The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-01-16
JANUARY 10TH, 1893.
GATHERING AT THE ARMORY A
YEAR AGO TO-DAY.
Safety Committees Report-Declaration
of Independence-speech that
were Made.

A year ago to-day the big mass meet
ing was held in the Armory. Nearly
1900 citizens responded to the call OF the
Committee of Safety. After the exciting
and significant events of the preceding
forty-eight hours it was pretty well un-
derstood that all who appeared thus en-
listed in the fight against the expressions
of the revolutionary ruler. This was
the largest and essentially the most inn
portant public meeting ever held in
Honolulu.
Hon. w. C. Wilder was chairman. He
said he took the post as duty, not as
an honor. eve do not meet as revolu-
tionists," he concluded, "but as peaceful
citizens who have the right to meet and
state their grievances. We will main
tain our rights and have the courage to
maintain them"
Hon. Lorrin A. Thurston rose to read
the report of the Committee of Safety.
All felt that the critical moment had
arrived. They were at the bank of u
portentious Rubicon. An unmistakable
policy was to be announced. Fetters
were to be broken. A new era was in
thing, failure an ignominious fate. The
report was to be declaration with
which there could be no temporizing
MIR. Thurston was to utter words that
would be heard around the world. The
suppressed excitement was nerve-trying
and thrilling. In clear, bold tones the
committee chairman proceeded. A
statement of the accumulated grew
ances was first heard. These lines
recited the total and naughty disre-
gard of the Queen for the constitutional
and statuatory limitations placed upon
her. There were recounted the famous
jugglery of the Legislature, the almost
Incredible maneuvering in connection
with the attempt to foist an oppressive
constitution upon the people, the in
difference of the Queen to pleas of citi-
zens and the tyrannical speeches Of the
ruler. All this, including the propo-
sition to disfranchise the whites, was
told concisely. Her incendiary declar-
ations and threats OF condign punish
ment to those who resisted her imperious
will, were recounted. The preamble and
resolutions concluded: land we do
hereby further empower each COM
mittee to further consider the situation
and further devise such ways and
Htdus as may HtCcSsdIl W StCult
the permanent maintenance Uf law and
order and the protection of life, liberty
and property in Hawaii.
This was the declaration of indie
pendence. Out OF this mass meeting
came the Provisional Government with
its high hopes for annexation to the
United States. Behind that meeting
monarchy was left forever.
In moving the adoption OF the report
and resolution Mr.. Thurston made a
stirring address. One sentence was
1.-THE man who has not the spirit to rise
after the menance to our liberties has no
right to keep them"
Mr.. HI. f. Glade began: "The Queen
has done an unlawful thing in ignoring
the constitution which she had sworn to
uphold" She had promised not to do
SO again. The people were entitled to
have guarantee that such thing could
not again happen.
Mr.. A. Young, who on the same plat
form had made the speech that turned
the day in the struggle for the constitu-
ton OF 1887, next spoke. To-day
, said he, Eve have met to consider the
action of Her Majesty in attempting to
set aside the constitution we all
worked so hard to have pro-
ests of the sovereign and the
people at large, as well as for the re-
demption of the credit of the kingdom
abroad. The Queen has pre-
meditatedly committeda breach OF faith
Have we any reasonable as
surance that the Queen and her Minis.
tiers have abandoned finally the new
constitution scheme? While the Queer
and her Cabinet continue to trihe witt
and play fast and loose with the affairs
of State there can be no feeling Of secur
ity for foreign families residing within
these domains.
Mr.. c. Bolte called attention to tn,
vacillating and highly menacing con
duct of the ruler. She had made ,
dozen different promises in as man,
hours.
Hon. H. p. Baldwin characterized tn,
Queens action as revolutionary. HI
spoke OF the depressing effect on TIN
commercial interests. 1.-The Queen
proclamation has not inspired confidence
But shall we not teach her to act within
the constitution"
Mr.. John Emmeluth had heard tn,
chagrined and angered Queens speecl
at the palace and had noted that the ex
preston upon her face was fiendish
Lie utW CONSTITUTION WAS nOb WuitS'
by those who worked. ''If we let thi
occasion go by we will deserve all w
get. An opportunity comes bu
once in lifetime. 1t has com
to us and if we finish as we should ther,
will be no possibility of a repetition O
the scenes OF last Saturday. II tn
Queen had succeeded last Saturday al
of us would have been robbed of tn
privileges without which no white ma
can live in this community"
Mr.. r. j. Greene said, "Our patienc
has been exhausted. We all agree abou
this case. The question is the remedy.
Mr.. Greene urged patriotic, courageou
action.
There had been. applause Throughout
the speech-making. The resolution
were adopted by unanimous standin
vote, followed by tremendous cheering
Marshal Wilson had forbidden the mas
meeting. A counter demonstration wa
attempted near the Palace and one {
the speakers said he thirsted for BLOOD
On the ever - of the 10Th the Pr,
visional Gov, mt was practically o.
ganized. Nj. the anniversary
which will be celepSated tomorrow, I'll
Queen was driven from her throne.
the street Cars Tomorrow.