The Portland daily press., 1893-12-19
scrupulous as to the means employed t

nearly two months before the first overt
act tending towards the subversion of
the Hawaiian government and the at
tempted transfer of Hawaiian territory
to the United States, he addressed a
long letter to the Secretary of State in
which the case for annexation was
elaborately argued on moral, political
and economical grounds. He referred to
the loss to the Hawaiian sugar interests
from the operation of the Mckinley bill
and the tendency to still further depre-
citation Of sugar property unless some
He strongly inveighed against the ex-
listing Hawaiian government and i en-
phatlcally declared for annexation.
The President then quotes from Mr..
Stevens's writings in favor of annexation
and says
These declarations certainly show a
disposition and condition of mind which
may be usefuliy recalled when inter
preting the significance of
The Minister'S Conceded Acts
or when considering the probabilities of
such conduct on his part as may not be
admitted
The President. also quotes from letter
State Blaine on March 8, 1892, nearly
year prior to the first step taken toward
annexation. He then goes on to say:
After stating the posi- bility that the
existing government of Hwaii might be
overturned by an orderly and peaceful
revolution, Minister Stevens writes as
follows: Ordinarily in like circum-
stances, the rule seems to be to limit the
landing and movement Of United States
forces in foreign waters and dominion
exclusively to the protection of the
United States legation and of the lives
and property of American citizens. But
as the relations of the United States to
Hawaii are exceptional, and in former
years the United States officials here
took somewhat exceptional action in cir
cumstances of disorder, | desire to know
how far the present minister and naval
commander may devlate from esta bllshed
international rules and presidents in the
contingencies indicated in the firstspart
of this despatch" To minister of this
temper, full of zeal for annexation, there
seemed to arise in January, 1893, the
precise opportunity for which he was
watchfully waiting an opportunity
which by timely deviation from estab-
lished international rules and presidents,
might be improved to successfully ac-
complish the great object in view; and
we are quite prepared for the exultant
enthusiasm with which in a letter to
the State Department dated February 1,
1898, he declares: "The Hawaiian pear
is now fully ripe and this is the golden
hour for the United States to pluck it,"
AS further illustration of the activity
of this diplomatic representative, atten-
ton is called to the fact that ON the day
the above letter was written, apparently
unable longer to restrain his ardor, he
issued a proclamation whereby Sin the
name" of the United States" he assumed
the protection ofs.the Observation-Disclosures
declared that said action was" taken pend
ing and subject to negotiations at Wash
ington." OF course this assumption of a
protectorate was promptly disavowed by
our government but the American flag
remained over, the government building
at Honolulu and the forces remained
ON guard until April and after Mr..
Blount's arrival on the scene when both
were removed.
A brief statement of the occurrences
that led to the subversion of the consti-
tutional government of Hawaii in the
interests of annexation to the United
States will exhibit the true complexion
of that transaction. On January IA, 1888,
the Queen of Hawaii, who had been con-
tempiating the proclamation of a new
constitution, had in Difference to the
wishes and representations of her cabi-
net, renowned the project for the
present at least. Taking this relin-
POoO
citizens Of Honolulu numbering from
fifty to one hundred mostly resident
aliens, met in private Office and selected
a so-called committee of safety, COM
posed of thirteen persons, seven of whom
were foreign subjects and consisted of
five Americans, one Englishman and one
German. This committee, though it's
designs were not revealed, had in view
nothing less, than annexation to the
United States and between Satur day,
the 18th and the following Monday the
10Th of January, though exactly what
action was taken may not be clearly
disclosed, they were certainly in COM
minister. On Monday morning the
Queen and her cabinet made a public
proclamation, with a notice which was
specially served upons the representatives
of all foreign governments, that any
changes in the constitution would be
sought only by the methods provided by
that instrument. Nevertheless at the
call and under the auspices of the COM
mittee of safety, mass meeting of citi-
zens was held on that day to protest
against the Queens alleged illegal and
unlawful proceedings and purposes.
Even at this meeting the committee of
safety continued
To Disguise Their Real Purpose
anu So1uOdoSo ehSAboOlNCo WlUA H1OCQI-
ing the passage of resolution denounc-
ing the Queen and empowering the COM
mittee to devise ways and means ito
secure the permanent maintenance of
law and order and the protection of life,
liberty and property in Hawaii" This
meeting adjourned between three and
four o'clock in the afternoon. On the
same day, and Immediately after such
adjournment, the committee unwilling
to take further steps without the CO.
operation of the United States minister
addressed him note representing that
public safety was menaced and that
the lives and property were in danger,
and concluded as follows: ave are I'm
able to protect ourselves without aid and
therefore pray for the protection of the
United States forces.
Whatever may be thought of the other
contents of this note, the absolute truth
of this latter statement is uncontestable.
When the note was written and delivered,
the committee, SO far as it appears, had
neither man nor gun at their COM
mand, and after it's delivery they became
SO panic-stricken at their position that
they sent some of their mum Der to inter
view the minister and request him not
to land the United Statps fopces Till the