The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-08-12
WHEN THE STARS and STRIPES WENT UP BEFORE

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sional Government marched in and
took their places in the Legislative
hall. The feeling of the spectators on
both sides was intense, but suppress
ed. The royalists knew that the
change of flags did not of itself mean
restoration, and they saw that the
Provisional Government was still
master of the situation. But they
hoped that this act was only the first
step on the way to restoration, and
were therefore elated, while the an
neXationists were correspondingly de-
pressed. In the United States this in
cident touched the popular heart, and
tindled feeling of Indignation which
no subsequent explanation has been
able to allay.
BLOUNT'S ACCOUNT.
Commissioner Blount in his report
to Secretary of State Gresham, thus
presents his reasons for his action in
this matter, and describes the event.
My instructions directed me to make
inquiries, which, in the interests of
candor and truth, could not be done
when the minds of thousands of Ha-
waiian citizens were full of uncer-
tainty as to what the presence of the
American troops, the American flag
and the American protectorate impli-
ed. 1t seemed necessary that all these
influences must be withdrawn before
those inquiries could be presented in
a manner BETTING the dignity and
power of the United States.
Inspired with such feelings and
confident no disorders would ensue,
I directed the removal of the flag of
the United States from the Govern
ment building and the return of the
American troops to their vessels. This
was accomplished without any dem
onstrations of JOY or grief on the part
of the populace.
The afternoon before. in an inter
view with President Dole, In response
to my inquiry, he said that the Pro-
visional Government was now able to
, preserve order. although it could not
} have done so for several weeks after
! the proclamation establishing it.
YOUNG'S DESCRIPTION.
Lieutenant Lucien Young in his
= book The Boston in Hawaii" a book
suppressed by the Cleveland admins
tration, gives the account of the rails
, ing of the Stars and Stripes over the
r Government building on February, 1,
1893. The lieutenant says:
with the flag of the United States
over the government building, the
government felt that neither the Japa-
ncse nor English officials would at
tempt to insist that their government
had a right to interfere. With the
sole object, therefore, of holding the
: existing status unchanged and free
from foreign complications until the
United States could act, the United
States Minister acquiesced in the pro.
priety of the act, and on the morning
, of February LIST, the Boston's battal
= ion was paraded and marched to the
government building, where they were
received by the civilian troops in
line at a salute. All the officials OF
: the provisional government were pres.
l ent, and the custody of the building
was turned over. A proclamation
signed by the United States Minister
and approved by Captain Wiltse was
70 then read by the adjutant, establish
: ing a protectorate over the Hawaiian
7 Islands in the name of the United
States, pending negotiations and ac
u ton in Washington. At the close OF
0 reading of the proclamation the United
States ensign was hoisted over the
: building, the battalion and civilian
forces presenting arms"
: Later in his book the gallant off
{ Ger gives the account of hauling dowI
i Old Glory two months later, which
n Mr.. Blount had arranged for Lieu
S tenant Young says:
> 'On the afternoon of March 81 Mr.
;, Blount notified the President of the
Provisional Government of his inten
ton to haul down the American en-
! sign and issued a written positive anC
= direct order to Admiral Skerrett
u commanding the United States nava
forces in the Pacific, to haul down tn,
/ United States flag from the govern
y ment building at II o'clock on the Is
:. of April and embark the troops OF
p shore to the ship. This unusual anC
unprecedented order was obeyed b,
u Admiral Skerrett, although he eXhib
: tied unmistakable signs of irritation
>: and humiliation, and afterwards wrot
r. complaint to the Navy Department
t Coming into town early on the NOR
t. ming of April LIST, in company with
d friend at whose country cottage 1 hat
r spent the night, we passed the resi-
s dence of the eX-Queen, where we me
g couple of native women coming out
: who informed us they had spent tn
n night with the eX-Queen; that sh
and her eX-ministers had been in
II formed the night before that the Unit
n ed States flag was going to be hau1e
! down that day at II o'clock; tina
"a the Commissioner was going to re
n store her and that she was very nery
- GUS and excited. On arrival on boar
ship | found that no one there had a
yet been informed of the fact, tn
orders from the Admiral coming la
a er. At the appointed time the fla
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