Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-04-29

which were in jeopardy. A party of
Christian ladies waited on the queen
and petitioned her not to sign the odi.
Gus bills. 1t is said she wept with
them; they prayed with her and left
assured she would veto the bills but
she signed them almost as soon as tbev
were gone.
The alarm spread and increased.
Meetings were held ,and some discussed
taxing measure to avert moral and
hnancia ruin. The queen prorogued
the Legislature, dismissed her cabinet.
ana appointed in its place set of min.
isters obnoxious to most of the respec.
table people of the islands. The excite.
ment was now at its height. This high
handed trampling on the liberties of the
people, many of whom were born on
the islands, was resented. A Commit.
tee of Safety was formed, and citizens
began to arm themselves.
Ihe qneen announced that she was
going to give her people new consti-
tutlon. The new constitution was
written and signed, but she failed to
get the signatures of all her cabinet.
The document never came to light, but
II is known that it provided for the dis.
franchisement of all white men not
married to a native woman, and
that only the property of the whites
should be liable for taxes. :.
The Committo of Safety organized
and formed in companies. Arms were
concealed in hardware store, and, ON
the morning of January II, 1893, John
Good, now Captain Good, Mr.. Benner,
and two others started with them to
the armory of the Committee of Safe
ty On Fort Street they were attacked
by the police. Captain Good fired and
wounded one man, and Mr.. Benner
knocked another down with the butt
of his whip, and thus they escaped.
In the mainwhile John l.. Stevens,
United States minister to Hawaii, who
was away up to this time, returned to
Honolulu after the Committee of Safe
ty had been formed. He issued the
following request to Captain G. C.
Wiltse, of the United States Cruiser
Boston:
"Sir-ln view OF the existing critical
circumstances in Honolulu, indicating
an inadequate force, | request you to
land marines and sailors from the ship
under your command for the protec.
tion of the United States Legation and
United States Consulate, and to secure
American life and property.
JOHN R. STEVENS.
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States. -
Captain Wiltse had already anticipa-
ted the request of the minister, and is
sued the following order:
Honolulu, January 10, 1898.
Lieutenant Comm ander w. T. Swim.
burne, United States Navy, Execu-
tive Office of the United States Cruz.
ser Boston.
"Sir-You will take command of the
battalion, 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.
Great prudence must be exercised
| by both officers and men, and no &C.
tion taken that is not fully warranted
by the condition of affairs and by the
conduct of those who may be inimical
to the treaty rights of American citi.
zens.
You will inform me at the earliest
possible moment of any change in the
situation. Very respectfully,
&c. c. WILTsE.
captain, United States Navy, Com
manding United States Cruiser Bos.
ton."
The troops were landed, and during the
day divided into small squads. A part
were placed to guard the United States
Legation, 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 royal.
ist.
There has probably been more whole
sale lying, in print and out of print,
about the action of Minister Stevens
and Captain Wiltse than about any
other subject since the days of Ana.
Mas. The day after the landing of the
troops, the queens cabinet called on
Minister Stevens to ask the aid of the
United States marines in sustaining
the queen against the Provisional
Government then in course of forma-
ton. Minister Stevens answered.
Gentlemen, these men were landed
for one purpose only pacific purpose,
and we can not take part in any con-
test. can not us this force for sus.
tanning the queen or anybody else.'
This remark was made and this assu-
rance given before the Queen had been
deposed, and her cabinet knew that
the United States troops would not in.
terfere in the affair in any way.
Thirty two armed citizens of the
Committee of Safety marched to the
government building and took posses
sion of it. The constitution had not
been formally promulgated, and it is
said. was never signed by all the cabi-
net. The ministers fled, the guard
went to the police quarters, and the
unfortunate queen was deserted by
everyone save her marshal, Mr.. Viii.
son, who through all her adversities
has remained her truest friend. 1t is
said that Mr.. Wilson warned her
against an attempt to promulgate the
new constitution. "If you do, it will
be your ruin, "he declared, "but shall
stand or fall with you" If Mr.. Will
SOD made this assertion, he kept his
word. To his credit be it said he was
the only friend of the queen who in
hour of trial, displayed any pluck. But
he had not soldier or policeman to
aid him, and thirty 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
q member of the Committee of Safety.
and later, on the organization of the
Provisional Government, became its
president.
After the failure of the effort to Sc
cure annexation of the islands to the
United States, and the defeat of the
project to restore the queen, the Pro.
visional Government became perma.