The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-11-11
THU UNITED STATES
IS RESPONSIBLE.
Secretary Gresham's Letter to
President Cleveland.
WRONG SHOULD BE UNDONE.
The Troops We're Landed to Overthrow
the Existing Government.
Provisional Government Was Established
by the Action of the American Min
lister, and the Hawaiians Were
Afraid to Overthrow 1t.


dated the 18th of October concerning
Hawaiian affairs, has been given out
for publication. In it he takes the
ground that the marines landed from
the United States steamer Boston al
the time of the revolution We're not
landed to protect American life an6
property, but to aid in overthrowing
the existing government. Their very
presence, he si-ys, implied coercive
measures against it. The provisional
government was established by the &C
ltion of the American minister and the
presence of the troops landed from the
Boston and its continued existence is
due to the belief of the Hawaiians thai
in an effort to overthrow it they would
encounter the forces of the United
States. Secretary Gresham thinks the
wrong accomplished should be undone
by restoring the legitimate govern
ment. Nothing short of that will sat
Eisfy the demands Of justice.
The Secretary's Letter.
Washington, Nov 1O.-After the
cabinet meeting today the following
letter was given out for publication by
Secretary Gresham, which he had pre-
viously addressed to the president:
Department of State,
| Washington, Oct. Is, 1898.
To the President:
Full and impartial reports submitted
by the Hon. James ]. Blount, youl
special commissioner to the Hawaiian
islands, establish the following facts
Queen Liliokulani announced her in.
tention on Saturday, January IA, 1893
Ito proclaim a new constitution, but
the opposition of her ministers and
others induced her to speedily change
her purpose and make public the an
lnouncement of the fact.
| AT meeting in Honolulu late in
the afternoon of that day, the so-called
committee of public safety. consisting
! of thirteen men, being all or nearly all
present, and a majority of whom, in
Guiding five Americans, were aliens
was appointed ito consider the situa-
ton and devise ways and means for
the maintenance of public peace, and
the protection of life and property
This committee met on the 14th or the
forenoon of the 10Th, and resolved,
among other things, that the provi-
sional government be created ITO ex-
list until the terms of union with the
United States of America have been
negotiated and agreed upon"
| AT a mass meeting, composed large
| ly of aliens, which assembled at 2 o. m
on the last named day, the queen and
her supporters were condemned and
denounced, and the committee was
continued and all of its acts approved
Later in the same afternoon the COM
mittee addressed a letter to John L.
Stevens, American minister to Homo
lulu, Sating that the lives and proper
| ty of the people were in peril and ap-
pealing to him and the United States
forces at his command for assistance
This communication concluded: eve
/ are unable to protect ourselves with
out aid, and, therefore, hope for pro-
| lection from the United States forces. .
On receipt of this letter, Mr.. Stevens
requested Captain Witt, commander
of the United States steamship Boston
to land a force 'for the protection OF
| the United States legation, United
| States consulate and to secure the
safety of American life and property
The well armed troops were prompt
ly landed and marched through the
quiet streets of Honolulu, with two
gatling guns, to the public hall, pre-
viously secured by Mr.. Stevens for
their accommodation. This street was
I
ment building, and in plain view OF
| the queens palace. The reason for thus
locating the military will presently ap-
pear. The governor of the island i'm
mediately addressed to Mr.. Stevens a
! communication, protesting against the
act as an unwarranted invasion of
Hawaiian soil, and reminding him that
the proper authorities had never de-
MED permission to the naval forces OF
the United States to land for drill OF
any other proper purpose.
| About the same time the queens
minister Of foreign affairs sent a note
| to Mr.. Stevens, asking why the troons
had been landed, and informing that
| the proper authorities were Ilble and
willing to afford full protection to the
American legation and all American
interests in Honolulu. Only evasive
replies were sent to these communica-
/ tons.
| While there were no manifestations
of excitement or alarm in the CITY
and people were ignorant of the con.
| templated movement, the committee
lentered the government building, after
first ascertaining that it was un.
guarded, and one of their number q
citizen of the United States, read a
proclamation declaring that the exist.
ling government had been overthrow
and provisional government estab.
liShed in its place. ito exist until the
terms Of union with the United States
Iof America had been negotiated upon. .
No audience was present when the
proclamation was read, but during the
READING, forty or fifty men, some Of
them indifferently armed entered the
room. The executive and advisory
councils mentioned in the proclamation
at once addressed a communication tt
Mr.. Stevens, informing him thai
monarchy had been abrogated and the
provisional government established
This communication concluded: .Suct
a provisional government has beer
proclaimed, is now in possession of the
| government departmental building
archives and treS sury, and is in con,
troll of the city We hereby request
THAT you will, on behalf of the United
States of America, recognize it as ar
existing de facto government of the
Hawaiian islands. and afford to it the
moral support of your government
and, if necessary, the support OF
American troops to assist in preserv-
ling the public peace" On receipt OF
this letter, Mr.. Stevens immediately
recognized the new government, anc
lin a note addressed to Sanford B
Dole, its president informed him thai
he had done so.
Mr.. Dole replied:
Government Building,
Honolulu, Jan. II. 1893:
His Excellency John L. Stevens. United
| States Minister President:
] Sir:--I acknowledge the receipt OF