The herald., 1893-11-21

Blount then tells how the cabinet re-
fueed to sign the constitution and the
rispleasnre OF the queen. On January
10th q proclamation was issued by the
pueen and the members, saying that
what che proposed to do on the Saturday
previous was compelled by the stress OF
her native subjects. This WAS sent to
Minister Stevens, to which there was no
response. On the 18th she sent another
letter, telling him that the present con-
btitution would be maintained. On the
back of this was written the word de
slined !" the time of its receipt was not
acted.
Blount said the cabinet could not be
removed for two years, and 1t being
Against the new constitution, there was
40 possibility of it being proclaimed.
His description of the revolution is as
follows:
ssNearly all the arms ON the island of
Oahu, ON which Honolulu is situated,
we're in the possession OF the queen 9
government. Military forces, organized
and drilled, occupied the station house,
barracks and the palace, the only points
OF strategic significance in an even con.
flict. The great body OF people moved
on their usual course, and yet there were
secret conferences held by small body
of men, SONS Germans, some Americans
and some native born subjects of foreign
origin. Saturday evening, the 18th OF
January. they took up the subject OF
dethroning the queen and proclaiming q
new government, with view to annex
stion to the United States. The first
and the most momentous question was
to devise come plan to have United
States troops landed.
"Thurston, who appears to have been
the leading spirit, Sunday sought two
members of the queens cabinet and
urged them TO- lead the movement
against the queen and ask Stevens to
land troops, assuring them that in such
an event Stevens would do so. Failing
to enlist any OF the queens cabinet in
the cause, it was necessary to devise
some other mode to accomplish the pur'
pose. A committee of safety, consisting
Of 13 members, was formed from q little
body of men in W. o. Smiths Office. q
deputation of these informing Stevens OF
their plans, arranged with him to land
troops if they would ask it for the pur-
pose OF protecting life and property
It was agreed that in the event they
should occupy the government building
and proclaim O new government, he
would recognize ii. Two leading men,
bers of the committee, Thurston and
Smith, growing uneasy for the safety of
their persons, went to Stevens to know
if he would protect them in the event
OF their arrest by the authorities, to
which he gave assent. At mass meeting
called by the committee of safety on the
10th Of January. no communication to
the crowd of any purpose to dethrone
the queen or change the form Of gov
eminent was made, but it was alleged it
was only to authorize the committee to
take steps to prevent the consum nation
of the queens purposes and secure guar
antess of public safety. The committee
of public safety kept their real purpose
from public view at the macs meeting
and at small gatherings, for fear Of pro-
ceedings against them by the govern
ment of the queen. After the mass
meeting closed call on the American
minister for troops was made and signed
Unfortunately by Germans, by Amer
leans and by Hawaiian subjects of for
eign extraction
The commissioner says the response
to that call does not appear on the files
of the legation that very might the
committee on public safety assembled in
house next to Minister Stepffens' resi-
dence, and ]. III. Soper, an American,
was elected to command the military
forces. 1t was on Monday evening, JAM
uary 10Th, at O'Clock, that the United
States troops were landed. Not much
time elapsed before it was given out by
members of the committee of safety
at the palace. To the cabinet, the lead
nf "a x,oilitn nd
the great body of people who were loyal
to the queen, the apprehension came
that the movement was hostile to the
existing government. Protests were
filed by the minister of foreign affairs
and by the governor of the islands
against the landing Of the troops.
Parker and Peterson testify that on
Tuesday st ] O'Clock they called on
Stevens, and were by him informed that
in the event the queens forces assailed
the insurrectionary force he would in
tervene. At 2:30 the same day the
members of the provisional government
proceeded to the government building
in squads and read their proclamation.
They separated in the march to the gov
ernment building for fear of observa-
ton and arrest.
Blount describes the location of the
troops, showing that the American
troops controlled the position of the
queens force, and continues: "They
were doubtless go located as to suggest
tothe queen and her counselors that
they were in cooperation with the in
surrectionary movement and would,
when the emergency arose, manifest it
by active support. 1t did doubtless aug-
gest to the men who read the proclama-
ton that they were having the
support of the American minis
ter and naval commander and were
safe from personal harm. Why
had the American minister located
the troops in such a situation and then
assured the members of the committee
OF safety that on their occupation of the
government building he would recognize
it as the government de facto and give
such government his support? Why
was the government building designated
to them as the place which, when the
proclamation was announced therefrom,
would be followed by his recognition ?
1t was not point of any strategic con-
sequence. 1t did not involve the en-
ployment of a single soldier. The build
ing WAS chosen where there were no
troops stationed. where no strug-
gle would be made to obtain access,
with the American force Immediately
contiguous, with the mess of the popu-
lation impressed with its unfriendly at
titude. Aye, more than this, before any
demand for surrender was even made on
the queen or on the commander or any