The record-union., 1893-11-21


formed the Cabinet of her purpose TO
proclaim a new Constitution, and re-
quested them to sign it..
Blount then tells how the Cabinet re-
fused to sign the Constitution, and the
displeasure of the Queen. ION January
10th a proclamation was issued by the
Queen and members, saying what she
had proposed to do on Saturday previous,
compelled by the stress OF her native
subjects. This was sent to Minister
Stevens, to which there was no response.
On the 18th she Rsent another letter, tell
ing him that the present Constitution
would be maintained. On the back of
this was written the word Declined
also the time received was noted.'
Blount says the Cabinet could not be
removed tor two years, and it being
against the Constitution there was no
possibility of its being proclaimed.
His description OF the revolution is as
follows: NEARLY all the arms on the
Island of Oahu. on which Honolulu is
situated, were in possession of the
Queens Government. The military
forces, organized and drilled, occupied
the station-h house, barracks and palace,
the only points of strategic significance
i'll even a conflict. The great body of the
people moved on in the usual course, and
yet there were secret conferences held by
a small body OF men, some Germans,
some Americans, and some native-born
subjects of foreign origin. Saturday
evening, January 18th, they took up the
subject OF dethroning the Queen and
proclaiming new Government, with a
view of annexation to the United States.
1.-THE first and most momentous ques-
ton was to devise some plan to have
United States troops landed. Thurston,
who appears to have been the leading
spirit, on sunday sought two members
OF the Queens cabinet and urged them to
join the movement against the Queen
and ask Stevens to land troops, assuring
them that III such an event Stevens
would do so. Failing to enlist any of the
Queens Cabinet in their cause, it was
necessary to devise some other mode to
accomplish the purpose. A Committee
of Safety, consisting OF thirteen members,
was formed from a little body of men as
Sembed in w. .. Smiths office, depu-
tation of these informing Stevens. Their
plans were arranged with him to land
troops if they would ask, for the purpose
of protecting life and property. 1t
was agreed that in the event that they
should occupy the Government building
would recognize it. Two of the leading
committeeman, Thurston and Smith.
growing uneasy for the safety of their
persons, went to Stevens to know if be
would protect them in the event of their
arrest by the authorities, TO which he
gave his assent.
SAT mass meeting called by the Com
mittee Of Safety on the 10th Of January
no communication was read to the crowd
of any purpose to dethrone the Queen or
change the form of government, but only
authorized the committee to take steps to
prevent a consummation of the Queens
purposes, and have guarantees of public
safety. The Committee OF Public Safety
kept their purpose from public view at
the mass meeting and at small gatherings
for fear of proceedings against them by
the Government of the Queen. After the
mass meeting had closed call on the
American Minister for troops was made,
and signed indiscriminately by Germans,
by Americans and by Hawaiian subjects
of foreign extraction"
The Commissioner says the response to
that call does notappear on the files Of the
Legation. THAT very night the Commit
tee of Public Safety assembled in a house
next TO Minister Stevens residence
J, H. Soper, an American, was elected to
command the military forces. 1t was on
Monday evening, January 10th, at 3
O'Clock, that the United States troops
were landed. Not much time elapsed be-
fore 1t was given out by members of the
Committee of Safety that they were de-
signed to support them at the Palace with
a Cabinet. Amongst the Queens mill
tary forces and the great body OF people,
who were loyal to the Queen, apprehen-
sion came in movement hostile to the ex-
listing Government. Protests were filed
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and
by the Government of the islands against
the landing of troops.
"Perker and Peterson testified that on
Tuesday at l O'Clock they called on Stew
ems, and by HIM were informed that in
the event that the Queens forces assailed
the ipsurrectionary force he would inter-
vene. At 2:30 the same day mem bers of
the Provisional Government proceeded
to the Government building in squads
and read the proclamation. They separ-
ated in the march to the Government
building for fear of observation and ar
rest"
Blount describes the location of the
troops, showing that the American troops
controlled the position of the Queens
forces, and continues: They were doubt
less SO located to suggest TO the Queen
and her counselors that they We're in CO.
operation with the insurrectionary
movement, and would, when the emer-
gency arose, manifest 1t by active sup
port 1t did doubtless suggest to the
men who read the proclamation that they
were having the support OF the American
Minister and naval commander, and were
safe from personal harm. Why had the
American Minister located troops in such
situation and then assured the members
of the Committee of Safety that in their
occupation of the Government building
he would recognize it as the Government
de fdcfo, and give such Government sup
mort? Why was the Government build
ing designated to them as the place,
which. when the proclamation was an
nounced therefrom, would be followed
bv his recognition? 1t did not point to
any strategic consequence. 1t did not in
volye the employment of a single soldier.
The building chosen was where there
we're no troops stationed, where there
was no struggle to be made to obtain ac-
cess with the American fOrce-immedi-
ately contiguous with the mass of the
nonnlation. Impressed with its un-
friendly attitude, aye, more than this, be-
fore auv demand for surrender was even
made on the Queen or on the commander,
or any officer of any OF her military
forces at any points where her troops
were located, the American Minister re-
cognized the Provisional Government,
and was ready to give it the support OF
United States troops.
Blount shows the position which the
Queen occupied, her protest. and de-
scribes the race and citizenship of men
concerned in the revolution. Various
! Commissioners of the Provisional Gov
ernment and Minister Stevens are quoted
and commented upon. Blount shows IL Q
collusion on the part OF the Minister and
revolutionists. He goes into details ol
the matter and points out by time and
/ place the haste with which stevens acted,
and by quoting from Stevens report and
papers on file at the legation declares