Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-11
THE CASE OF HAWAII.
Secretary Gresham Submits His
Views to the President
LOCKING TO THE QUEENS RESTORATION
The Position Strongly Condemned
by Ex-Minister Stevens.
SENATOR MORGAN'S COMMENT

AS was stated in yesterdays Star, the Ha-
waiian question engaged the principal share
OF the cabinet at it's meeting yesterday. A
report on that subject prepared by Secre-
tary Gresham was read and carefully con-
sidered with the result that the Secre-
tary was advised TO make it public before
the action Of the government in the matter
became known through advices from Homo
lulu. 1t Is expected that the next mail
from the island will show what has been
done by Minister Willis and Admiral Irwin
in execution Of the new policy of the ad-
ministration and its effect upon the people
directly affected by the change.
Secretary Gresham's report Is addressed
to the President, and although it does not
say SO. 1t is assumed to embody the SUBJ
stance of the instructions by which our
diplomatic and naval representatives at Ha-
wall will be governed. The report opens
with historical review of events preced-
ing, surrounding and following the estab-
lishment Of the present provisional govern
ment Of Hawaii
Facts Said to BE Established.
The Secretary states that the full and i'm
partial reports submitted by Hon. James
H. Blount, special commissioner to the Ha-
waiian Islands, established these facts:
Queen Liliuokalani announced her inten-
ton on Saturday. January IA. 1893, to pro-
| claim new constitution, but the opposi-
ton Of her ministers and others induced
her to speedily change her purpose and
| make public announcement of the fact. At
| a meeting in Honolulu late on the afternoon
of that day a so-called committee of pub
lie safety, consisting of thirteen men, being
all nearly all present. and a majority
| Of whom, including five Americans. were
aliens, was appointed to consider the situa-
ton and devise ways and means FOR the
maintenance of the public peace ana the
protection of life and property.
This committee met on the 18th or the
| forenoon of the 18th and resolved, among
| be created Ito exist until terms of union
| with the United States of America nave
| been negotiated and agreed upon
At mass meeting, composed largely Of
aliens which assembled at D. m. on the
| last-named day, the queen and her support
ers were condemned and denounced and
| the committee was continued and all Its
acts approved. Later the same afternoon
| the committee addressed a letter to John
L. Stevens. the American minister at Homo
lulu, stating that the lives and property
Of the people were in peril and appealing
| to him and the United States forces, at his
command, for assistance. This commUni-
cation concluded: We are unable TO pro-
tect ourselves without aid. and therefore
hope for the protection of the United states
forces"
United States Marines Landed.
On receipt of this letter Mr.. Stevens re-
Quested Capt. Wiltse. commander Of the
United States steamer Boston, to land a
force for the protection of the United
States legation, United States consulate and
to secure the safety of American life and
property" The well-armed troops We're
properly landed and marched through the
quiet streets of Honolulu with two 'iatling
guns to public hall. previously secured ty
Mr.. Stevens for their accommodation. This
hall was just across the street from the
government building and in plain view Of
the queens palace.
The governor of the island Immediately
addressed to Mr.. Stevens a communication
protesting against the act as an unwar
ranted invasion of Hawaiian soil and
minding him that the proper authorities
had never denied permission to the naval
forces of the United States to land for drill
or any other proper purpose.
About the same time the queens minister
of foreign affairs sent a note to Mr.. Stevens
asking why troops had been landed and in
forming him that the proper auth orities
were able and willing to afford full protec-
can interests in Honolulu Only cvaSive
| replies were sent to these communications.
PrOvisiOnal Government Established.
While there were no manifestations Of
excitement alarm in the city, and the
people were ignorant of the contempla. led
movement, the committee entered the gov
eminent building after first ascertaining
that it was unguarded and one of their
number, a citizen of the United States, read
a proclamation declaring that the existing
government was overthrow and a provi-
sional government established in it's place.
Ito exist until terms of union with the
United States of America have been nego-
tiated and agreed upon
No audience was present when the proc
lamation was read, but during the reading
forty or fifty men. some of them indiffer-
emily armed, entered the room. The execu-
tive and advisory councils mentioned in the
proclamation, at once addressed a commu-
nication to Mr.. Stevens, informing him that
the monarchy had been abrogated and
provisional government esta blished.
On receipt of this letter Mr. Stevens i'm
mediately recognized the new government
and, In a note addressed to Sanford B. Dole.
its president. informed him that he had
done so.
The Queen DepOsed.
The same afternoon the queen, her min
listers, represent atives of the provisional
government and others held conference at
the palace. Refusing to recognize the new
authority or surrender to it, she was in
formed that the provisional government
had the support Of the American minister,
and, II necessary, would be maintained by
the military force of the United States,
then present; that a demonstration on her
part would precipitate a conflict with that
force; that she could not, with the hope of
success, engage in a war with the United
States, and that resistance would result in
useless sacrifice of life. Mr.. Damon, one
Of the chief leaders of the movement, and
afterward vice president of the provisional
government. informed the queen that she
could surrender under protest, and her
case would be considered later at WASH
ington. Believing that under the circum-
stances, submission was a duty, and that
her case would be fairly considered by the
President of the United States, the queen
finally yielded and sent to the provisional
government a paper In which she stated:
THAT yield to the superior force of the
United States of, America, whose minister
plenipotentiaTy, his excelency John l..
Stevens, has caused United States troops
to be landed at Honolulu and declared that
he would support the provisional govern
ment
Now, to avoid any collision of armed
forces and perhaps, the loss of life. 1 do,
under this protest and impeled by said
force yield my authority until such time as
the government of the United States SHALL
upon the facts being presented to it. undo
the action Of it's representative and REIN
state me and the authority which / claim
as the constitutional sovereign Of the Ha-
waiian Islands,
What Minister stevens RenOrted.
In his dispatch to Mr.. Foster of January
IS. describing the so-called revolution, Mr..
Stevens says: THE committee of public