Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-23
HAWAlrS QUEEN WAS WRoNGED.
Minister Stevens Use of the Armed
st Force of This Country.


Washington That Was Never Kept.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-The report
Of Mr.. Blount on the situation in
Hawaii made public tonight was par
TALLY summarized in the letter from
Secretary Gresham TO the President,
which has excited more comment in
America and Europe than any diplo-
matte manifesto Of the present genera
ton.
The report makes more clear than
ever, by reason Of its details, tho fact
that great wrong was committed last
January when Minister Stevens and
Captain Wiltse, as the representatives of
this government, assisted in the over
throw of Queen Liliuokalani and aided
in setting up provisional government
10 control affairs until such time as the
Harrison administration, which there is
the best reason to believe had prompted
their actions, could push an annexation
treaty through the Republican Senate.
The plot might have succeeded if action
had been taken u couple of months
sooner, when the Harrison administra-
ton and the Republican control of the
Senate had period of incumbency long
enough to have allowed them to secure
the ratification of the treaty.
, The failure gave President Cleveland
an opportunity to send Mr.. Blount to
the islands and secure an Investigation,
which has revealed what is certainly a
most disgraceful chapter Of American
diplomacy.
No one can doubt after reading the
voluminous report submitted by Mr..
Blount that the American minister and
naval commander, with the approval of
the existing administration, gave aid
and encouragement to the revolutionists,
aud without this aid and encourage
ment success could not possibly have
attended the effort to overthrow the
Queen and establish provisional gov
eminent.
It needs not the word Of Minister
Blount or the testimony of the adher-
ents Of the Queen to prove that this was
the state OF affairs, because Minister
Stevens and the members of the pro-
visional government are convicted out
of their own mouths.
MINISTER STEVENS IMPATIENoE.
Mr.. Stevens seems to have been 50 i'm
petuous and impatient that he insisted
on lading his troops before the members
Of the provisional government thought
the time had arrived for them to come
on the scene. A perusal of the reluc-
tant testimony of several of the accom-
plices gives graphic idea of the fears
and misgivings felt OF the Queens
guards, and the determination 10 pro.
coed no further until the marines and
blue jackets were posted near them as
soon ss it was possible without it appear
ing in too glaring form that the revolu-
ton had been initiated by the American
minister. They sought to create the i'm
preston that the marines had been
landed simply to protect American prop
erty and life, and they sent Minister
Stevens word ON January 18th to delay
the landing of the marines.
The minister was too impatient for
any delay. He was determined no
hesitation on the part of his fellow
,conspirators should interfere with the
success of his scheme to gobble up the
islands, and he replied; "The troops of
the Boston will be landed at o'clock
this afternoon whether you are ready
or not" When the men who afterward
dethroned the Queen and set up a gov
eminent of their own received this mes
sage, there was nothing more for them
to do but to go ahead with their revolu-
ton and get matters as far along as
possible by o'clock, so as to give some
color of excuse for the landing Of the
marines.
When the troops had been landed in
the quiet town and had stirred up q
commotion among all the Juvenile popu-
lation, who were delighted with the
fuss and feathers, the revolutionary
committee met and set about the choice
of a commander for their police force
and militia. They hit upon man
named John II. Soper, who afterward
declared himself to be an American citi-
zen and to owe allegiance 10 the United
States. Mr.. Soper was discreet, how
ever, and did not propose to cast his for
tune with any revolutionary movement
that might fail and cause him the loss
Of his head. He, accordingly, refused
had gone with two other members Of
the revolutionary committee and had
received the assurances of the American
minister that the revolution would have
the support Of the American troops.
All these facts are from the statement
over his own signature of one OF the
men who was at that time acting with
the revolutionary committee, Mr.. F.
Wundenburg, the deputy clerk of the
supreme court.
THE QUEEN ADVOCATED UNDER PROTEST
There is much more matter showing
that there was concerted action from the
crt hot ;,t1 81,
representatives of the Republican ad-
ministration. That the Queen only
yielded upon the distinct understanding
that the whole matter was to be re-
ferred to Washington, and that both
sides were to abide, by the decision of
the government of the United States, is
shown very clearly by the statements
Of Mr.. S. A. Damon, the president of
the advisory council of the provisional
government.
Mr.. Damon was, naturally, not a
willing witness, but Mr.. Blount drew
from him by close questioning the ad-
mission that when the city of Honolulu
was virtually in the possession of the
landing party from the Boston, and
when the guns of that ship had power
to lay the entire place in ruins, she had
yielded and had abdicated her throne
under protest, with the distinct under
standing on both sides that the whole
matter would be reviewed at Washing
ton.
Mr. Damon says he told her himself
that the whole matter would be re-
viewed in Washington, and she, trusting
in the good faith and justice Of the gov
eminent Of the United States, consented