The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-22
THE INVESTIGATION NOT FAIR.
L;liuokalani. the Mnlatto Woman
Brought on the Revolution.
Even Her owa Cabinet Advised Her to
Respect the Constitutfen-How the
People Curbed King Calico Minister
stevens Had Nothing TO do With II.

II am urged 10 make statement for
publication. setting forth the position and
claims of the Hawaiian government and
making reply TO the charges contained in
Blount's reports. As have received no
official Information that Blount has made
report, am unable to intelligently state
what the position and claims of the gov
trnment are. A large portion of the pub
lisbed extracts from Biounts report con-
slsts OF personal attacks upon me and
those associated with me in the provi-
sional government. impugning our
veracity, good faith and courage, and
charging Us with fraud and dnpiicity.
"First-I desire to call attention to
Biounts method of constructing n report.
Although he In several places states that
was leader of the revolutionary move
ment he has never asked me q question
concerning the same nor given me an
opportunity to make any statement The
same is true of \ large number of other
men who have taken leading part in the
movement in January. His evidence con-
sists exclusively OF prepared affidavits or
answers To leading questions pat by himself
at private interviews, no one else being
present but the stenographcr. In no
opportunity given to contradict or explain
evidence. A brief examination of the pub
hshed portions of the report shows num-
erous incorrect statements. Blount
charges that American troops were landed
under prearranged agreement with the
committee of safety. Al no time did
Stevens or Capt. Wiltse assure me or tho
committee, or any subcommittee thereof,
that United States troops would assist in
overthrowing the queen or establishing a
provisional government. and. as a matter
of fact, they did not SO assist. | can pro-
duce witnesses in support of my state
ment In Wundenburg's statement he
says that when the committee of safety
told Stevens they were not ready to act he
replied Gentlemen, the troops from the
Boston will land at 5 o'clock. whether you
are ready or not The reason for the reply
aud the subsequent landing OF troops Is
manifest. The troops were landed TO pro-
tect American citizens and property and
not to cooperate with the committee in
carrying out its plans. In fact, the troops
did not cooperate with the committee, and
the committee had no more knowedgc
than did the queens government where
the troops were going nor what they were
going to do. The whole gist of Damon's
long examination is likewise contained in
the statement that when the request was
made tor the support of the United States
troops it was refused by Commander
Swineburne sending back word that Capt
Wiltse's orders were: Remain passive
BlouBt charges that but for the support Of
the United States representative and
troops the establishment of the provis-
ioual goyernmens would havc been i'm
possible. Although the presence OF Amer.
lean troops may have prevented blood
shed, they were not essential and did not
assist in the overthrow OF the queen. The
result of the movement would have been
eventually the same IL there had not been
marine within 1000 miles of Honolulu.
The troops did not land till Monday night,
January IL after the revolution had been
in full progress since the afternoon of Sat-
urday. the 14th, during which time the
COMMITTEES Of safety was openly organized
for the avowed purpose OF overthrowing
the queen.
"Second-There was absolutely no at
tempt at eonccalment from the govern
ment of the objects and intentions OF the
committee.
"Third-The queens cabinet and sup
porters were utterly demoralized, suspi-
cious OF one another and devoid of
leadership.
"Foupih-The committee and their sup
porters united had ample force to execute
their purpose; knew precisely what they
wanted, and proceeded with intelligent
deliberation, thoroughness and confidence
to get il. Ii is admitted by all that the
queen began the revolution at noon Satur-
Jay by attempting TO promulgate q consti-
tuition. such attempt was Immediately
followed bv preparations for armed resist
ance, and United States troops were landed
at O'Clock Monday.
.'In support of the second proposition:
On the afternoon Of Saturday, in reply to
the request OF the cabinet for advice. the
queen still insisting upon promulg lgation of
q constitution and supporting IL bv force,
l advised them to declare the queen in
revolution and the throne vacant, and at
the request and with the approval of two
OF them and with the tacit assent of the
other two. then and there drew up form
of proclamation to that effect. The same
afternoon. at meeting OF about 30 citi-
gems the queen denounced armed resist
ance and a counter-revolution was openly
advocated and the queens minister of the
interior, John Coibourn, addressed the
meeting. The queens attorney gem
ersi, Peterson, and her attorney,
Paul Newman, were both present.
taking part In the meeting. The
there armed and proceeded forthwith TO
organize. Al 9 o'clock sunday morning.
the f5tn, / told Peterson and Coib0urn
that the committee intended to depose tho
queen and establish provisional govern
ment. II they would take charge Of the
movement, we'll and good; otherwise the
committee intended 10 take action on its
own account They ASKED for twenty-fodr
hours in which to consider the matter. |
declined to wait, stating that the commit
tee intended TO proceed forthwith. The
committee met openly at 10 o'clock, and
remained in session during the greater
part OF the day. while seyerag government
police kept watch over the building from
the street On Monday morning at y
O'Clock the committee. without attempt at
conesalment. met in my once within 80
feet OF the police station, Marshal Will
sons headquarters, where the entire police
force were stationed. While the meeting
vas in progress Wilson came TO the Office
and asked 10 speak TO uis privately. and
We went into an adjoining room. our con-
yersation VAS in substance as follows:
Wilson said: 4 want the meet
ing stopped, referring to the
mass meeting for the afternoon. re-
piled: 'is can. be stopped- IL Is too
late He said the queen had abandoned
the new constitution idea. | replied .
How do We know she will not take II up
sgain7 She said she would lie said !:
Il will guarantee she will not, even II
have 80 iock her up 10 keep her from doing
IL, and III do u, too. II necessary / re-
piled: We are not willing 20 acceps the
guarantee ss sufficient The thing has
gone from bad 20 worse until we are not
going 10 stand IL any longer. We are gosn e
TO take no chances "a the matter. but set
tie it once for all Wilson has since
stated that he Immediately reported TO the
cabinet and advised arres.ing the COM
fused Al O'Clock Of the afternoon Of
Monday. the i6sh. mass meeting Of 800
unarnsed men sas held within q block OF
y