ment the 18th, which was promptly acknowl-
edged by all the foreign representatives who
were familiar with the circumstances of its
creation. 1t was fifty hours after Liliuoka-
lani and her favorites had destroyed her
throne by a revolutionary outbreak when
the men of the Boston landed. In the ex-
citing hours preceding and following her fall
her representatives well as those who
formed the provisional government had
equal access to the legation. To all proper
inquiries my answer was that the United
States marines could not take sides. but
whatever de facto government might exist
would have to be recognized
When did recognize il, hate in the after
noon OF the l7th the provisional government
was complete master OF the situation, had
full control OF the city and of the govern
ment archives, the police station being sur
rounded and at the mercy of the provisional
government II was a small building. in
which the disorganized and powerless fol-
| lowers of the fallen queens paramour,
Marshall took refuge. and they must have
surrendered in a few hours by the mere
ment knew its power to possess the station
at once, but wished not to take a life of its
occupants. 1t deemed IL wiser to await
their surrender.
Had the queens supporters dared to re-
sist the organization of the new govern
ment then. the only possible chance to do so
was during Sunday and Monday, the 18th
and 10th, while the citizens were attending
their mass meeting, selecting their commit
tees Of public safety and preparing to
organize government as openly public
meetings are held in any American city.
They did not dare to attempt to arrest or
| interfere with the aroused white citizens.
An Irresistible Movement.
TT was a united and irresistible movement
Of the same men, with now increased num-
bers. who took away the despotic powers OF
King Kalakaua in 1887 and crushed the Will
COX revolt in 1889 They gathered at the
armory with their rifles in hand, which were
increased by other arms openly carried in a
carriage from a gun store with only three
men in charge. The only government that
existed, or could exist under the circum-
stances was the provisional government
Whoever denies this has no other basis
for his deniais than perjured affidavits,
hundreds of which are obtainable in the
slums of Honolulu at & each.
An effort has been made to damage my
recognition of the provisional government
by dispute as to the hour by the clock at
which gave recognition. That is of no es-
sential Importance, for, in fact all resist
ance to the formation of a new government
practically ceased more than two days be-
fore. The committee of public safety and
! the provisional government constituted the
only Hawaiian government de facto exist
ing for twentyfour hours prior to my recog-
nition the monarchial government having
| completely collapsed several days before, so
all unjust imputations on Capt. Wiltse and
myself will vanish into thin air, and the
crime OF attempting to crush out the sup
porters of the Hawaiian provisional govern
ment will stand out in bold relief to Amer
| ica's shame.
JOHN L. STEVENS"