Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-16
The OTHER SIDE
n Different Phase Put Upsn the hawaiian
Anafr-Letter From the Oueea,s Minis

ST. Louis. Feb. "a letter has been
received here from John f. Colburn,
minister of the interior of Hawaii, in
which he outlines the position of the
deposed queen. of whom ne is sup
porter. The letter is addressed to Mr.
J. H. Cans, OF this city. whose wife is
lows:
HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAIIAN ISL. NDs.
"Wednesday. Jan Is, 1924
Mr. J. II Cans, St Louis, Mo-
Dear Sir: Ii view of the circumstances that
surround the situation OF this, Hawaiian
kingdom. 1 take this opportunity of writing YOU
This letter, trusting with your ability and infiu-
ence with some of the leading statesmen OF
your liberal American country you can help TO
place the situation of affairs of this country in
such an impartial manner 10 them that the Ha-
waiian queen Liliuokalani her governments
and her native population can receive such
hearing from your government that the AIneri-
can nation viii cause be restored the queen
to her throne, the government 10 its power and
the Hawaiian native population, TO their natural
rights
On Thursday, January 1e, 1898, the legislature.
sitting in session, brought in resolution OF want
of confidence against her Ealesty's cabinet,
which consisted of G. H Wilcox, minister OF
interior: p. G. Jones. minister of hnSP=e; W.
p. Robinson. minister of foreign =sIairs, and
Cecil Brown, who was carried By the conStitu-
tional majority of twenty-five members Of the
legislature out Of house of forfy-eight elective
members. This cabinet that was voted out be-
longed to a party called the reform party and
the same party that caused revolution in the
country June 80, 1887. Upon their having been
voted out they retired and sent their resig1a-
lions to her majesty, the queen She accepted
them, and The next dav, Friday. January IS.
1893, she summoned and appointed the follow
ing gentlemen as her cabinet: Samuel Parker,
minister of foreign affairs: William h Corn
well, minister OF finance: John F. Colburn-
minister of the interior Arthur p Peterson,
attorney general
Immediately upon appointment we repaired
to the legislative assembly and reported TO
them that 1t had pleased her majesty to appoint
another cabinet Those of the legislature that
were present, and the population TO the number
OF about 900, who gathered there, received
with applause We took our seats. and after
going through the business OF the house, it was
adjourned The next day. Saturday, January
IA the da- had been previously set apart TO
prorogue the legislature came and we present
ed ourselves again, and, after going through
the business of the house adjourned 10 meet at
II m
may mention here that Friday and Sat-
urday, the days that attended the legisla-
ture, the party to which this cabinet had be-
longed-the reform party-were so dissatisfied
and hostile over their defeat that on both days
they refused TO attend the legislature and did
not have the courtesy to attend the prorogation-
While waiting for the hour, Il noon, TO ap-
proach I accidentally heard that the queen pro-
posed to promulgate new constitution / i'm
mediately sought interview with my col
leagues and notified them that II the queen in
tended 10 act in such an arbitrary manner 1
would resign They answered that they were
willing to do the same thing and we decided
that If the queen intended to carry into effect
any such idea would all advise her not 10 do
so at once repaired to the place OF the oppo-
sition and told them what had heard and
what we had concluded to do
The leaders Of the party advised strongly
not TO resign, as it would then give the queen
=
be only too willing TO sign a new constitution
We followed their advice, and they assured US
that If any conflict came between the queen
and Us, her cabinet. the community would give
their support to resist any thing like this
measure.
At Il N. the legislature was prorogued and
repaired TO the palace to meet the queen
She then and there told Us TO sign q document
purporting to be new constitution We told
her plainly We would not accede TO her request
and advised her to abandon The idea
She was very determined at first. but after
wards yielded and gave it Up She came out
and declared openly TO the Hawaiian people
that she could not give them new constitution
and told them to endure their grievances.
The crowd dispersed, and on the next dav q
leader OF the reform party met Us and made
proposition to US. VIZ: That owing the
queens revolutionary actions in wanting 10 pro-
mitigate a new constitution, should depOse
her and declare 4 provisional government
Our answer was we would give them an answer
later on. In the meantime We, the cabinet,
summoned six OF the most responsible and con-
sentative business men OF the city, as also the
diplomatic corps
They met US. excepting J. L Stevens, envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to
this country We discussed the situation and
agreed that the queen was at first i'll advised,
but as she had abandoned the project we should
not depose her and declare a provisional gov
erument We notified the leaders of this de-
tunct and malcontent party that we would not
agree 10 the proposition AT the same time we
issued proclamation and scattered 1t all over
town and delivered it to the diplomatic corps,
that the queen had abandoned the idea and
asking one and all to accept the assurances
given in the proclamation by the queen and
cabinet
This party was not satisfied with this. but
they, with the assistance of the American min
lister and the troops of the United States
steamer Boston, enlisted number of men to
the extent Of about 200, and, aided by the
American troops, took possession and declared
by proclamation q provisional government, con-
trary to the Institution now in force and con-
trary the rights Of 100000 people, the Popula-
ton of this country The cabinet notified
the American minister OF whak had hap
pered and asked him to assist the duly
organized government to suppress this re-
volt, or If he did not want to do that, then 10
remove the United States troops on board the
Boston, and we. the government, could DO II
ourselves. When we told him we had 200 men
under arms and were equal to the situation his
eply was that he acknowledged the provision
government, came to the conclusion, as we did
not wish TO come into conflict with the United
States troops, to yield under protest
The queen and her cabinet are at present re-
moved under protest pending hearing before
the United States This action the part Of
the American minister is degrading He has
upheld mob and does so against the wishes OF
the aborigines of this country who are capable
of taking care of themselves The provisional
| government have put the country under martial
law. They are dispatching a steamer now 70
carry report to Washington They are send
! ing ambassadors 10 Washington We have asked
that the steamer take our representatives
SO that both sides OF the case can be heard and
they refuse We will send them later We
trust 1T will not be too late The Hawaiian peo-
ple are wailing for the loss Of their country
Cannot America, 1.-The land of the free and the
! home of the brave" undo this great wrong that
she by her troops and ambassador assisted to
do?
VIII you use your influence for US. Act
promptly and may Goa assist you md help Us
] Yours with consideration and respect