The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-04
Our Sailors at Honolulu.

The offence OF Minister STEVENS and Capt.
W1LTsE in landing forces from tho Boston
seems to have been, in the eyes OF MIR.
BLoUNT and Mr.. GRESHAM, that these forces
aided the Provisional Government OF Ha-
wall TO restore order there. IL, instead.
they had aided the deposed Queen to regain
her throne. or II they had been retained
aboard ship. so that riotlng might have
gone on at Honolulu we should doubtless
have heard no complaint from the present
State Department.
But our buejacllcts aud marines had
more than once been landed at that port. at
the request OF the United States Minister.
for the purpose OF preserving order. and OF
not allowing factions to involve the islands
in anarchy. They respected also the ruling
authority. even IL 1t had not been in existence
day Such an instance OF intervention.
well worth recalling at the present day. oc-
Cured after King LUNALTLo died in 1874,
and his successor was chosen. Queen EMMA
and Prince DAVID KALAKAUA were the candi-
dates. and the former was perhaps the more
popular with the natives although much un-
der British influence, while KALAKAUA was
well disposed toward the Americans. No
sooner had KALAKAUA been elected than
UlbD Vi QupcH EMMA y DiphS lilIO
the building where the vote had been taken
blythe Legislature. Furniture was smashed.
the members were attacked. and tho COM
mittee appointed to inform KAhAKAuA OF
his election was driven back ON attempting
to leave the grounds.
At that time, the Portsmouth and Tus-
carora of our navy lay in tho harbor; and at
the request OF KALAKAUA and Of Foreign
Minister BISHOP. Minister PIERCE called for
forces. The vessels were all ready for tho
call, and within an hour, it is said.
$50 officers and men. with Calling
gun, were around the building and
quellcd the riot. 1t had not taken
Minister PIERCE long to decide which
authority to recognize. or Ia which way
American interests were to be promoted,
even IL there were two parties In Hawaii.
The British steamer Tenedos was also ut
that time in the harbor. and it was believed
that her officers favored Queen EMMA.
All this affair. be it observed. occurred
within u single day. Our forces stayed
ashore week. until the new King had
taken the oath OF Office and peace was
assured. But the election occurred. tho
riot broke out. the troops were landed,
the new Government. which our Minister
chose to recognize. was effectively sup
ported. and quiet was restored. within a
period OF few hours. The attorney-like
cross-questionings and pleadings OF Mr..
BLoUNT and Mr.. GRESHAM as to the par
tlcular hours when like effective steps
were taken last winter by Minister STE
VEINS and Capt. WnTsE. are In remarkable
contrast with this record OF 1874 No one
doubts that the Intervention Of our naval
forces at that time restored peace. just as
the intervention Of the Boston last winter
prevented great disorders. II We are to place
the slightest credit on the pretensions OF
the royalists respecting the forces which
they could have summoned for the restora-
ton OF the Queen.
Now shall we see a landing OF forces from
the Philadelphia. not. as from the Ports
mouth in 1874 and from the Boston last
winter. to preserve order on a change Of
Government. but for the express purpose OF
effecting such a change by force. and for
creating disorders when peace exists