The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-08-01
Was There Japanese Plot Against Hawaii in 1893?
HOsMER WORLD STORY

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I 1T was learned that they had secured her
hearty cooperation in their scheme.
| OF this project Mr.. Hosmer relates:
1.-The natives were told that the
| agents of the lottery had planned to
construct gorgeous palace of marble
and lay out beautiful park in the
centre of the city, and that the lottery
should bear share in the burden of the
maintenance of the highways and in
numerous other ways contribute to the
splendor of the city of Honolulu. It
is needless to say that the better ele-
ment was opposed TO the lottery first
and. last. Liliuokalani left no stone
unturned in this altogether pernicious
attempt, and every influence was
brought to bear upon the Hawaiian
legislators to win over their support
cat length when it became evident
that despite the efforts of the Queen
the so-called Opposition had sufficient
strength to carry the day by narrow
margin of two or three votes. Liliuoka-
lani decided to take the law into her
own hands. The day had arrived when
the question of the admission of the
Louisiana Lottery to Hawaii was to be
passed upon by the Legislature. A
number of the members of the fopposi-
ton were called to the Queen s palace
for a conference and they responded.
Toward nightfall, when the dupes of the
Queen were released from the rooms
into which they had been locked, the
Legislature had admitted the gambling
enterprise and the body had been pro-
rogued. This occurred on Saturday,
Jan. II, 1898. -
How Revolution Began.
During this final session of the Legis
lature, Mr.. Hosmer says, a meeting was
in progress in the office of well-known
attorney to which prominent business
and professional men of Honolulu had
been invited. He was one of the men
who had been instrumental in the call
ing of this meeting, held upon rumor
that the Queen. was about to do away
with the constitution, and for the pur-
pose of discussing plans to prevent her,
if necessary, from committing this revo.
lutionary act. This meeting was broken
up by the report that the Queen was
haranguing a mob in Palace Square and
that the Queen IS troop were mobilizing
at the palace.
Mr.. Hosmer and several others has
teneds Immediately to Palace Square,
which they found jammed with peo-
pie. From an upper balcony in her
palace the Queen was delivering fiery
denunciation of the existing form of
government and the mob was in a
state of excitement bordering on
frenzy. They heard her proclaim that
the Constitution was dead and that
she proposed to re establish the old alb
solute monarchy. Then they hurried
away. Prominent citizens in all parts
of the city were notified and were ask
ed to call meetings. These smaller
groups pledged armed resistance to the
Queen and enlistments were rapidly
made from the American, Ger:uaa and
British factions.
The succeeding hours witnessed the
launching of the Hawaiian revolution.
Mr.. Hosmer went back to the attor-
ney's Office where they had held the
previous session, and there was mapped
out the beginning of campaign
against the Queen that was to establish
a new and an honest government in
Hawaii. Outside, the rougher element
of the city paraded the streets and
commenced the petty annoyances and
depredations that promised more serious
forms of lawlessness unless drastic ac-
ton of some sort was very soon taken.
AS the night passed the sky Redeemed
with the glare from incendiary fires,
started at several points in the city.
When the morning light of Sunday
1awned committee on public safety
had been formed in the attorneys Of
fee and the following resolution unani-
nously adopted:
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
committee that in view of the present
unsatisfactory state of affairs in Ha-
vaii, the proper course to pursue is to
abolish the monarchy and apply for an
lexation to the United States
On Sunday the turmoil in the city in
.reased in violence and the committee
vas in session again. 1t was decided
hen to hold a mass meeting at noon
N the following day The mass meet
ng, Monday noon, was attended by .
more than 1000 of the foreign residents
f Honolulu and the resolution adopted
" the Committee on Public Safety was
ndorsed without dissenting voice and
he committee authorized to act IN ae-
with the spirit of the reso-
ution.-
United States Marines Ashore.
Late on Monday, owing to an increase
n the number Of ineendiary fires re-
orted, United States Minister Stevens
Capt. Wiltse, of the q. s.
rmored cruiser Boston, to land some
1arines to protect American property.
apt. Wiltse sent ashore a battalion of
1arines and bluejackets with rapid-fre
uns, and the men were quartered in
lrion Hall, in the rear of the Opera
louise. Tuesday witnessed the forma-
ion of the Provisional Government of
laval and the Committee on Public
afety went out of existence. Judge
AFFORD B. Dole, of the Supreme Bench,
-as prevailed upon to take the Presi-
ency of the Provisional Government,
-hich was formally proclaimed at 10
clock in the morning from the steps
{ the government building. across ;
alace Square from the Queen s palace.
The revolutionary forces numbered
bout 1000 men, mainly American,
erman and British residents of Homo
llu. under the command of Col. Jonn
: Soper. Mr.. Hosmer had enlisted as
la %