The record-union., 1893-11-22

worse. until we are not going TO stand 1t
any longer. We are going to take no
chances in the matter, but will settle it
now. once and for all.' Wilson has since
stated that he Immediately reported to
the Cabinet, and advised the arresting of
the committee. but the Cabinet was afraid.
and refused TO allow it.
''At 2 O'Clock on the afternoon of Mon
day. the 10th, mass meeting of 5000 un-
armed was held within block of the
palace. The meeting, with tremendous
enthusiasm. unanimously adopted reso-
iutlons declaring the Queen In revolution,
and authorizing the committee to do
whatever necessary. Police were present,
but no attempt was made TO interfere
with the meeting or make any arrests.
The meeting adjourned amid the most
intense excitement, and the citizens dis
persed waiting a further call of the COM
mittee. While this meeting was in pro-
gress another meeting was being held by
The royalists within block of the arm
ory, which adopted resolutions in support
of the Queen. Never in the history of
Hawaii had there been such tense con-
dition of mind or more imminent eXpec-
tation of bloodshed and conflict than
after the adjournment OF these two radI-
cally opposed meetings.
"Blount's statement that the commu-
nifty was at peace and quiet is grossly in
accurate. Two hours after the adjourn
ment of the above meetings Captain
Wiltze and Minister Stevens, acting upon
their own responsibility and discretion,
and irrespective of the requests or actions
of the committee, landed troops, which
were distributed in three parts of the
city, instead of being masSed at one
point, as stated by Blount.
I'm support of the third proposition,
during the few weeks prior TO the revo-
luton, Colburn, Minister of the Interior,
one OF the leaders of the political party
opposed to me, was openly and bitterly
hostile to me personally. AT the first in
timation of the revolutionary intention of
the Queen, at 10 o'clock on the 18th, Col
burn came to me greatly excited. de
told me of the Queens intention to pro-
mulgate the new Constitution. and asked
my advice. | said, why don't you go to
your own party? He replied: L have
no party. Those who have been our sup
porters are supporting the Queen. The
downtown people Gelerring to the mer-
chants) have got no use for me, and un-
less the members of your party and
other citizens will support US we are
going to resign right away
''Atl o'clock on the same day | met all
the members of the Cabinet They had
just come from an interview with the
Queen, at which she announced her in
and demanded their support. They stated
that she threatened them with mob vio-
lence, whereupon they Immediately left
the palace, some going out by separate
entrance. While we were talking mes
senger came from the Queen requesting
them to Immediately return to the palace.
Peterson and Colburn positively refused
to 90, stating that they did not consider
their lives safe there. l shortly after
ward started down town, but was over
taken by a messenger asking me to re-
turn, which | did. They asked me to
ascertain what support they could expect
from citizens, and 10 formally authorize
me TO state the condition of affairs TO lead
ing citizens, and | in their behalf call
for armed volunteers to resist the Queen.
Il Immediately proceeded TO comply
with their request, and, with the assist
ance Of others, within an hour or two
thereafter about eighty leading citizens
signed a written statement agreeing to
support the Cabinet against the Queen by
force. Later the same afternoon Colburn
informed me that they had finally gone
to the palace and held a stormy interview
with the Queen. He told me lie had no
confidence in his colleague, Peterson,
who be believed was playing double with
him, and told me to beware of telling
Peterson anything further. He said
while they were discussing the matter
with the Queen she said, in reply to an
objection made by Peterson: why did
you not make this objection before? You
had the Constitution in your possession
for month, and raised no objection to
it, COlburn further stated that at a caucus
of their party previous to Friday night,
one of the members of the Executive
Council, Kalanua by name, said if he
could establish a new Constitution he
would die happy, II he could kill five
white men before dying.
1.-THE Queen was furiously angry at the
refusal Of the Cabinet to join IN promul-
eating the Constitution, and publicly de-
nounced them therefor. When the Queen
made the announcement of her failure to
promUlgate the Constitution, two leading
royalistS, members of the Executive
Council, one on the throne steps and one
on the steps of the building, addressed an
assembled crowd and denounced the
Cabinet as traitors, and said they wanted
to shed blood. One of them included the
Queen in his denunciations.
During the entire time between noon
on Saturday. the 18th, and the afternoon
of Tuesday, the 18th, when the Provis-
ional Government was proclaimed, the
Queens Cabinet was without plan of ac-
ton, and did practically nothing but rush
about the city consulting with various
foreign representatives and citizens of all
parties as to what they had better do,
begging the American Minister for the
support of American troops against the
Committee of Safety, and securing from
the Queen a declaration that she would
not again attempt to abrogate the Consti-
tuition, which they hurried into PRINT and
distributed broadcast, to try and appease
the indignation of the citizens and break
up the proposed mass meeting.
In support of the fourth proposition,
the essential factor in Judging whether
the force OF the committee was sufficient,
and If their confidence was we'll founded,
is to know what the same men under
similar conditions would have done un-
der previous circumstances in 1887. The
King, by manipulation of the electorate,
encroached upon the popular rights and
obtained autocratic power of the people.
He was supported by practically the same
persons who now constitute the Royalist
party in Hawaii. The situation then
crystallized the opposition into an organ
ization of practically the same men who
organized and now constitute the Provi-
sional Government. Such organization
was formed with the openly avowed in
tention of wrestling from the King his
powers and dethroning HIM.
IAN executive committee of thirteen,
in control of the movement, called a
mass meeting. Resolutions were adopted
denouneing the King, and demanding
the granting of a new Constitution de-
priving the King of all personal power.
The resolutions were presented to the
King by a committee. who were uEarmed
and alone proceeded direct from the
meeting to the fortified palace, with the
ultimatum that he comply with the de-
nands within twenty-four hours or take
the consequences. The King was then in
absolute control. His military strength
off al
buildings more complete than that OF the
Queen in January last. He did not fire
shot. submitted to all demands, dis
banded the troops and turned the whole
control of the Government over to the
revolutionary party, who, in considera-