The record-union., 1893-11-20

tain the truth. He secured statements
from members of the Cabinet, from
members of the Committee of Safety
which brought about the revolution;
from officers of the Boston, and from
other persons, including the Queen her
SELF Some of these persons were ex-
amined by Blount, stenographer being
present.
The American troops landed at 5
o'clock, as Stevens had told the Com
mittee of Safety they would, and
marched up Front streetto Merchant and
along Merchant street, hating in King
street, between the palace and the Gov
ernment building. a the time the men
landed the town was perfectly quiet. The
business hour was about over and the
people were in the streets.
Nothing unusual was to be seen, ex-
cept the landing of formidable force
with Calling guns, evidently fully pre-
pared to remain on shore an indefinite
length of time, as the men were supplied
with double cartridge belt filed with
ammunition; also, haversacks and cam
teens, and attended by hospital
corps, with stretcher and medical attend
ance.
The Committee of Safety met at Water
houses residence at ll:30. The forma-
ton of some sort of Government was
under discussion, and it was decided that
a COmmander-in-C Chief of the forces sup
porting the proposed new Government
should be appointed. The position was
offered to John II. Soper, who demurred.
Not seeing any backing whatever to sup
port the movement Soper was an
swered by members of the committee that
the American Minister would support
the move with troops from the Boston.
Soper still doubted, SO the complete
committee escorted him over to the Lega-
ton, and three came back after a time,
reporting that Stevens had given them
full assurance that any proclamation the
Government put forward at the Govern
ment building, or at any other building
in Honolulu, for that matter, would re-
ceive his immediate recognition and the
support of the forces of the Boston. The
assurance seemed to satisfy Soper, and he
accepted the position.
Tuesday afternoon, January 18th, q
committee of thirteen of the Committee of
Safety proceeded from the office of w. O.
Smith NOW AttorneyGeneral in the
Provisional Government to the Govern
ment building and there read the procla-
nation OF the new Government.
AS the reading proceeded a dozen or SO
loungers gathered and near the close of
the ceremony there were about thirty
supporters, variously armed, who came
running into the side and back entrances
to the yard and gathered about the COM
mittee.
At this moment the United States
troops. in temporary quarters at less than
100 yards away. appeared under arms and
were evidently prepared for any emer-
gency. During all the proceedings of the
committee, and, in fact, through all
the proceedings, connected with the
move up to the final issue, the basis of
action was general understanding
that Minister Stevens would keep his
promise to support the movement
with men from the Boston, and the state
ment was now made that but for the
previous assurance of support from the
American Minister and actual presence
Of the United States troops no movement
would have been attempted. and if at
tempted would have been a miserable
failure, resulting in the capture and
death of the participants in a very short
time.
Many interviews substantiating the
above facts were sent to the state Depart
ment by Commissioner Blount, intimat-
ing that the monarchical Government
would not have surrendered had it not
been for the presence of the United States
marines.