The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-29
Tie HAwAuAN REVOLUTION.

II is not easy to determine from the
information now before the public the true
inwarduess Of the revolution which took
place In Hawaii on January 70 TIE story. as
published. IS simply 10 the effect that the
monarchy o. Hawaii has been abolished,
and a provisional government established
In its place. with the understanding that 1t
shall forthwith, by all means in its power.
seek the annexation Of the Islands TO the
United States But this consammation is
no, ineligible without an understanding
of the events which preceded il.
The monarchial system under which
Hawaii was governed prior to January 10
was established by he constitution OF 1897,
WEIGH was drawn after an emeute closely
resembling the one which has just occurred.
1t retained the kingly authority, bus il dis
frauchsei the great bulk Of the kanakas
and concentrated authority in the hands Of
tie whites. who number about 1900 in
total reputation of about $1,000. The
working Il such an instrument naturally
b1ed discomfort among the natives and ere
atCd considerable friction. TWO years ago
Admiral Brown OF or navy. who knows
Hawaii as well as any man living, said he
expected a revolution 20 occur anv day, and
warned the Government at Washington to
De prepared to protect the lives Of IS Citi-
zens who were living at Honolulu or on the
plantations. For several months the irrIta-
ton Of the Kanakas has been growing, and
il has been known that between them and
tie Queen, who sympathiZed with them,
conferences we're being held looking to revo-
luton. It seems that On the 18th inst. these
conferences led to a decision by the Queen
C. attempt coup d'etat. She was backed
no bY lead ng kHnakas, who demanded the
restoration Of tie old constitution which
conferred upon the natives the chief power
She was about TO iBaugurate her revolution
when she was stopped by a counter
revolution started by The whites Of Honolulu.
The capital city of the Hawaiian group
has always OF late years been controlled by
the whites through their representatives, in
tie Cabinet, the police and certain N lii
tary organ cations consisting exclusively Of
whites. There has been no native organi-
zatIOn thar cared to try c0ncius ons with the
Honolulu Rifles, When the English and
American residents ascertained that tbs
Queen contemplated a coup d'etat designed
t. striD them Of their power. they met,
passed resolutions dethr0ning her Majesty
and proceeded without firing a shot to take
possession Of the Government Offices, the
police station and the royal residence.
Queen Liluokalsni withdrew to the coun-
try and her adAerenls cOntented themselves
by making mouths at the foreigners. All
parties are now waiting for the decision
which may be reached at Washington.
The geographical positlonof the hawaiian
Islands gives the United States the 6rst
voice in the matter. The doctrine has been
promulgated for years that nc European
nation should be allowed to acquire new
possessions on the American continent.
The Hawaiian Islands are not exactly a
part Of the American continent. but they
lie so near it that ia pol teal sense they
may be considered as coming under the rule
We have laid down. The United States can
not recede from this position. If we con-
7dcr the incorporation Of the islands with
the Union or the establishment of protec-
tOrate over them as In any sense q evil, we
must bear ia mind that much greater evil
viii result from policy that would permit
European power to take possession of tie
Islands. 10 some respects European states
men lock farther ahead than American
statesmen have been educated TO. The rea-
son Of this fact is fourd in their necessities.
Most European nations have possessions
abroad and are compelled to protect hem.
The United States has not had that neces-
slty 70 stimulate its union. TeTritOTially
the States are intact Every one can be
reached by every other one by land. The
situation On the Hawaiian Islands may re-
CURE revision IF cur policy in respect to
the acquisition Of foreign territory.