Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-11-27

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an support Of the fourth proposition,
that the committee and their supporters
we're united, had ample force 70 execute
their purpose and proceeded With dehbess-
ton and eonfd-rce 20 DO 30, I submit the
follow ing:
San essential factor in judging uheshe.
the force Of the committee vas sufficient.
and their confidence in ths mselvss we'll
founded, 10 to know what the same men,
under similar conditions have doae upon
previous occasions. Fortunately there is
no1iispute % to the facts concerning two
recent incidents in Hawaiian history, in
which the same parties Who were brought
into conflict in January, 1898, we're AZ
rsyed against each other 1nde, similar cir
cumsrances.
III "In 1887, the King, by a ranipGla-
tion of the electorate aud the L =zisiArure.
had encrosched upon pepslar rights and
obtained autocratie power over the people.
In tits course he was Supported by pract-
eslly the same persons Who. In January
last. and now. constitute the Roy alist party
in II wall. The open bribery, corruption
AMI debauehery Of tie King and bis sup
po.ters erystailizsd the opposition thereto
into an organization Of Practically the same
men sho organized and now constitute the
provisional government. Such ergani1s-
ton was formed with the openly ayorsd
Intention of vressiag from the King hi. fol-
los ers or dethroning him.
In preparation for The expected move
ment the King fortified the palace; loop
holed its basement for sharpshooters !;
erected sandbsg br<as.works at the entrance
# the building; mounted cannon and gat-
lag guns at all the approaches thereto !
Largely increased his regular military force
and defed the organization and public opin-
ion
The leaders Of the revolutionary move
ment proce. ded deliberately to collect such
arms as were available, and organized their
II ans. An executive committee of thirteen
was appointed, who took entire control Of
the movement, and called a mass meeting
10 the same building used for that purpose
0 January last. The King attempted to
head of the meeting by ending a letter TO
II promising certain reforms. The letter
had no effect. r. solutions were adopted
d n1uncing the King and demanding the
geaD'ing of new constitution, depriyiog
the King Of all personal power. The reso-
buttons we're forthwith presented TO tie
King by the committee, who unarmed and
alone proceeded direct from the meeting 10
the fortified palace with the ultima,um
that he comply 18th tho demands within
"a enty four hours or fsk- Il e c jnsequeDces,
Bravery Of the leaders.
The X nQ Was tn n in a0.Uiute control
Of the 9ulr troops, the e.petirl troops
enlisted FIR tie occAsioo four companies
of the native militia, thu police, all the artll-
iery and gatling guf :, the g0yernme Mt build
ing, the palace The barracks snd the station
house, wifh7fuli knos ledge of, and weeks
Of preparation for, tue action taken by the
citizens His mi itary strength was great
er and his control of the public
buildings more complete than was that OF
the Queen IN J mary last. He lid not fire
a shot, submitted to the d mani-, disband-
| ed his troops and turned the who'e control
of the government over to the rev, Tut on
ary party, which, in consideration If his
bject submi.si IN. allowed him Il cpa-
tiuue on the throne 10 figurehead cipaci-
ty.
"(2.) In 1880 while the same men who
now constitute the provisional governme
were in control of the Kings government, a
conspiracy was organized among the Roya
ISL supporters ~ Aht mus anu
for the overthrow of the cabinet aud the
restoration of the old royal power and con-
-itu,ion. The oonspirators took the
cabinet by surprise. and on the night Of
july 80, took posse ssion of the governme Mt
buildings and palace, AID, securing pos
session of all the artillery, fortified the
latter.
The regular troops, by order Of the
King refused to assist the cabinet, who
Jailed upon the white militia and white
c.tiz ms for assistance. The call was
rompt respond. d to. The revolutionists
were protect, b, an eight foot stone wall
.rouni the palace, and used artillery as
well as rifles, while the cabinet sup
porters were armed with rifles only.
The fighting opened at o'clo' k
in the morning, with less than thirty
cabinet supporters in position in front of the
palace, which number was later increased
To about 500. The Royalist revolutionists
opened with a furious fire of both ar illery
and small arms. Within half an hour they
we're driven from their guns, seven were
killed and tw elve wounded, and before dark
all of them were dispersed or captured,
while not one of the cabinet supporters was
ured.
Burden Of Proof on the Accusers.
Such is the uDdisputed record of events
upcn two occasions when the Royalists and