The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-09

| get the letter before some OF the leading
! statesmen OF America and to help 10
place the situation of affairs in this coun-
| try in such an impartial manner TO them
| that the Hawaiian Queen, her Government
| and the native population can receive such
| hearing from your Government that the
| American nation will cause the Queen to
be restored TO her throne, her Government
| TO the power and the Hawaiian native
| population to their rights"
ColDurn then tells of the deposition of the
! former Cabinet and the summoning on jan
uary Is of the one headed by Parker and in
wheh he (Colburn) served. They immed-
ately repaired TO the Legislature and an
nounced their appointment
"Those of the Legislature present." says
he, ''aud the populace TO the number of
about one thousand gathered there. re-
ceiyed us with applause. The next morn
ing, Saturday. January II, the day that had
been previously set apart as the day TO pro-
rogue the Legislature. came. and we pre-
sented ourselves again, and after going
through the business of the Rouse it ad-
| journed to meet at the prorogation hour
u NJ. / may mention here that on Friday
and Saturday, the days that w0 attended
the sessions of the Legislature, the reform
party was so dissatisfied and hostile over its
defeat that on both days its members re-
fused to attend the Legislature. and did not
have the courtesy to attend the prorOgation
While waiting for the hour of II to ap-
pr0ach l accidentally heard that the Queen
proposed to promulgate new constitution.
l Immediately sought an interview with my
colleagues and notified them that if the
Queen intended TO act In such en- arbitrary
manner l would resign. They answered
that they were willing to do the same thing,
and We decided that if the Queen intended
TO carry into effect any such idea we would
all advise her not to do so.
81 at once repaired TO the place of meeting
Of the OppoSition-the reform party-and
told them what l had heard and what we
had concluded TO do. The leaders of the
party advised US strongly not to resign, as
il would give the Queen an opportunity 10
appoint others who would be willing to sign
the new constitution. We followed this adj
vice. aud they assured US that If any con-
aiet came between the Queen and US (her
Cabinet, the community would give US
its support TO resist any measure Of this
SOFT.
AT ! 90 o'clock the Legislature was pro-
rogued, and We prepared to meet the Queen.
She then and there told rs to sign a docu-
ment, which purpOrted to be a new consti-
tuition. We told her plainly that we would
not accede TO her reqsest, and advised her
10 Danish the idea. She was very deter
mined at first, but after some words yielded
and gave it up She then came out and de-
clared openly to the Hawaiian people that
she could not give them n new constitution,
and told them TO endure their grievances.
THE crowd dispersed and on the next day
the leader of the reform party met US and
made proposition TO US that owing to the
Queens revolutionary actions in wanting to
promulgate a new constitution We should
depoSe her and declare a Provisional Gov
ernment. Our answer was that we would
give them an answer later on, and in the
mean time we, the Cabinet, summoned six
of the most responsible and conservative
business men OF the city and also the dip0-
matte corps. They met US, with the excep-
tion of j. L. Stevens, the American Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
tiary to this country. We discussed the sit
uation and agreed that the Queen was at
first iIl-advised, but that as she had aban-
d0ned her project we should not depose her
and should not declare a Provisional Gov
ernment.
I'VE then notified the lealers Of this de-
funct aud maIc0nteHt party that we
would not agree TO their proposition. At
the same time we issued a proclamation
and scattered it all over town and delivered
1t to the diplomatic corps, 10 the effect that
the Queen had abandoned her idea, aud
asking one and all to accept the assurances
given in the proclamation by the Queen and
her Cabinet.
They were not satisfied with this. but,
with the assistance Of the American Min
lister and the troops from the United States
steamer Boston, enlisted a number of men
TO the extent of 200 and, aided by the Amer
lean troops, took possession and declared.
by proclamation, Provisional Government,
contrary to the constitution now in force
and contrary to the rights of 100000 people.
the population Of this country.
"The Cabinet notified the American Min
lister Of what had happened and asked him
to assist the duly authorized Government to
suppress this revolt. or, if he did not want
TO do that. then to rem the United States
troops on board the Boston and we. the
Government. could do it ourselves. When
we told him We had 700 men under arms and
we're equal to the situation, his reply was
bhob 4AC AiaA OhAbh tNA6SN tuS lOStolOudt
Government and would support it.
1--WE. the Government, then came to the
conclusion, as We did not wish to come into
conflict ith the United States troops, to
yield under protest. The Queen and her
Cabinet are at present removed under pro-
test. pending hearing before the United
States Senate and the President of that
country.
This action on the part of the American
Minister is degrading He has upheld the
mob and does so against the wishes of the
aborigines OF this country, who are capa-
bic of taking care Of themselves. The Pro-
visiOnal Government has put the country
under martial law and they are dispatchDg
steamer now to carry the report TO Wash
ington. We have asked the steamer to take
our representatives., so that both sides OF
the case can be heard, and they refuse.
We VIII send them later. We trust it will
not be too late. The Hawaiian people are
wailing for the loss OF their country. Cam
not America, the land Of the free and the
home of the brave, undo this great wrong
that she, by her troops and ambassador.
assisted to do? viii you use your influence
for Us? Act promptly. and may God assist
and - you"
This letter has been forwarded to PresI-
dent Harrison by Ganse. who makes an ear
nest appeal to the President and Congress
not to accede to the demands OF the pro-
visional commissioners upheld and sane
toned by the American Minister Plenipo-
tentiary j. l.. Stevens, who has, it is
charged, without authority from the Ameri-
can Government taken upon himself a
high-handed measure in trying to overthrow
a peaceful Government"
The letter was brought over on the Clau-
dine by personal friend Of COlburn on a
business trip to California. who took pas
sage with the commission. His sentiments
were unknown to his fellow-p passengers,
and he carefully concealed the fact that he
had been entrusted with the important doc
ument, as had it been known he would have