The record-union., 1893-01-30

2. And whereas, such attempt has been
accompanied by threats of violence and
bloodshed and a display of armed force,
and such attempt and act and threats are
revolutionary and reasonable in char
acter;
3. And whereas, her maiesty's Cabi-
net has informed her that such contem-
plated action was unlawful and would
lead to bloodshed and riot, and has im-
plored and demanded of her to desist
from and renodnce such proposed action;
4. And whereas, such advice has been
IN vain, and her majesty has in public
speech announced that she was desirous
and ready to promulgate such constitu-
ton, the same being now ready for such
purpose, and that the only reason why it
was not now promulgated was because
she had met with unexpected obstacles
and that fitting opportunity in the fu-
ture must be awaited for the consumma-
ton of such object, which would be with
in few days;
5. And whereas, at public meeting of
citizens held in Honolulu on the 14th
day of January instant, committee of
thirteen, to be known as the Committee
OF Public Safety" was appointed to con-
slider the situation and devise ways and
means for the maintenance of the public
peace and safety and the preservation of
life and property;
u. And whereas, such committee has
recommended the calling of this mass
meeting of citizens TO protest against and
condemn such action, and has this day
presented report to such meeting de-
nouncing the action of the Queen and her
supporters as being unlawful, unwar-
ranted, IN derogation of the rights of the
people, endangering the peace of the
community and tending to excite riot
and cause the loss of life and obstruction
of property
Now therefore, we, the citizens of Hon
oluiu of all nationalities and regardless Of
political party affiliations, do hereby con-
denim and denounce the action of the
Queen and her supporters.
And we do hereby ratify the appoint
ment and indorse the actlon taken and
report made by the committee of safety,
and we do hereby further empower such
committee to further cons;der the situa-
ton and further devise such ways and
means as may be necessary to secure the
permanent maintenance of law and order
and the protection of life, liberty and
property in Hawaii.
This resolution was passed without a
dissenting voice and amid tremendous
cheers.
All day Tuesday the community were
in state of expectancy, looking to the
Committee of Public Safety to do some
thing to end the state of tension, and to
secure the rights of all citizens against
encroachment once and for all. The COM
mittee in the meantime was not idle, but
was lncessantly occupied completing its
organization and perfecting the final ar
rangements necessary to the proclama-
ton of the Provisional Government and
itcs H.
about 2:30 o'clock an attempt was made
by three native policemen to arrest the
progress of wagon which was being
driven up Ford street by Mr.. Benner and
Mr.. Good. Those in charge of the wagon
resisted the attempt of the officers to ar
rest its course. One of the officers max
ing motion to draw a revolver, Mr..
Good drew his own, and calling atten-
ton to the fact that he was justified in
shooting. he fired, seeking however to
avoid the intiction of a dangerous
wound. The wagon pursued its way fol-
lowed by a policeman in hack. This
episode precipitated the movement. Citi-
zens hurried to the Beretania-street Arm
ory where they were formed into COM
panies, armed, and marched to the Cow
ernment Building.
In the meantime the Committee of
Public Safety, accompanied by membe
OF the Government about to be formed,
proceeded to the Government building,
They were entirely unarmed. Arrived
at the Government building, the commit
tee inquired for the Cabinet, but the Min
listers were not to be found. They then
demanded and received of Mr.. Hassinger
the possession Of the building. The party
now proceeded to the front steps, and in
the presence of a rapidly increasing
crowd the following proclamation was
read:
THE PROCLAMATION.
In it's early history Hawaii possessed a
constitutional government honestly and
economically administered in the public
interest.
The crown called to its assistance as
advisors able. honest and conservative
men, whose integrity was unquestioned
even by their political opponents.
The stability of the Government was
assured; armed resistance and revolution
unthought of; popular rights were re-
spected, and the privileges of the subject
from time to time increased and the
prerogatiyes of the sovereign diminished
by the voluntary acts of the successive
Kings.
With very few exceptions this state of
affairs continued until the expiration of
the first years of the reign of his late
majesty Kalakaua. At this time change
was discernible in the spirit animating
the chief executive and in the influences
surrounding the throne. A steadily in
creasing disposition was manifested on
the part of the King to extend the royal
prerogatives; to favor adventurers and
persons of no character or standing in
the community; to encroach upon the
rights and privileges of the people by
steadily increasing corruption of electors,
and by means of the power and influence
of otfice-nolders and other corrupt
means to illegitimately influence the cleo
tions, resulting in the final absolute con-
troll of not only the executive and legis-
Iative, but, to a certain extent, the judi
cial departments of the Government in
the interests of absolutism.
This finally resulted in the revulsion
of feeling and popular uprising of 1887,
which wrested from the King a large
portion OF his ill-gotten powers.
The leaders of this movement were not
seeking personal aggrandizement, po-
litical power or the suppression of the
native Government. If this had been
their object it could easily have been ac-
complished, for they had the absolute
control of the situation.
Their object was to secure responsible
government through a representative
Cabinet, supported by and responsible to
the peoples elected representatives. A
clause to this effect was inserted in the
constitution and subsequently enacted by
law by the Legislatures, specifically COW
ering the ground that, in all matters con-
cerning the state the sovereign was to act
by and with the advice of the Cabinet, and
only by and with such advice.
The King willingly agreed to such
proposition, expressed regret for the