The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-10
AS VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.

sulates were flying at half mast when the
AS VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.
Secretary Foster Says Minister Stevens Acted
to Meet an Emergency.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-The press dis
patches from San Francisco this morning
were the first information received at the
State Department by the Haw ailan COM
missioners of the establishment of protec-
torate over the Hawaiian islands by Minis
ter Stevens. This afternoon the Hawaiian
commissioners received telegram from
Charles NJ. Cook. announcing his arrival at
San Francisco. with dispatches for them
from the provisional government. He is
expected to reach here next Wednesday
afternoon.
Late tonight Secretary of State Foster
received the following dispatch from Min.
lister Stevens. dated Honolulu, Feb. 1, via
San Francisco. Feb. 81:
The provisional government of Hawaii is gain
ing power and respect Everything is quiet.
dead monarchy and opposition TO annexation is
supported chiefly by lottery and opium ring.
To-day at a. NJ, in accordance with the re-
quest OF the provisional government OF Hawail,
| have placed the government OF Hawaii under
United States protection during negotiations.
fairs. Dispatches by mail with fun details.
STEVENS.
Speaking of the dispatch and the devel.
Opments of the day in the Hawaiian situa-
tion. Secretary Foster said the action of
Minister Stevens In declaring the Ha-
waiian islands under the protectorate of
the United States was taken without in
structiOns from the Department of State.
In fact, the movement for the change of
government was unexpected. and had not
been anticipated by instructions from
Washington. Mr.. Stevens had therefore
been compelled to act independently and
upon his best judgment as the emergencies
had arisen. Tho first instruction given by
the departments was the telegram of the
Stevens's recognition of the provisional
government, an act on bis part which had
been followed by all the other foreign rep
resentatives In Honolulu. He had been
further instructed to protect American
citizens and property.
There was no conference to-day between
the Secretary of State and the Hawaiian
commissioners. as Thursday is diplomatic"
day ut the department., and the Secretary
was fully occupied with the calls of foreign
ministers, among whom were those of Great
Britain, France, Italy, Nicaragua and other
countries. 1t is understood tonight that
the Hawaiian commissioners are to see Sec
retary Foster tomorrow. at 10A.M.
When the Senate went into executive
session to-day it released the injunction of
secrecy upon the correspondence between
the United States and the British and
French governments from 1872 to 1874, re-
specting the seizure of the Hawaiian
islands by Lord Paulet for the British gov
ernment The correspondence ends with
the declaration by the British and French
governments of the independence of Ha-
wall and their guarantee never to seek
possession of the islands
Ia y an na of a
spirited little scene between Mr.. Higgins
and Mr.. Mills. The news that protector
ate had been established over Hawaii by
the American minister was first convey ed
to the Senate by means OF the press dis
patch from San Francisco. 1t created lit
tie discussion on the floor. Mr. Mills, how
ever. took vigorous grounds against the
conduct of the minister. and asked by what
authority this piracy. as he termed it. had
been committed. and by what authority
the American flag had been run up over
the islands. This caused Mr.. Higgins to
retort with an INQUIRY As to what author
ity could be shown tor the hosting of
Sc veral flags on divers occasions in the
ceptlon here noted there appears to be a
general feeling of satisfaction that affairs
have taken their present shape.
THURsToN REPLIES TO CoLBURN.
This evening Mr.. Lorrin A. Thurston.
with the consent and approval of his asso-
c!ate commissioners. made the following
statement in reply to the letter from J. N.
Colburn, ex.MiDIster OF the Interior of the
Hawaiian Cabinet. published in the papers
to-day:
1t has been claimed by and on behalf Of Queen
Lilluokalani that the late Hawaiian government
yielded to the force OF the United States when
she surrendered to the Hawaiian provisional
government and the claim has been amplified
in some OF the papers into o charge that the
whole movement was a precOnceived conspiracy
in favor OF annexation. This statement mas al
ready been denied by the commissioners, but as
il is reiterated this morning in the letter written
by j. f. COlburn, the late Minister of the In
terror, think a more specific denial, setting
forth the circumstances, should be made.
In the first place, the undisputed facts show
that no action was taken by anybody until tho
14th OF January. after the Queen had attempted
with force TO abrogate the existing Constitution
and proclaim new one. The uprising of citi-
Zens. which finally resulted In the establishment
of the provisional government. took place at the
express request or the Cabinet, of which Mr..
Coburn was a member. in response to call
from the Cabinet TO the citizens TO support them
with arms against the demands OF the
Queen, which demands she was pre-
pared TO enforce with the entire military
and police force OF the kingdom. and after
she had threatened the lives OF the mem bers OF
the Cabinet themselves IL there was any con-
splracy to precipitate matters In the interest OF
annexation, then the Queen and her Cabinet
were the principal members or the conspiracy,
for the Queen was the one who initiated action
and her Ministers were the ones who first re-
quested the Queen TO take up arms against tie
Queen.
Mr. Thurston proceeds ut length to give
further facts to disp prove the conspiracy
theory. He says there - no supporting ey-
idence to the charge, and all the logic in
the case is against il. and then continues
At o'clock Monday afternoon, the 10th. l.50O
determined men announced their intention, by
ffsaurSu.,.<S as. S~cnud pau.