The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-05-07

life and property
JOHN L. STEVENS
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potentiary of the United States
Captain Wiltse had already
anticipated the request OF the
minister, and issued the follow
ing order:
HONOLULU, Jan. 16, 1898.
"LIEuTENANT COMMANDER w. T. SwINBoRNE,
UNITED STATES NAVY, EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
UNITED STATES CRUISER BOSTON
"Sir-You will take command of the bat
TALON, and land in Honolulu for the purpose
of protecting our legation, consulate, and
the lives and property of American citizens,
and to assist in preserving order.
sGreat prudence must be exercised by
both officers and men, and no action taken
that is not fully warrented by the condition
of affairs and by the conduct of those who
may be inimical to the treaty rights of Amer
lean citizens.
You will inform me at the earliest posi-
BILE moment of any change in the situation,
Very respectfully.
&c c. Wiltse
Captain, United States Navy, Command
ing United States Cruiser Boston
The troops were landed, and
during the day divided into
squads. A part were placed to
guard the United States Lega-
ton, a small squad sent to the
Consulate, and eight to the
home of an American resident
named Hopper. AS the troops
had no tents the minister Sc
cured quarters for them from a
royalist.
There has probably been
more wholesale lying, in print
and out of print, about the act
ions of Minister Stevens and
Captain Wiltse than about any
other subject since the days of
Ananias. The day after the
landing of the troops, the
queens cabinet called on Min
lister Stevens to ask the aid of
the United States marines in
sustaining the queen against
the Provisional Government
then in course of formation.
Minister Stevens answered.:
"Gentlemen, these men were
landed for one purbose only, a
pacific purpose, and we cannot
take part in any contest. lean
not use this force for sustaining
the queen or anybody else.'
This remark was made and
this assurance given before the
Queen had been deposed, and
the cabinet knew that the Uni
ted States troops would not in
terfere in the affair in any way.
Thirty-two armed citizens
of t he Committee of Safety
mar he'd to the government
buiI ding and took possession
of it. The constitution had not
been formally promulgated,
and, it is said, was never igneo
by all the cabinet. The minis.
tiers fled, the guard went to the
police quarters, and tn unfor-
tunate queen was des rte | b.
everyone save her marshal Mr.
Wilson, who through al herad-
versities had rein ai,.cd hef
truest friend. 1t is said that
Mr.. Wilson warn ID lie" J gainst
an attempt to pr >nl:l2 'te the
new constitution 81 you do,
it will be your rum" he | :-lared,
"but shall stan! or f Il with
you" If Mr.. Wilson NJ 'Je this
assertion, he kept his word.
To his credit be il said he was
the only friend of the queen
WHOM n the hon1 of trl II, dis
played any pluck But he had
not a soldier or policeman to
aid him, and t4airty-two men
seized the government.
Hon. S. B. Dole, chief justice
of the supreme court, resigned
his position when the trouble
began, and was made member
of the Committee of Safety, and
later, on the organization of
the Provisional Government,
became it's president.
After the failure of the effort
to secure the annexationof the
islands to the United States,
and the defeat of The project to
restore the queen, the Provis-
ional Government became a
permanent government. A
constitution was framed and
Hon. S. B.Dole selected as pres
ident for the term of six years.
A wiser choice could not have
been made. Mr.. Dole is a brave,
honorable, conservative gentle
man. He is a statesman be-
yond corruption, and, while
dignified, is utterly devoid of
any of the silly pomposity
which so often characterizes