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Blount Report: Affairs in Hawaii

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HAWAIIAN   ISLANDS.	393
"The first step which the committee consider necessary is to secure openly, pub- 
licly, and peaceably, through the medium of a mass meeting of citizens, a condem- 
nation of the proceedings of the party of revolution and disorder, and a confirmation 
from such larger meeting of the authority now vested in the committee.
"For such purpose the committee hereby recommends the adoption of the follow- 
ing resolution:
"RESOLUTION.
"1. Whereas Her Majesty Liliuokalani, acting in conjunction with certain other 
persons, has illegally and unconstitutionally and against the advice and consent of 
the lawful executive officers of the Government, attempted to abrogate the existing 
constitution and proclaim a new one in subversion of the rights of the people;
"2. And whereas such attempt has been accompanied by threats of violence and 
bloodshed and a display of armed force, and such attempt and acts and threats are 
revolutionary and treasonable in character;
"3. And whereas Her Majesty's cabinet have informed her that such contemplated 
action was unlawful and would lead to bloodshed and riot and have implored and 
demanded of her to desist from and renounce such proposed action;
"4. And whereas such advice has been in vain, and Her Majesty has in a public 
speech announced that she was desirous and ready to promulgate such constitution, 
the same being now ready for such purpose, and that the only reason why it was not 
now promulgated was because she had met with unexpected obstacles and that a 
fitting opportunity in the future must be awaited for the consummation of such 
object, which would bo within a few days;
"5. And whereas at a public meeting of citizens held in Honolulu on the 14th day 
of January instant a committee of thirteen to he known as the 'committee of public 
safety' was appointed to consider the situation and to devise ways and means for the 
maintenance of the public peace and safety and the preservation of life and property;
"6. And whereas such committee has recommended the calling of this mass meet- 
ing of citizens to protest against and condemn such action, and has this day pre- 
sented a report to such meeting denouncing the action of the Queen and her sup- 
porters as being unlawful, unwarranted, in derogation of the rights of the people, 
endangering the peace of the community, and tending the excite riot and cause the 
loss of life and destruction of property:
"Now, therefore, we, the citizens of Honolulu of all nationalities and regardless 
of political party affiliations, do hereby condemn and denounce the action of the 
Queen and her supporters;
"And we do hereby ratify the appointment and indorse the action taken and re- 
port made by the said committee of safety; and we do hereby further empower such 
committee to further consider the situation and further devise such ways and means 
as may be necessary to secure the permanent maintenance of law and order and the 
protection of life, liberty, and property in Hawaii."
Mr. THURSTON said: Mr. Chairman, Hawaii is a wonderful country. We are divided 
into parties and nationalities and factions, but there are moments when we are 
united and move shoulder to shoulder, moved by one common desire for the public 
good. Three times during the past twelve years this has happened - in 1880, 1887, 
and today. They say it is ended, it is done, there is nothing to consider.  Is it so? 
[Calls of no! no!] I say, gentlemen, that now and here is the time to act. [Loud 
cheers.] The Queen says she won't do it again. [Cries of humbug.] Fellow-citi- 
zens, have you any memories? Hasn't she once before promised - sworn solemnly 
before Almighty God to maintain this constitution? What is her word worth! 
[Calls of nothing! nothing!] It is an old saying that a royal promise is made to 
be broken. Fellow-citizens, remember it. We have not sought this situation. Last 
Saturday the sun rose on a peaceful and smiling city; today it is otherwise.
Whose fault is it? Queen Liliuokalani's. It is not her fault that the streets have 
not run red with blood. She has printed a proclamation and at the same time, per- 
haps sent out by the same carriers, her organ prints an extra, with her speech with 
bitterer language than in the Advertiser. She wants us to sleep on a slumbering 
volcano which will one morning spew out blood and destroy us all. The constitu- 
tion gives us the right to assemble peacefully and express our grievances. We are 
here doing that today without arms. The man who has not the spirit to rise after 
the menaces to our liberties has no right to keep them. Has the tropic sun cooled 
and thinned our blood, or have we flowing in our veins the warm, rich blood which 
loves liberty and dies for it? I move the adoption of the resolution.
[Tumultuous applause.]
Mr. H. F. GLADE. The Queen has done an unlawful thing in ignoring the consti- 
tution which she had sworn to uphold. We most decidedly protest against such 
revolutionary proceeding, and we should do all we possibly can to prevent her from 
repeating actions which result in disorder and riot. We now have a promise from 
the Queen that proceedings as we experienced on Saturday shall not occur again; 
but we should have such assurances and guaranties for this promise that will really

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