The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-26
New York Times.)


ter understanding of the morals of the
transaction few salient facts of recent
Hawaiian history, showing how the pres
ent government of those islands was
founded and the peculiar relations of the
United States Minister to the revolution
which upset the lawful government,
made Dole President and paved the
way for annexation.
John L. Stevens an old friend and
neighbor of Mr.. Blaine at Augusta, was
sent to Honolulu as United States Min
lister in 1890, very soon after the inaugu-
ration of President Harrison, in whose
Cabinet Mr.. Blaine was Secretary of
State. Immediately after his arrival he
began to write to Secretary Blaine of
the strong American feeling" prevail
ing at Honolulu. ''Shall American civil
zation ultimately prevail hereY he
wrote in March, 1890 In August, 1891.
he wrote that "a proper regard for
American interests will require one ship
here most of the time in 1892
On March 8, 1892, Minister Stevens
wrote d remarkable letter, in which was
foretold with remarkable detail and
precision the main events of revolution
which actually occurred ten months
later. We quote from this prophetic ut
terance:
IF the government here should he sur
prised and overturned by an orderly and
peaceful revolutionary movement, largely
of native Hawaiians, and Il provisional
or Republican government organized and
proclaimed, would the United States
Minister and naval authorities here be
justified in responding afhrmatively to
the call of the members of the removed
government to restore them to power or
replace them in possession of the govern
ment buildings? Or should the United
States Minister and naval commander
confine themselves exclusively to the
preservation of American property, the
protection of American citizens, and the
prevention of anarchy? Should revo-
lutionary attempt of the character indi-
Gated be made there are strong reasons
to presume that it would begin with
the seizure of the police station, with
its arms and ammunition, and, this ac-
complished, the Royal Palace and gov
eminent building, containing the Cabi-
net offices and archives, would very soon
be captured"
The Queen promulgated the new Con-
stitution on January IA, 1893. On that
day the United States warship Boston re-
turned from d ten days trip among the
islands with Minister Stevens on board.
Also, on that day, at a meeting of revo-
lutionists Committee of Safety" was
formed and the conspiracy for the imme-
date dethronement of the Queen took
definite shape and began active opera
tons. The first question raised was
whether "a protectorate should not be
sought from the United States steamship
of-war Boston" and a special committee
that evening waited upon Minister Ste
yens to inquire what his course would
be. The Minister said, in reply TO ques-
tons, that the United States troops on
board the Boston would be ready to land
at any moment to prevent the destruc-
ton of American life and property, and
that whatever government was estab-
lished and was actually in possession of
the government building, the executive
departments and archives, and in pos
session of the city, that was a de facto
government proclaiming itself as a gov
eminent, and would necessarily have to
be recognized"
Two of the consprators, l.. A. Thurs
ton and w. o. Smith, called upon Minis
ter Stevens on Monday, January Is, and
informed him that, as their ''plans" We're
not perfected, the committee had decided
not to ask for a landing of United States
troops until the following morning. 1t
was too late. Minister Stevens informed
his visitors that The had ordered the
troops to be landed at ) o'clock, and they
would come" They did come-three
companies of bIuejackets, one of artil-
lery, one of marines, 154 men and 10 of
ficers; with 1900 cartridges for rifles
and the Calling gun, 100 revolver cart
ridges, and TIA explosive shells for the
revolving cannon. These forces were
landed, on foreign soil, not at the request
of Oahu promptly sent formal note of
protest to Minister Stevens represent
ing $4,000 of the population, but at the
request Of a committee of rebels repre-
senting 1000 American residents
The events of this successful conspir-
acy now moved like clockwork. OF the
United States troops, landed for "the
protection of American life and prop
erty,p one company of marines was left
at the legation, where the American
life and property" were to be found,
while the rest of the force was marched
to Arion Hall, structure close to the
palace and just across the street from
the government building, where, of
course, the rebels would necessarily make
their attack. Rear Admiral Skerrett
reported that Arion Hall was ill-chosen
for the profcssed purpose for which the
adds, "if they were landed with a view
to supporting the provisional govern
ment troops then occupying the govern
ment building, it was wise choice"
Everything being ready, on Tuesday
January II, the conspirators signed their
proclamation announcing that the Ha-
waiian monarchy had been "abrogated"
and a provisional government estab-
lshed, with Sanford b. Dole as chair
man of the Executive Council. They took
this to the government building and
there read it, within seventy-fve yards
of the point where the United States
forces were stationed with their Calling
gun and small cannon. With only the
government building in their hands, the
Queen being at the palace and her troops
in possession of the police station, ana
but for the overawing force Of United
States troops in possession also of the
city, the rebels posted off to the Ameri-
can Legation with request for recog-
milton. They got it with extraordinary
promptness The provisional govern