Home: The Annexation Of Hawaii: A Collection Of Document
hawnpac@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-8264
[Previous Page] -- [View PDF] -- [ View in MS Word] -- [Next Page]
208 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. brief period, and then went upon the balcony and spoke with great passion in the same strain to those around the palace, principally her retainers and the royal guard, her determination to proclaim her con- stitution at another time. What I have described as to the lottery legislation, the forcing out of the responsible cabinet of November 8 and appointing the lottery cabinet, two of whom had been voted out of the ministry during the legislative session by a two-thirds vote for the best of reasons. It was the lottery bribe and the autocratic design of the Queen that quickly precipitated events. A mass meeting of the citizens was called to meet on Monday, the 16th, at 2 p. m., which assembled in the largest hall in the city. Short as was the notice, over 1,300 of the principal citizens of Hono- lulu and from other islands, who happened to be in the city, were in attendance. This meeting included merchants, bankers, profes- sional men, the principal business men, and the mechanics, the chief German and some of the leading English merchants and other nation- alities, as well as American residents. It is said such an assemblage was never before equaled in Honolulu. Intelligent American visitors here say that such a public meeting would do credit to a meeting of a similar class of citizens in our best American cities. The assemblage was a unit in feeling and purpose. The speeches and resolutions are on the printed slips I herewith inclose. This remark- able uprising of the best citizens, including nearly all of the chief prop- erty holders, the Tahitian marshal and palace favorite did not dare at- tempt to suppress. A committee of public safety was at once created to meet the emergency and to prevent anarchy and riot. It was fortunate that the Boston was in the harbor. The committee on public safety called on me for aid. I promptly addressed to the commander of the Boston, Capt. G. S. Wiltse, the following note: UNITED STATES LEGATION, Honolulu, January 16, 1893. SIR: In view of the existing critical circumstances in Honolulu, including an in- adequate legal force, I request you to land marines and sailors from the ship under your command for the protection of the United States legation and United States consulate, and to secure the safety of American life and property. Very truly, yours, JOHN L. STEVENS, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States. Capt. G. C. WILTSE, Commander U. S. S. Boston. A copy of the call of the committee of public safety for aid is in- closed. Promptly the men from the Boston were lauded. Detachments were placed around the legation and the consulate, the principal members having marched to a central hall for shelter and headquarters; the night being at hand, the public anxiety being especially strong as to what might be done by irresponsible persons in the night, the landing of the men of the Boston so promptly gave immediate relief to the public anxiety. As soon as practicable a Provisional Government was constituted, composed of four highly respectable men, with Judge Dole at the head, he having resigned his place on the supreme bench to assume this re- sponsibility. He was born in Honolulu, of American parentage, edu- cated here and in the United States, and ,is of the highest reputation among all citizens, both natives and whites. P. C. Jones is a native of Boston, Mass., wealthy, possessing property interests in the, islands.