The morning call., 1893-03-09
element without paying due regard to the

element without paying due regard to the
native Hawaiians.
We argued and reasoned with her Majesty
and finally three of us left her presence
We returned to the Government building
and summoned number of the gentlemen
of the business community, as well as the
members Of the diplomatic CORPS. We told
them what had happened, the advice we
had given and the stand we had taken.
They, one and all. asked us to return to the
palace and impress upon her Majesty the
Importance Of abandoning the idea of pro-
mitigating a new constitution for once and
for ALL We did so and her Males ty paid
heed to our advice.
The nextday Sunday morniup) Mr.. Thurs
ton called at my house and asked ne TO 20
with him to Mr.. PetersOn's house. 1 went
with him and when we three were together
Mr.. ThurstOD represented that a committee
OF safety had been formed, they had held
meeting and he was appointed by that COM
mitteR 10 make US proposition to the effect
that we should depOSe the Queen and de-
clare a Provisional Government. We asked
him what was their motive in making this
proposition, and his reply was to get closer
relations to America. He said that they de-
sired that the Government should be d.
vlded, and that Peterson and myself should
depOse the Queen and we would be assisted
in this work by the troops Of the warship
Boston, as well as by number Of men who
had enlisted for that purpose. We asked
him whom he represented, and his reply
was the business community. We told him
we would seek an interview with some Of
the business community and would reply to
HIM later he urged US for an answer then
and there, and we declined to give it.
Later on that day we invited six RESPONSE
bic and conservative gentlemen Of the COM
munity and informed them of the PROPOSE
ton that Thurslon bad made and asked
them what they thought about 1t. We all
discussed the matter very thoroughly and
then decided that we should not agree to
their proposition. They further suggested
that it was only just and fair if the Queen
really intended to abandon the idea OF pro-
Mitigating a new constitution 10 give the
business community and the foreign element
and the country at large such assurance
that the thing would never occur again.
We asked them what assurances we should
give, and they suggested the issuing of
proclamation. We asked them to dictate it,
and II remember rightly two or three Of
them got together and dictated one.
The next morning we took the prOclama-
ton that they had dictated, submitted it to
her Majesty and asked her to sign it, She
did SO and we Immediately caused the print
ing OF 1t, had it posted and spread all over
town, at the same time sending a copy to
each OF the diplomatic corps.
That afternoon two mass-meetiugs were
held, one OF the foreign element, conducted
by Thurston and his radical followers, and
the other by the native Hawaiians. The
assurances given by the Queen and her
cabinet by the proclamation issued that
morning were accepted by the Hawaiian
people to the number of at least 1000 who
had assembled there. At Mr.. TnurstOn's
mass-meeting they denounced The Queen
and adopted a resolution leaving TO the
committee OF safety the course they should
pursue. After the mass-meeting held that
afternoon the town was quiet until at
o'clock, when the fate Of Hawaii was
doomed. the annexation plot was unearthed
and the Hawaiian people sunk in oblivion.
At that hour the troops of the good ship
Boston were landed upon our shores with
out authority and contrary to International
law. Mr.. Parker and myself Immediately
repaired to the residence of j. l.. Stevens
and asked him why the troops were land
ing. He answered that the committee of
safety had sent him request for protec-
ton. We asked him who composed the COM
mittee and by what authority it was cOnsti-
tuted. We made protest TO their landing,
and he replied that he accepted our protest.
de further said that there were large num-
Der Of women, children and old men who
we're alarmed and ARA id of the rumors of n
revolution. | asked him If he was going to
annex the country and he said No" He
went on further and said, "rhose troops
were ashore to keep the Queen on her
throne, you gentlemen in your Offices and
to protect the community at large"
We replied to him that the Government
was In position to Quell any disturbance
to suppress any revolt, offer protection to the
community and to afford him protection.
de replied by saying that he was aware that
the Government was in such position but
as tile troops were ashore they were gong
to stay. We protested again and left him.
lhe next tuesday we received positive