The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-11-23

ne would recognize it. Two leading
members of the committee, Thurston
and Smith, growing uneasy as to the
safety OF their persons, went to him to
know If he would protect them in
event of their arrest by the authori-
ties, TO which he gave assent.
AT a massmeetiDg called by the COM
mittee of safety on the 10th of JAM
uary there was no communication to
the crowd of any purpose to dethrone
the queen or to change the form of
government, but only to authorize
The committee to take steps
to prevent the consummation of the
queens purposes and have guaran.
tees of public safety.
The committee of public safety
kept its purpose from puolic view at
this meeting and at their small gath
erings for fear cf proceedings against
them by the government of the queen
After the massmeeting closed, call
on the American minister for troops
was made and signed indiscriminately
by Germans, Americans and Hawaiian
subjects OF foreign extraction
The commissioner says the response
to that call does not appear on the
files of the legation. That very
night the committee of public
safely assembled in the house next to
Stevens residence. j. H. Soper, an
American, was elected to command
the military forces, Monday evening,
Jan. 10, at 5 o'clock, the United States
troops were landed. Not much time
elapsed before it was given out by the
members of the committee of safety
that they were designed TO support
them.
At the palace, with the cabinet.
amongst the leaders of the queens
military forces, and the great body of
the people who loved the queen, ap-
prehension came that it was a move-
ment hostile to the existing govern.
ment. Protests were filed by the
minister Of foreign affairs and by the
governor of the islands against the
landing of the troops. Messrs. Par
ker and Peterson testify that they
called on Stevens and were informed
that in the event of the
queens forces assailing the
insurrectionary forces he would in
tervene. At $3.50 the same day mem
bers OF the provisional government
proceeded to the government building
in squads and read u proclamation
They had separated in the march to
the government building for fear of
observation and arrest.
Blount describes the location OF the
troops, showing that the American
troops controlled the position of the
Queens forces and continues: "They
were doubtless so located to suggest to
the Queen and her counselors that
they were in cooperation with the in.
surrectionary movement and would
when emergency arose manifest it by
active support. 1t did doubtless sug-
gest to men who read the proclamation
that they were having the support of
the American minister and naval COM
mander and were safe from personal
harm.
Why had the American minister 10.
Gated the troops in such situation and
then assured the members of the com
mittee OF safety that on their occupa-
tion of the govern ment building he
would recognize it as government de
facto and give such government his
support Why was the government
building designated to them as the
place which, when their proclama alton
was announced therefrom, would be
followed by his recognition 1t was
not point OF any strategic conse
quence 1t did not involve the EN-
ployment of single soldier. The
building was chosen when there were
no troops stationed there. no struggle
to be made to obtain access, VIA. the
American force immediatel n.
tiguous; with tn m ass of W
tion impressed :
ly attitude A 8.
Before any demand for surrender
was even made on the queen, or on the
or any officer of any OF her
forces at any point where her
troops were located, the Ameican min
lister mad recognized the provisional
government and was ready to give it
the support of the United States
troops.
He shows the position the queen oc-
cupied, her protest, and describes the
race and citizenship of the men con-
cerned in the revolution. Various
commissioners Of the provisional gov
ernment and Minister Stevens are
quted and commented upon. Blount
bupWb bhdb ~ WAS COlluSlOl ON Tile
part of the minister end revolution.
lists. He goes into details of tie mat
ter and points out by the time and
place haste with which Stevens
acted, and by quoting from Stevens
report and papers on file at the lega
tion, declars the minister mirepresent.
ed the revolution to the Uuited States
government -
He points out the lack OF harmony
in the statements and criticisms OF
Stevens, saying: Stevens consulted
freely with the leaders OF the revolu.
tioDary movement from the evening of
the 14th. They disclosed to him all
their plans. They feared arrest and
punishment. He promised protection.
They needed troops on shore to over.
awe the queens supporters and
government. This he agreed 10
aud furnished They had
arms and no trained soldiers. They
did not mean to fight. 1t was ar.
ranged between them and the Ameri-
can minister that the proclamation
dethroning the queen and organizing
the provisional government should be
read from the government building
and he would follow it with speedy
recognition, All this TO be done with
American troops, provided with small
arms and artillery, across narrow
n Il. n