The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-18

and declared that said action was taken
pending and subject to negotia-
lions at Washington" OF course
/ this assumption of protectorate
was promptly disavowed by our Govern
ment, 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.
| THE CONSPIRACY
! A brief statement of the occurrences that
led to the subversion of the constitutional
Government of Hawaii in the interests of
annexation to the United States will ex-
/ hlblt the true complexion OF that transaction.
On Saturday, January A. 1898, the Queen of
Hawaii who had been contemplating the
proclamation OF a new constitution, had in
Difference to the wishes and renion-
| strances of her Cabinet, renounced
the project for the present at least.
| Taking this rehnquished purpose as a basis
OF action, citizens of Honolulu numbering
from fifty to one hundred, mostly resident
aliens, met in a private Office and
selected a so-called Committee
of Safety, composed of thirteen
| persons, seven of wnom were foreign sub
| lects, and consisted of five Americans, one
Englishman and one German This COM
mlttee, though its designs were not re-
yealed, had in view nothing less than an
nexation to the United States and between
! Saturday, the 14th, and the following Sun
day, the 10th of January-though exactly
what action was taken may not be clearly
alsclosed-they were certainly in
communication with the United States
Minister. On Monday morning the
| Queen and her Cabinet made public procla-
| nation, with notice which was specially
served upon the Representatives of all for
elgn governments, that any changes in the
constitution would be sought only in
the methods provided by that in
| strunent. Nevertheless, at the call and
under the auspices of the Committee of
| Safety, mass meeting of citizens was held
| on that day to protest against the Queens
| alleged illegal and unlawful proceedings and
| purposes.
| STILL IN DISGUISE.
Even at this meeting the Committee of
| Safety continued to disguise their real Dur
pose, and contented themselves with pro-
| curing the passage of a resolution denounc-
ing the Queen and empowering the Commit
tee to devise ways and means ito secure
the prominent maintenance of law and
order and the protection of life, liberty and
property in Hawaii This meeting ad-
the afternoon. On the same day and imme-
dlateiy after such adjournment,
the committee, unwilling to take
further steps without the cooperation of the
United States Minister, addressed him a note
representing. that the public safety was
menaced and that lives and property were in
danger, and concluded as follows:-
We unable to peotect ourselves without
aid and therefore pray for the protection of the
United States forces
PANIC STRICKEN.
Whatever may be thought of the other
contents of the note, the absolute truth of
the latter statement is incontestable.
When the note was written and de-
hvered, the committee so far as it
appears, had neither man nor a
gun at their command, and after its delivery
they became so panic stricken at their posi-
tion that they sent some of their number. to
interview the Minister and request him not
to land the United stated forces till the next
morning.
But he replied that the troops had been or
dered, and, whether the committee were
ready or not, the landing should take place.
And so it happened that on the 10Th
day of January, 1898, between four
and five O'clock in the afternoon.
detachment of marines from the United
artillery, landed at Honolulu. The men,
upwards of l60 in all, were sup
piled with double cartridge belts filled
with ammunition and with haversacks
and canteens, and We're accompanied by
hospital corps with stretchers and medical
supplies. This military demonstration
upon the soil of Honolulu was of
either with the consent of the Government
of Hawaii or for the bona fide purpose of
protecting the imperilled lives and property
of citizens of the United States But
there is no pretence of any such consent
on the part of the Government of
the Queen, which at that time
was undisputed and was both the de facto
and the de jure Government. In point of
fact the existing Government instead of re-
questing the presence of an armed force, pro-
tested against it.
A PRETENCE EXPOTED.
There is as little basis for the pretence that
such forces were landed for the security of
American life and property If So they
would have been stationed in the
vicinity of such property and
so as to protect it. instead
of at distance and so as to command the
Hawaiian Government building and palace.
Admiral Skerrett, the officer in command
of our naval force on the Pacific Sta
ton, has frankly stated bhat in
his opinion the location of the troops
was inadvisable if they We're landed for the
protection of American citizens whose resi-
dences and places of business, as well as the
legation and consulate, were in a
distant part of the city, but the
location selected was wise one
III tue forces were ldHU6u IOF Bno purpose OF
supporting the Provisional Government. If
any peril to life and property calling for
any such martial array had existed,
Great Britain and other foreign
powers interested would not have been
behind the United States in activity to pro-
tect their citizens but they made no sign In
that direction. When these armed men were
landed, the city of Honolulu was in
its customary orderly and peace
full condition There was no
symptom of riot or disturbance in any
quarter. Men, women and children were
about the streets as usual, and nothing
varied the ordinary routine or disturbed the
ordinary tranquility except the landing
of the Boston's marines and their
march through the town to the quarters
assigned them. Indeed, the fact that after
having called for the landing of the
United States forces on the plea of dan
ger to life and property the committee
of safety themselves requested the ministers
ness of their representations of present peril
of life and property. The peril they saw
was an anticipation growing out
something which, though not then
existing, they knew would certainly follow
their attempt to overthrow the government
of the Queen without the aid of the United
States forces
Thus it appears that Hawaii was taken
possession of by the United States forces
without the consent or wish of the Govern
ment of the islands, or of anybody else so
far as shown, except the United States
TUE pT A