The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-01-01
HISTORY
MANCLED
A Popular Author
Misrepresents
Hawaii.

tlllS SNSNlpt lioill vi
Saturday Evening Post of Dec. 10, il
an article on Revolutions to Order"
In the overthrow of the Queen Of tn
Hawaiian Islands there was no ques
ton of msled sympathy. On that oc
casion our minister, John L. Stevens
was one of the prime movers in tn
revolution and was assisted by Cap
tain Wiltse, of the cruiser Boston. How
far our Government aided and abettec
Mr.. Stevens it is difficult to determine
| A letter marked Confidential" from
John w. Foster, then Secretary o.
State, to Mr.. Stevens, helps to explain
why the part played by Our Government,
is still difficult to determine. In this
letter he says: "Adverting to your cur.
rent dispatches in relation to the course
of political events in the Hawaiian Isl
ands, many of which are marked by you
CONFIDENTIAL and for obvious reasons,
l desire to suggest that you endeavor
to separate your reports into two classes,
one of which shall aim to give the mar
rative of public affairs in their open
historical aspect, and the other to be
of strictly reserved and confidential
character reporting and commenting
upon matters of personal intrigue and
the like so far as you may deem neces-
sary for my full understanding of the
situation. Many of your dispatches com
bine these two modes of treatment to
such degree as to make their publica
ton, in the event of call from Con-
expedient and, indeed, impracticablc
without extended omissions" In spite
of the extended omissions" it is still
possible to see throughout the course OF
the revolution the guiding hand of our
Government and its agent, Mr.. Stevens
In 1893 the passage of the Mckinley
Bill had made it impossible for the SUI
gar-planters in Hawaii, most of whom
were Americans. to carry on that in
dustry at a profit Their only hope of
avoiding the tariff lay in Hawaii be-
coming part of the United States. On
account of its strategic value in the
Pacific the United States desired Ha-
wall. The desires of both the Govern
ment of the United States and of the
American sugar-planters being the same,
they combined to overthrow the only
obstacle to their plans-Queen Liliuoka-
lani.
On January ID. 1893 Queen Liliuoka-
lani prorogued the Legislature and pro-
posed a new constitution which return
leges it had formerly enjoyed, but which.
in previous revolution in 1887, had
been taken from it. There was SUCH
instant objection to this new constitu-
ton on the part of the Queens own
Cabinet that she changed her purpose
and announced to the people by word of
mouth and by proclamation that there
would be no changes except by methods
authorized in the then existing laws
But this threat of new constitution
gave those who were plotting against
her Government the excuse for which
they were waiting. Although the Queen
had entirely given up her idea of new
constitution, the Americans in the city
of Honolulu pretended to- believe that
their liberties were in danger. and they
assembled in mass meeting and arranged
a Committee of Safety and organized
for their defense.
THE NURSERY MAIDS INSUR-
RECTION.
"A WI. LOPEZ WHO was lllNltSu 10 ledu
the volunteer forces of the foreign ele-
ment, declined the honor unless he could
first talk to the American minister. At
the Legation Mr.. Stevens gave him the
assurance he desired The next day,
although a state of public peace prevail
ed; although the ladies of the town,
with their children, were driving about
in their carriages, shopping and paying
calls; and while the benches in the
plazas were occupied by nursemaidi
and their charges, Minister Stevens
asked his side-partner, Captain Wiltse.
to land force of marines aid several
Calling guns for the protection OF Amer
lean interests. Instead of surrounding
the property of American citizens in
the business part of Honolulu. the
American forces were Stationed outside
the Government building and near the
Palace. Mr.. Wodehouse and other adj
herents of the Queen drove 10 the Le-
CATION and asked Stevens atIwhose re,
quest the marines were landed. He
said: "The ladies about towg are very
nervous and fear trouble"
Mr.. Wodehouse replied: tWhy, the
town. Mr.. Stevens, is perfectly quiet
DIS quiet DIS 2udkeTS H1eeuhS. were
you asked by the Queens Government
to land these troops, and why are the
forces occupying an armed position on
the principal square of the town. COM
handing the Palace and Government
building?"
Mr.. Stevens made no answer.
Eve left" says Wodehouse. "ahd are
satisfied that Stevens means TO assist
from the Committee of Safe
ty" The Queens marshal ordered the
troops at his command to be prepared
for an attack upon the Government and
called for volunteers. He assembled
them at the police barracks and awaited
the coming upheaval, 1t came, the next
afternoon at two o'clock, when thirty
say twelve, some say
the square ini front of
the Government building and, mounting
the steps, announced that they had over
thrown the monarchy and had establish
ed themselves as provisional govern