The Helena independent., 1893-11-21
STEVENS A CONSP|RA7OR.
The American Minister in the Plot
TO Overthrow tho Hawaiian
Government.
Promised Prompt Recognition OF
tho New Government and
Landed Troops.
Ousen AbdioAtsd when Told That He
Would Empiey U. r.. Troops Against
Her IL She Refused.

New Yonx. Nov. 2O.-Ths Herald this
morning printed under = Washington date
what proves TO be = large portion Of tho
report of Commissioner Blouat. and sums
up - follows: Commissioner Bloants
report will show that Minister Stevens
landsd troops from the Boston long before
there vas any valid excuse for their pres
enos on Hawaiian soil. and de1insa TO ts-
move them whom requested TO do 30 by the
government and informed that the author
ities were willing and able to preserve
order and protect American interests. The
troops were stationed across ths street
from the government building. In which
Minister Stevens knew that the revolution
lists were about TO read their pfoslamaS aSion.
and ths 1evolutionists. tho eommtssioneE
says, relied spon tho Anne loan troops
TO protect them in their aot of rebel
lion; that Stevens Esooenizsl the provi-
sional government according to pSecen-
csivsd programme before that government
had obtained possession Of tho department
and military power at Honolulu; and that
the military power surrendered. - the
queen surrendered, only through awe Of the
sur sYioT force sf the United States. Com-
missioner Blount did his work with great
thorouahnsss. During the five or six
months of his stay in Honolulu he worked
with q single purpose. to ascertain the
truth. He secured statements from mem
bers OF the cabinet of the deposed queen;
from members of tho committee Of safety
which brought about tho revolution; from
officers OF the Boston aRd from other per-
sons. including the qaeen herself. Some
of these persons wore examined BY Com
missioner Blount. stenoRrsDher being
present.
the committee of safety. sls as follows: The
| committee of safety met At four o'clook
Jan. II. 1893 for the purpose Of discussing q
| tho steps neoessary to be taken in the for
nation of the now government Shortly
after the committee met thsv decided they
were not in favor of the landing of AmeHt-
oan troops. Stevens said TO them: "Gen-
tlemen. She troops Of the Boston will land
at fvo o'clock this afternoon, whether you
are ready for them or not" The American
troops were landed at five O'Clock ~ bte-
vens told the committee they would. and
along Merchant street. halting in King
street, between the palace and government
building.
At the time the men landed the town was
perfestiy q1ist. Business hours were
about over and people were in tho streets.
Nothing unusual was to DO seen except sas
landing of 70 midable armed force with
Gatling guns. evidently repaired to rensin
Oh shore An indefinite length OF time. a.
the men were supplied with double csrt-
| ridge belts filled with ammunition, also
haversaeks and canteens and attended BY a
hospital corps. with strssehers and medical
supplies. The curiosity of the people ON
the streets was aroused. ali who were not in
she secret wondering at the military dem
onsjratiop. The committee met at Water
houses residence. The position of the
oomman der- in chief of the forces support
ing tho proposed new government was
offered John H. Sopsr. who demurrod. not
seeing uny backing whatever to support
the movement. Soper was answered
by members of the committee that
the American minister would support
the movement with the troops of the Bos-
ton. Sopsr still doubted. SO two of the
COMMITTEES escorted him over to tho lega-
ton, in the adjoining premises. and the
three oame back alter time rspo ting
that Stevens had given them full assurance
| this any proclamation the government pat
forward at the government building, or any
other building in Honolulu for that matter.
would receive his immediate recognition
az d the support of the fofoss Of the Boston.
Tke assurance seemed to satisfy soper. He
accepted the position.
tuesday afternoon. Jan. IT, tho commit
| tee of thirteen. or com mmitSee OF safety, pro-
ceedsd from the office of W. o. Smith TO
the governn building and shere read the
proclamation of the nav government at 2:4O
there being practically no audience what
ever. Az the reading proceeded dozen or
80 lounRers gathered and near the cIo1e OF
the ceremony about thirty supporters. va
iously armed. came running into the side
and back entrances to the yard and gath
cred about the committee.
At this moment the United States troops,
in temporary Quartsls less than 100 yarda
away, appeal ed under arms and evidently
| prepared for any emergency. During all
| the deliberations of the com mltsse. ana IN
fact through all the proceedings connected
with the move up to the 6nal issue. the ba-
sis OF action was ths general undo standing
that Minister st. vens would keep his prom
ise to support the movement with men
from the Boston, and statement 10 now ad-
visediy made that without prsvious assur-
anos of support from the American 0inis-
ter and the actual presence Of United statea
troops. no movement would have been A.
tempted and II attempted would have beez
q miserable failure. resulting In the cap
turs or death Of the participants within I
ve.y short time.
Oom Missioner Blount has . long inter
view with $. A. Damon. who 10 p ssiden
of tho adv dvisoty council OF the psovisiona q
government, reported geographically ant
signed by him xs being correct. He wa
one of the men who went up to the govern
msnt house on Tuesday afternoon. Jan. II
10 read the procla nation declaring th
queen dsposed and the new government II
control. Damon corr oborsted the state
} me uts made BY Wundenbu z.
4 Damon told B!oudt that the queen
min listers said il they had only tho pro
visional government TO contend with ant
J the toross Of the psovisional government
they would not su render. They felt the
could meet the emergency 40 far ~ the pro
visionsl government WAS oonce: nod. but .
ID was they were willing 10 yield.
"Ths queen and went along with then
10 the palace. There were present th
queen, two young lrinoes, four minis
tsrs. Judge wundemann. Paul Nsu
mann, J. o. Carter. Il. c. AcFarlans
and myself. We went over between fou
and five and remained ill six. We asket
for surrender, and she ministers advised II
II was the Queens idea that she could sur
render pending settlement At Warrington
On that condition she gave ny. told he
shs could surrender or Sbdisats under pro
test"
WAS the queen advised by the minister
to surrender because of tho sympathy OF III
UpiSod States with the rsvolutiontsts 2"
Il know that il was tho queens idea tha
Stevens WAS in synpsthy with the move
mont. The queen WAS reluctant TO sign he
abdication, but did so On the ground tha
10 would all come mp for review at Wash
inRson. told he' myself il wsa the bsa