The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-30

was both dc fncto ana the ue 1ure governments
In point of fact the existing government, In
stead OF requesting the presence OF an armed
force, protested against 1t. There is ns little
basis for the prctenso that such forces we're
landed for the security OF American life and
property. II so they would have been sta
toned in the vicinity Of such property
and so as to protect It, instead Of at
distance ard 30 os to command the
Hawaiian government building and palace
Admiral Sheriff, tho oflcer In command OF
our naval force on the Pacific station, has
frankly stated that in his opinion tho location
OF troops was inadvisable II they were landed
for the protection OF American citizens, whose
residences and places OF business, Us well as
the legation and consulate, were in n distant
part OF the city, but the location selected was
wise one II the forces were landed for the pur'
pose OF supporting the provisional government
II 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 tho United States
in activity TO protect their citizens. But they
made no sign in ihat direction. When these
armed men were Mfdca, tho city Of Honolulu
| was in Its customary orderly and peaceful con-
dition. There was no symptom OF riot or disturb
| ance in any quarter. Men, women and children
| were about tho streets as usual, and nothing
| varied the ordinary routine or disturbed tho
ordinary tranquility except tho landing OF the
Bostons marines and their march through the
town to the quarters assigned to them In.
| deed the fact that after having called for the
landing OF the United States forces on the plea
| OF danger TO life md property, the committee
| Of safety themselves requested the minister to
| postpone action, exposed the untruthfulncss OF
their representations Of present peril to life
| and property.
The peril they saw was an anticipation grow
| ing out OF guilty intentions on their part and
| some Thing which, though not then exciting, they
knew would certainly follow their attempt to
overthrow the government OF the queen without
| tho nid OF the United States forces Thus 1t up.
pears that Hawaii was taken possession Of by
| the United States forces without the consent or
| wish OF the government OF the Islands or OF any
| body else, so far as shown, except the United
| States minister.
The military occupation OF Honolulu by the
United States OF the day mentioned was who'll
ly without justification, either Us an occupation
by consent or rs an occupation through dangers
! threa tcnng American life and property. 1t
must be accounted for in some other way and
on some other ground, and its real motive and
purpose are neither obscure nor far TO seek.
The United States forces being now on the
sceno and favorably stationed the committee
proceeded to carry out their original scheme.
They met the next morning, Tuesday the 18th,
perfected the plan OF temporary govern.
ment and fixed upon its principal off,
GERS, ten OF whom were drawn from
the thirteen members Of the committee
OF safety Between one and two o'clock. by
|
and having frst taken the precaution Of ascer-
tanning whether there was anyone TO oppose
them, they proceeded to the government build.
ing to proclaim the new government. No sign
Of opposition was manifest, ana thereupon an
American citizen began to read tho proclama-
tion from the steps OF the government building
almost entirely without auditors.
1t is said that before the reading was fin.
ishod quite concourse OF persons, varously
estimated at from fifty to one hundred, some
armed and some unarmcd, gathered about the
committee to give them aid and confidence.
This statement is not important, since the one
controlling factor in the whole affair was un-
Questionably the United States marines, who,
drawn up under arms and artillery in readiness
only seventy.six yards distant, dominated the
situation.
The provisional government thus proclaimed
was, by the terms Of the proclamation, "to exist
until terms OF union with the United States had
been negotiated and agreed upon" The United
, States minister, pursuant to prior agreement
, recognized this government within an hour
! after the reading OF the proclamation and be
fore five O'Clock in answer to an inquiry be
half OF the queen and her cabinet, announced
that he had done So
When our minister recognized the provisiona
!, government the only basis upon which 1t restet
, was the fact that the committee Of safety had
in the manner above stated, declared it to exist
1t was neither government do facto nor dt
1ure.
, That 1t was not in such possession of the gov
ernment property and agencies as entitled ii t
recognition Is concusively proved by Il nott
; found in the files OF the legation ut Honolul,
, addressed by the declared head OF the provi
sional government to Minister Stevens, dated
January IL. 1893 in which he acknowledges
, with expressions OF appreciation the
minister's recognition of the pro
visional government, and states that II
, is not yet In the possession of the stlion-house
, (the place where large number of the queens
. troops were quartered), though the same hat
been demanded Of the queens officers in charge
, Nevertheless this wrongful recognition by oul
: minister placed the government OF the queen ir
a position Of most perilous perplexity. She
: knew that she could not Withstand the power
of the United States, but she believed that She
! might safely trust to its Justice.
Accordingly some hours after the recognition
! OF the provisional government by the Unitet
!, States minister the palace the barracks ant
the police station, with all the military re
sources OF the country, were delivered up by
the queen upon the representation made to he
= . that her cause would hereafter be reviewed a
. Washington, and while protesting that She
surrendered TO the superior force of thu
| United States. whose minister had caused
:. United States troops TO be landed ut Honolul,
. ana declared that he would support the prcvis
q ional government and that she yielded her au
+ thority to prevent collision OF armed forces ant
- loss OF life and only until such time as tn,
|
: to IL, should undo the action OF its representa-
:. tive and reinsate her in the authority sh
= claimed rs the constitutional sovereign OF tn
Hawaiin islands.
= Tho provisional government, with this unan
\, swered protest in hand, hastcncd TO negotiate
,, with the United States for the permanent ban
n ishment OF the queen from power and for III
). sale OF her kingdom. l believe that n candi
~ and thorough examination OF the facts vii
!. force the conviction that the provisional gov
- ernment owes Its existence 10 an armed inva
h sion by the United States.
- AS apprehend the situation, we are brough
4 face to face with the following cond,ions
q The lawful government OF Hawaii was over
h thrown without the drawing OF n sword or tn
% firing OF shot by a process every step O
\. which, 1t may safely be asserted Is directl
traceable TO and dependent for its success upo
I. the agency of the United States acting through
o Its diplomatic and naval representatives Blu
l. for the notorious predictions OF the Unite
v States minister for annexation, tho commits
It tee OF safety which should be called the com
4. mittee OF annexation, would never have existed
r. But before the landing OF the United State
'. forces upon the false pretexts respecting tn
Ii danger to life and property, The committe
3 would never have exposed themselves to tn
d pains and penalties OF treason by undertaken
10 the subvfrsion OF the queens government
r. But FOR the presence OF the United State
" forces in the immediate vicinity and in positio
10 to AFFORD all needed protection and support III
10 committee would not have proclaimed the pre-
II visonal government from the steps OF the 60,
II ernment building.
FINALLY. but for The l.wless npcupa tton n