Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-13
HAWAII'SREVOLUTlON
E1-Secretarv Fosters Report to Ex-
President Harrison on the Subject.
THE CHANGE WAS UNEXPECTED.
U. S. Troops Did Not Participate in
the Conflict.
POLICY FOR SEVENTY YEARS.

POLICY FOR SEVENTY YEARS.
The report made by Secretary John w.
Foster to President Harrison February 18th
last. concerning the change in the govern
ment of Hawaii shows that at that time at
least the authorities at Washington held an
entirely different view of the events that
resulted in the overthrow of Queen Liliuoka-
lani from that now presented by Secretary
Gresham based on Mr.. Blount's report upon
which the President predicates his policy Of
restoring the queen to her throne. In his
review Of the events eliminating in the es-
adjustment Of the provisional government
Mr.. Foster says:
Entirely Unexpected.
''The change of government in the Ha-
waiian Islands, thus chronicled, was entire
iy unexpected SO far as this government
was concerned. 1t is true that for some
months past the Hawaiian press and the
advices received from the diplomatic and
consular representatives at Honolulu indi-
Gated political uncertainty. party intrigues
and legislative opposition. but not more so
than at many times in the past history of
the Islands. and certainly not suggestive Of
an overthrow of the monarchy through pop
ular resistance to the Unconstitutional acts
Stevens been instructed with regard to his
course in the event of a revolutionary up
rising. The well-established policy Of this
government maintained on many occasions
from Its earliest establishment, to hold rela-
tons with any de facto government in pos
session Of the effective power of the state
and having the acQuiescence of the gov
erned, being ample to meet unforeseen con-
tlngencieS, no Instructions in this specific
sense were indeed necessary; and the min
ister without explicit Instructions. was ex-
pected and constrained to use his best judy
ment in accordance with fundamental pre-
cedent, as the emergency should arise.
The change was, in fact, abrupt and I'M
looked for by the United States minister or
the naval commander. At moment Of ap-
parent tranquility, when the political ex-
element and controversy of the immediate
ly preceding three months had been to all
appearances definitely allayed. and when. as
appears from dispatches from the minister
and from the commanding officer of the
Boston, a settlement of differences seemed
to have been reached Minister Stevens quit
ted the capital for a brief excursion of ten
days to a neighborng island on the Boston.
the only naval vessel of the United States at
the Islands. On returning to Honolulu on
January IA the crisis was found to be in full
vigor and to have already reached proper
lions which made inevitable either the sue
cess of Queen Liliuokalanfs attempt to sub
vert the constitution by force or the down
fall of the monarchy.
The Eventful Three Days.
ION Saturday. the 18th Of January, the
capital was wholly controlled by the royal
troops, including a large additional force
of over 500 armed men not authorized by
Hawaiian law. On the same day the first
call TO arms in opposition to the queen was
issued,and the citizens committee of safety
| was developed. During the 14th. 18th, and
most of the 18th. the two parties confronted
each other in angry hostility, with every
indication of an armed conflict at any mo-
| ment. 1t was not until late in the after
noon of Monday, the 10th, after request for
protection had been made by many citi-
zens of the United States residing in Homo
| lulu, that a force of marines was landed
| from the Boston. by direction Of the minis
| ter, and in conformity with the standing
instructions which for many years have au-
thorized the naval forces of the United
/ States to cooperate with the minister for
| the protection of the lives and property Of
American citizens in case of imminent dis
order. The marines, when landed, took no
part whatever toward influencing the
course of events. Their presence was Who'll
ly precautionary. and only such disposition
was made of them was calculated to
| subserve the particular end in view They
were distributed that night between the
| legation and the consulate where they oc-
cupied inner courts and private hall rent
| ed for their accommodate ton. Beyond a SEN
| try at the door of each post, and the oc-
| casional appearance of an officer passing
| from one post to another, no demonstra-
| ton whatever was made by the landed
! forces, nor was the uniform of the United
| states visible upon the streets. They thus
| remained. isolated and inconspicuous until
after the success of the provisional govern
ment, and the organization of an ADEQUATE
protective force Hereunder
No U. $. Troops Participated,
AT the time the provisional government
took possession Of the government build
no 0fT3a
States were present or took any part what
ever in the proceedings. No public recogni-
| ton was accorded to the provisional gov
eminent by the United States minister until
after the queens abdication and when they
| were In effective possession of the govern
ment buildings, the archives, the treasury,
the barracks, the police station, and all the
potential machinery of the government
Then, and not until then. when the pro-
visonal government had obtained full de
facto control, was the new order of things
recognized by the United States minister
| whose formal letter of recognition was
promptly followed by like action on the
| governments resident on the Hawaiian
Islands. There is not the slightest indica-
| ton that at any time prior to such formal
recognition in full accord with the long -es-
tablished rule and invariable precedents
of this government, did the United States
| minister take any part in promoting the
change, either by intimidating the queen or
| by giving assurance of support to the or
| ganizers of the provisional government
The immediate cause of the change is
| clearly seen to have been the unconstitu-
tonal and Incorporate acts of the queen
herself. in attempting to coerce her re-
| sponsible ministers and to annul the exist
ing constitution and to replace 1t arbitrari-
ly by another of her own choice.
provisional Government I'm Posses
sion.
The provisional government of the Ha-
waiian Islands is. by all usual and proper
tests, in the sole and supreme possession of
power and in control Of all the resources
Of the Hawaiian nation, not only through
the queens formal submission, but through
its possession of all the armed forces. arms
and ammunitions. public offices and admin
istration of law, unopposed by any adher-
ents of the late government
On the first instant, subsequently to the
departure of the Hawaiian special commits.
sioners, the United States minister at Hon
olulu, at the request of the provisional gov
eminent, placed the Hawaiian government
| Inn ar ha mr. of