The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-02-08

with them were Testtdlueu lTOu no
ing against the Government in
power.
The movement undertaken by the
Hawaiians last month was absolute
ly commenced without my know
ledge, sanction, consent or assist
ance, directly or indirectly, and this
fact is in truth we'll known to those
who took part ia 1t.
l received no information from
any one in regard to arms which
wore procured or which were to be
procured, nor Of any men who were
induced, or to be induced, to join in
any such uprising.
| do not know why this informa.
ton should have been withheld from
me, unless it was with view TO my
personal safety or as a precaution-
airy measure. Ii would not have re-
ceived INV sanction aud can assure
the gentlemen of this Commission
that, had | known OF any such in
tention, | would have dissuaded the
promoters from such a venture. But
| will add that had / known, their
secrets would have been mine and
inviolately preserved.
That I intended to change my
Cabinet and to appoint certain Off
GERS OF the kingdom, in the event OF
my restoration, / will admit; but
that l, or any one known to me, had,
in part or in whole, established a
new government is not true. Before
the oath OF January, 1895, the day
upon which l formally abdicated,
and called upon my people to recog-
nize the Republic OF Hawaii as the
only lawful Government OF these
Islands, aud to support that Govern
ment, l claim that had the right to
select Cabinet in anticipation of
possibility, and history OF other gov
ernments supports this right. l was
not intimidated into abdicating, but
followed the counsel OF able and
generous friends aud well-wishers
who advised me that such an act
would restore peace and good will
among my people; vitalize the pre-
gress and prosperity OF the Islands
and induce the actual Government
to deal leniently, mercifully, charita.
bly, and dispassionately with those
who resorted to arms for the pur.
pose OF displacing government in
the formation OF which they had no
voice or control; aud which they
themselves had seen established by
force of arms.
| acted OF my own free will, and
wish the world TO know that l have
asked no immunity or favor myself
nor pleaded my abdication as a pc
ti.ion for mercy. My actions were
dictated by the sole aim OF doing
good to my beloved country, and OF
alternating the privations aud pains
Of those who unhsppily aud unwise-
ly resorted to arms to regain an in
dependence, which they thought had
been unjustly wrested from them.
As you deal with them, so | pray
that the Almighty God may deal
with you in your hours OF trial.
To my regret much has been said
about the danger which threatened
foreign women and children, and
about the bloodthirstiness OF the
Hawaiians and the outrages which
would have been perpetrated by
them il they had succeeded in their
attempt to overthrow the republican
Government.
They who know the Hawaiian
temper and disposition understand
that there was no foundation for any
such fears. The behavior of the
rebels to those foreigners whom they
captured aud held shows that there
was no malignancy in the hearts Of
the Hawaiians at all. 1t would have
been sad indeed il the doctrine OF
the Christian Missionary Fathers,
taught to my people by them and
those who succeeded them, should
have fallen like the seed in the para
BILE upon barren ground.
must deny your right to try me
in the manner and by the Court
which yon have called together for
this purpose. In your actions you
vislate your own Constitution and
laws which are now the Constitution
and laws OF the land.
There may be in your consciences
a warrant for your action, in what
you may deem a necessity OF the
times, but you cannot find any such
warrant for any such action in any
settled, civilized or Christian land
All who uphold you in this unlawful
proceeding may scorn and despise
my word, but the offense OF break.
ing and setting aside for specific
purpose the laws OF your own ma,
ton and disregarding all justice and
fairness may be to them and to you
the source Of an unhappy and much
to be regretted legacy.