The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-11-25
Mr.. TEURST0N'S ANSWER

0S~'
Dethroned Without Outside Help
and That American Marines
Were Landadto Protect
American Citizens.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Lorrin A
Thurston, the Hawaiian minister, gave
out the following statement:
lam urged to mako a statement fol
publication, setting forth the position
and claims of the Hawaiian governm ent
and making reply to charges contained
| in Mr.. Blounts report:
Would Only Answer Personal Attacks.
AS have received noinformation that
MIR. Blount has made Il report; have not
seen a copy of it, and do not know what
itcontains, except from reading the news.
paper abstracts therefrom, and am una
ware of the present intentions of the
United States government concerning
Hawaii, l am unable ut present, in the
absence of such knowledge, to intelli.
gently state what the position and claims
of the Hawaiian government are. 1t
would, moreover, be contrary to diplo-
matte courtesy for me to publish state
lnent on such subject prior to inform
ing the United States government of the
case. A large part of the published ex-
tracts from Mr. Blount's report con.
sisted, however, of personal attacks upon
ME and those associated with me in the
provisional government, impugning our
veracity, good faith and courage, charg.
ing us with fraud and duplicity.
deem it proper therefore, to max,
personal reply to such charges, confin-
ing myself to statements of fact, of
which, as principal actor, am pre-
pared to testify to before any impartial
tribunal.
First-Bsfore stating such facts,
desire to call attention to Mr.. Blount's
method of constructing his report. Al
though he in several places states was
the leader of the revolution. he has
never asked mo a question concerning
the same nor given me AL opportunity
to make any statement, although l have
at all times been ready to do so. The
same is true of large number of other
men who took leading part in the
movement of January. In the second
place, his evidence consists exclusively
of prepared affidavits or of answers to
leading questions put by himself at
private interviews, no one else being
present but the stenographer. In no in
stance has there BEEN any cross examina.
| ton oil witnesses, opportunity to give
contradict N or explanation of evidence
given or presented as evidence. A brief
examination of the published portions
of the report shows numerous incorrect
statements. shall try for the present
however, to answer the more salient
| points only.
Had no Promise of Support From Stevens.
First-Mr. Blount charges that the
American troops were landed under a
prearranged agreement with the COM
mittee Of safety; that they should SO
land Gs assistance in the overthrow of
the queen. In reply thereto hereby
state that at no time did Mr.. Stevens or
Captain Wiltzs assure us these troops
would assist in overthrowing the queen
or establish Il provisional government,
and as matter of fact they did not SO
assist,
can procure witnesses in support of
the statement of the highest RESPONSE
bility in overwhelming numbers, hut
Mr.. Blount has rendered it unnecessary
to do so. The statements of Mr.. Wund-
enburg and Mr.. Damon have been put
forward as the strongest evidence il
support of Mr.. Blount's contention. In
Mr.. Wundenburg's statement he SAYS
when the committee of safety told Mr..
Stevens they We're not rea Is to act, he
replied: Gentlemen, the troops of the
Boston will land at o'clock whether
you are ready or not"
Landed to Protect American Citizcns
The reason for this reply and the sub.
sequent landing of the troops is mani
fest. The troops were landed to protect
American c tizens and property in the
event of the impending inevitable con
hict between the queen and citizens and
not to cooperate with the committee,
and the committee had no more lsnowl.
edge than did the queens government
where the troops We're going or what
they were going to do The whole gist
of Mr.. DamoE's long examination is like
wise contained in his statement that
when after the organization and procla-
nation of the llew government u request
was made for the support of the United
States troops, it was refused by the com
mander, Swinbourne, the commanding
officer, who sent back word, Captain
Wiltzes orders ARE: Remain passive.'
Second-Mr. 3lount charges that tile
queen had ample military force with
which to have met the committee. and
but for the support Of the United Stare
representative and the troops the estab.
lishment of the provisional government
would have been impossible. In reply
thereto hereby state that although the
presence of the American troops sad q
quie,ins effect on the rough element OF
the city and may have prevented sons
| lioodshed, they were not essential tt
ind did not assist in the overthrow OF
the queen. The result of the move men
would have been eventually the same ii
there had been no marines present. II
6uPpoit VI tuls StdtelHeNU, CHE me IUl
lowing facts:
| First The troops did not land unit
Monday night the 10th of January. afte
the revolution lad been in full progres
since the afternoon of Saturday the l4th
during which the committee of safety
op.n,y organizen Tor the ayoweu purpus,
4 of oyerthrowing the queen.
4 Second-There was absolutely no con
4 cealment from the government OF the oh
jects and Intentions of the committee.
Third-The queen, her cabinet ant
their supporters were utterly demoraized
suspicious of one another and d5void o
leadership.
Fourth-The committee and their sup
porters were united, had ample force tt
execute their purpose, s-sew precisely
what they wanted and proceeded with in
telligcnt deliberation, the thoroughnes
and confidence to doit.