The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-16
QUEEN LIL'S STATEMENT.
Claims That She Had No knowledge of
the Impending ReVOlutioas

A Pronounced Change in Sentiment from
the Time When the Heads of the Rebels
| Were Regarded as Necessary to Her
Happiness.
| San Francisco. February 15.-The news
Lfrom Honolulu says of the ex-Queen, tried
| for treason: On the last day of the ex-
Queens trial a long statement. written by
her, was read in court. In it she said
'tThe movement undertaken by Hawaiians
! last month was absolutely commenced
| without my knowledge or sanction OF assist
ance directly or indirectly. This fact is. in
| truth, we'll known to those who look part in
| it. / received no information from any one
| in regard to who were to be procured,
| not Of any men induced to join in such an
| uprising do not know why this inforna-
| tion should have been withheld from me un-
| less with view to my personal safety or as
| a precautionary measure. 1t would not
| have received my sanction. I can assure
| the gentlemen of this commission hat had
| / known of such an intention would have
| dissuaded the promoters from such a
venture. ! will add that had known their
secrets they would have been mine and
would have been inviolately preserved.
''That intended to change my cabinet
and appoint certain offers of the kingdom
in event of my restoration.I L will admit, but
| that /, or any one known to me had in part,
or il whole, esta blished a new government
is not true. Before the Gath of January,
1895. the day upon which l formally
abdicatad and called upon my people to
recognize the republic of hawaii as the only
lawful government of these islands. and
support that government. claim had the
right to select cabinet in anticipation.
was not intimidated into abdicating. but
followed the counsels of able and generous
friends. and we'll wishers, who advised me
that such an act would restore peace and
good will among my people. vitalize progress
and prosperity of the islands and induce the
actual government to deal leniently. merci-
fully and chalitably with those who re-
sorted to arms for the purpose of displacing
the government in the formation of which
they had no voice or control. and which
they themselves had seen established by
force of arms. I acted Of my own free will,
and wish the world to know that asked nc
immunity or favor for myself nor pleaded
my addiction as petition for mercy. Ny
| aCtlOuS were dlttatCu ny tAO oolS am VI do-
ing good to my beloved country and
alleviating the position and pains of those
who unhappily and unwisely resorted to
arms to regainstheir independ ence that they
thought unjustly wrested from them. AS
| you deal with them so I pray that the
Almighty God may deal with you in your
hours of trial. To my regret much has been
said about the danger that threatened
l Il. Iz,,k .,
blood tbirstiness of the Hawaiians and ont
RACES which would have been perpetuated
by them if they succeeded in the attempt
to overthrow the republic and government.
Those who know the Hawaiian temper and
disposition understand there is no tounda-
ton for such fears, and the beha avior of the
rebels to those foreigners whom they
captured and held, showed there was no
maliginency in the hearts of the Hawaiians
at all.
81 must deny your right to try me in this
manner. and by the court that you have
called together for this purpose. In your
actions you viola te your own constitution
| and laws, which are now the constitution
| and laws of the land. There may be in your
consciences warrant for your action in what
| you may deem necessity of the times, but
you cannot dnd such warrant for such
action in any settled civilized or Christian
| land. All who uphold you in this unlawful
proceeding may scorn and desp1se my word.
| but the offense of breaking and setting
aside the specific purpose of the laws of
| YOUR own nation and disregarding all
Justice and fairness may be to them and
you source of an unhappy and much o-be-
regretted legacy. I would ask you to con-
| slider that your government is on trial be-
| fore the whole civilized world, and in ac-
| oordance with your actions and decisions
| will YOU yourselves be judged. The happi-
ness and prosperity of Hawaii hence
| forth in your hands alone, and as its rulers
| YOU are commencing new era In Its
| history. May the Divine Providence grant
Won wisdom to lead the nation into paths OF
| forhearapce, forgiveness and peace. and
| create and consolidate united people ever
| anxious O advance in the way of oiviiiza-
t;on outlined by the American fathers OF
liberty and religion. In concluding my
| statament thank you for the courtesy you
ma ve shown me as humble citizen of this
land and as a woman. I assure you who
believe that you are faithfully fulfilling q
nublio duty. that shall never harbor any
resentment or cherish any i'll feeling toward
YOU whatever may be your.decision."
On the fifth the cases of John A. Cum
mings and Captain Davis, of the Waimaulo
were taken up together by the cour1
martial. They are charged with misprisor
of treason. Both contributed Important
testimony in the other trials. Cummings
council made long plea for only fine fol
the old man who had been led away by his
intimate. Seward and his son-in-law Walker
Cummings was one of the late Queens com
missioners to Washington last summer. He
confessed to have assisted in the arrange
nents for landing the arms. Both Davis
an1 he pleaded guilty.
.Judge Advocate Kinney thought tina
Cummings's age and previous position il
the country would weigh with the execu
tive in his favor.
Edgar Franz. nineteen years Of age and
a nativa of Pennsylvania was deported b.
order OF the Hawaiian government and pu
on board the Maripoosa a few moments be
fore she sailed from Honolulu. His offence
being in mingling with royalists and indulg
ing in indiscrete talking.
Trying to Evade lakes.