The morning call., 1893-11-22
THURSTON TALKS.
He Answers Paramount
BlOunt
AND REFUTES SOME SLURS.
How the Provisional Govern
uent Was Established.
THE PECULIAR CONSTITUTION.
Why the Intelligent People of Homo
lulu Arose and Dethroned the
Queen of Conspirators.
I'd REFUTES SOME SLURS.
THE PECULIAR CONSTITUTION.

WASHINGTON, Nov 21. - Lorrin a.
Thurston. Hawaiian Minister. gave out
statement tonight. He says:
Il am urged to make a statement for
publication setting forth the position and
claims of the Hawaiian Government and
making a reply TO charges contained in
Blount's report. AS l received no official
information that Blount made report l
am unable intelligently to state what the
position and claims of thu Government
are. a large portion of the published ex-
tracts from BlOunts report consists of
personal.a ttacks upon me and those asso-
ciated with me in the Provisional Govern
ment, impugning our veracity, good faith
aud courage and charging US with fraud
and duplicity.
First desire to call attention to
Blouuts method Of constructing a report.
Although he in several places states | was
the leader of the revolutionary movement.
he never asked me a question concerning
the same, nor had he given me an oppor-
tunity TO make any statement. The same
is true of large number of other men
who took leading part IN the movement
of January. His evidence consists exclu-
slvely of prepared affidsvits or answers to
leading questions put by himself at private
interviews, no one else being present but
the stenogrspher. In no instance was
there any croSs-examination, nor an op-
portunity given for contradiction or to ex-
plain the evidence. a brief examination
of the published portions of the report
shows numerous incorrect statements.
"Blount charges the American troops
: landed under q Drearranged agreement
with the committee of safety. At no time
did Stevens or Captain Wiltse assure me or
the committee. or any subcommittee
thereof, that United States troops would
assist ID oVerthrowing the Queen or to es-
tablish the Provisional Government and
as matter of fact they did not so assist.
1 can lroduce witnesses in support of this
statement. In Wundenburg's statement
hs says when the committee OF safety told
Stevens they were not ready to acr. he re-
piled: Gentlemen, troops from the Bos-
ton will land at O'Clock. whether you are
ready o. not
''The reason for the reply and the subse-
qlpent landiug of the troops is manifest.
The troops landed to protect American
citizens, and property and not to cooperate
with the committee in carrying out its
plans; in fact, the troops did not cooper
ate with the committee and the committee
had no more knowledge than had the
Queens Government where the troops
were going nor what they were going to
do. The whole gist of DamoD's long ex-
animation was likewise contained in a
statement that when request was made
for support from the United States troops
it was refused by Commander Swinburne
sending back word, Captain Wiltse's
nFnd cixo Rlorry
charges that but for the support of the
United States representative and TROOPS
the establishment of the Provisional Gov
eminent was impossible. Although the
presence Of the American troops may
have prevented bloodshed, they were not
essen tial and did not assist in the over
throw of the Queen. The result of tile
movement would have been eventually the
same if there had not been marine within
a thousand miles of Honolulu. In support
of this statement the troops did not land
till Monday night, the 10th of January,
after the revolution had been in full prog
ress since the afternoon of Saturday, the
14th, during which the committee of safety
openly organized for the svowed purpose
Of overthrowing the Queen.
'Second-A bsolutely no attempt at con-
cealment from the Government of the
objects and intention of the committee.
"Third-The Queens Cabinet and sup
porters were utterly demoralzed, sus-
picious of one another and devoid of
leadership.
"F0nrth-The committee and its sup
pOrteTs were united; had ample force to
execute its purpose; knew precisely what
they wanted, and proceeded with intelligent
deliberation, thorOughness and confidence
to do it. 1t is admitted by all that the
Queen began the revolution at noon Satur-
day by attempting TO promnlgate a c0nsti-
tuition, such attempt being Immediately
followed by preparations for an armed re-
sistance. and the United States troops
landed at o'clock on 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 the promulga-
tion of a constitution and supporting II by
force, | advised them to declare the Queen
in revolution and the throne vacant, and
at the request and approval OF two of them
and the tact assent of the other two, then
and there drew up form of proclamation
to that effect. The same afternoon. at a
meeting of about 200 citizens, the Queen
was denounced, an armed resistance and a
counter-revolution were openly advocated,
ana the Queens Minister of the Interior.
John Col5Ourn. addressed the meeting.
IRe Queens Acknowledgement. Peterson.
ana ner attorney. Paul Neumanp, D, were both
present, taking part in the meeting. The
Committee of Safety publicly then and
there armed and proceeded forthwith to
organze.
AT O'Clock Sunday morning. the 18th.
toid PETERSON and Colbourn the commit
tee intended TO depose the Queen and
establish a provisional government; that
il they would take charge Of the Govern
ment well and good. otherwise the COM
mtsee intended to take action ON their
OVID account. They asked for twenty-four
hours in which to consider the matter. 7
declined TO wait. stating the committee
intended to proceed forthwith. The COM
mttee met openly at 10 o'clock and re-
manned in session during the greater part
of the day while several Government polce
kept watch over the building from the