The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-07-15

/ the different islands, selected unde
! the monarchy from palace faVorites
| had not been removed aud their futur,
| conduct was uncer ain. Men from
! the business circles and occupations
| from the stores, banks, offices, ant
[ workshops, had been on guard day
and night for two weeks, and bust
ness was suffering from their absence
| There had not been time to create an
! efficient police, nor TO organize and
drill II small military force. In "A city
OF twenty-four thousand people, OF
various natiOnalities, it were reason.
able To suppose there might be some
elements of disorder. On the planta-
tions not far off and In the city itself
were believed TO be many japanese
who had served in their own army
before they came TO Hawaii. 1t was
feared that the fallen queen and the
lottery and opium ring around hel
would obtain the assistance of the
Japanese and other foreigners to re-
store her to the throne, she compensat-
ing them by granting them the right
Of suffrage and other favors, which
the queen in her desperation readily
would have promised to grant. Fear
and panic began to gain Roadway in
the city. n riot was feared. Millions
OF American property and life and
order were in peril. In these circum-
stances the only sure hope of safety
was in the American naval force at
hand. Should the American repre-
sentative run the risk of anarchy and
bloodshed when it was certain he
would be held rigidly responsible if
catastrophe and calamity should
come? 1t was this pressure of neces-
sity which compelled the American
"a n ant
ness and vigor. These were the rea-
sons which led the Provisional gov
eminent to ask our assistance, and
these reasons are known to the Amer
lean public. But there were other
potential reasons which pressed upon
me. For nearly half century our
government had claimed rights and
interests in the Hawaiian islands
superior to any other foreign nations.
Repeatedly there have been attempts
TO induce our government to agree to
dual or tripartite responsibilities at
Honolulu. John NJ. Clayton, secre-
tary under President Taylor, repealed
this fortythree years ago, and such
has been our policy since. 1t was
well known to me that this idea of
joint action had not been given up,
but was still insisted on by one, if not
two foreign representatives at Homo
lulu. There was one Japanese war
vessel in the harbor and another pow
erful ironclad-larger than the 'Bos-
been telegraphed for. |
knew the English war ship was soon
| had reason to think, and
the Provisional government had rea-
son to fear, that these foreign repre-
would insist on the same
right to land their naval forces which
Cd
thousand miles from Washington,
with no cable from Honolulu to San
and the long space between
mail steamers would not permit COM
with our government and
our receiving an answer in less than
three weeks. We knew not then that
Ashmead Bartlett in the English
House of Commons had asked the
ministry what it had done
or would do relative to English inter
ests at Honolulu, and that Lord Grey
in behalf of the English ministry had
that it would trust the
government to protect Eng
fish life and property in Hawaii. We
did know that the attitude of the
English minister at Honolulu was
quite otherwise than this, that he
still wished to have joint response
Oility with the American minister as
TO the landing OF troops and the main
-enance of public order at Honolulu.
was therefore compelled to decide
whether l would risk the danger of a
practical abandonment of the long
American policy of nom
Oint responsibility in Hawaiian af-
fairs. To thus surrender in practice
what we had long claimed, L knew
we'll would prove me unfit to be an
American representative. Here were
which could be effectively
md cOnclusively overcome only in
one way, that was by raising the flag
over the Government building as a
symbol of our superior right to pro-
.ect the Hawaiian government. This
would not only prevent all the danger
If riot and bloOdshed, but would shut
)ut the landing of any other naval
'Orce except our own. Captain Wiltse
saw this as soon and as clearly as [
lid. With an American heart loyal |
% the core, conscientious, firm. self |
possessed, fully aware of the grave re- |
possibility of the act, he was prompt |
o do his duty. The officers under his |
were as Intelligent and |
oval as their own veteran comman-
Ter. The following are the words |
'ead by Lieut.. Rush of the Boston on |
he steps of the Government building |
with raising the flag, |
which was Immediately published by |
posters and in the newspapers.
TO THE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE.
"At the request of the Provisional |
of the Hawaiian Islands, |
hereby, in the name of the United |
states of America, assume protection |
If the Hawaiian islands for the pro- |
ection of life and property, and Occu- |
patton of public buildings and Hawai- |
an soil, so far as may be necessary |
or the purpose specified, but not in |
erfe:ing with the administration of |
If public affairs by the Provisional |
government.
This action is taken pending, and |
ubject to, negotiation at Washington. |
JOHN l.. STEVENS.
envoy Extraordinary and Minister |
Plenipotentiary of the United States. |
United States Legation, February l !
1898.
Approved and executed by
G. {. WILTSE,
Captain, us N,
the United States ship
Boston"
1t will be observed that the plain
intent OF this little document IS non
Interference with the sovereignty of |
Iawaii-that it claimed to establish
My qualified and limited protector
to and iusfo11 of jufriupiuCr on tho