Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-11-25

to and fro through the streets, see mlngly un
concerned of any impending danger, and yot
there we're secret conferences held by small
body OF men, some of whom were Germans
some Americans and some native-born subjects
of foreign origin. On Saturday evening tho
l4th of January, they took UP the subject OF de-
throning the queen and procalming II new gov
ernment with view to annexation to the
United States.
"The first and most momentous question with
them was TO devise some plan to have the
United States troops landed. Mr.. Thurs
ton, who appears to have been the
leading spirit, on Sunday sought two
members OF the queens cabinet and
urged them TO head q movement against the
queen, and to ask Mr. Stevens to land the
troops, assuring them that in such an event Mr..
Stevens would do so. Failing TO enlist any of
the queens cabinet in the cause, 1t was neces-
sary TO devise some other mode to accomplish
this purpose. a committee of safety con-
sisting of thirteen members had been
formed from little body of men ns-
sembled in W. o. Smiths oflce A deputa-
tion of these, informing Mr. Stevens OF their
plans arranged with him TO land the troops IL
they would ask it, for the purpose of protect
ing life and property 1t was agreed between
him and them that in the event they should oc-
cupy the government building and proclaim u
new government he would recognize It,
"The two leading members of the committee
Messrs. Thurston and Smith, growing uneasy as
TO the safety of their persons, went to him to
know If he would protect them in the event of
their arrest by the authorities, TO which he gave
his assent AT the mass-meeting called by the
committee of safety on the 10th of January there
was no communicate to the crown of any pur-
pose to dethrone the queen or to change the
form of government but only to authorize the
committee to take steps to prevent a consum-
nation of the queens purpose and to have
guarantees of public safety. The committee of
public safety had kept their purpose from the
public view ut this mass meeting and at their
small gatherings for fear of proceedings against
them by the government of the queen. After
the mass meeting had closed call on the
American minister for troops was made and
signed indiscriminately by Germans. by Amer.
leans and by Hawaiian subjects of foreign ex-
traction"
The commissioner says the response
to that call does not appear on the
files of the legation. That very night
the committee on public safety as
sembled in house next To Min
lister Stevens residence. j. IL.
Soper, an American, was elected
to command the military forces. 1t
was on Monday evening, January 16,
at o'clock that United States troops
We're landed. Not much time elapsed
before it was given out by members OF
the committee of safety that they
were designed to support them
At the palace, with the cabinet
among the leaders of the queens
military forces and the great body ot
the people who were loyal to the
| queen the apprehension came that il
was movement hostile to the exist
| ing government. Protests We're filed
| by the minister of foreign affairs anC
by the governor of the islands against
the landing of troops
M essrs. Parker and Peterson testify
| that on Tuesday at l o'clock they
called on Mr. Stevens and by hin
were informed that in the event the
queens forces assailed the insur
rectionary forces he would inter
vene. At 2:3O the same day the
members of the provisional govern.
ment proceeded to the government
building in squads and read their proc
lamation. Tie mad separated in theil
march to the government building fol
fear of observation and arrest.
Mr.. Blount describes the location o.
the troops, showing that the American
troops controlled the position of the
queens troops, and continues:
'"rhey were doubtless so located to sugges
| to the queen and her counsellors that the.
were in cooperation with the insurrectionar
movement and would, when the emergenc
| arose, manifest IT by active support 1t dit
| doubtless suggest to the men who read tn
| proclamation that they were having the SUP
| port of the American minister and naval com
mander and were safe from personal harm"