Blount Report: Affairs in Hawaii
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HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 501
he told Hopkins to go away and come back again in an hour. Hopkins replied that the cabinet had
instructed him to bring a reply forthwith, so that they would know how to act, and Stevens refused. He
kept Hopkins waiting on his veranda one hour and then handed him a reply to us. While Stevens was
keeping Hopkins waiting, the usurpers were preparing to resist the Government in case of attack, and we
did nothing, but kept our men ready for action. The letter from Stevens carried by Hopkins to us reached
us 5 minutes of 4 p. m., and after reading its contents, we concluded to surrender and yield to America.
I want to impress upon you that we never surrendered the palace, police station, and barracks till after we
had received Stevens's letter, and not until we had fled our protest with the Provisional Government. The
surrender was a little after 6 in the evening; these usurpers could never have overthrown the Government,
as they did not have sufficient arms and ammunition; and on the other hand, it will be admitted by
themselves, I think, that the munitions of war that we had would have annihilated them were it not for the
United States troops and Minister Stevens. 1 remain, etc.,
JOHN F. COLBURN.
[Inclosure 7 in No. 3.]
Citizens' committee of safety to Mr. Stevens.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, Honolulu, January 16, 1893.
SIR: We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Honolulu, respectfully represent that, in view of recent
public events in this Kingdom, culminating in the revolutionary acts of Queen Liliuokalani on Saturday last,
the public safety is menaced, and lives and property are in peril, and we appeal to you and the United States
forces at your command for assistance.
The Queen, with the aid of armed force, and accompanied by threats of violence and bloodshed from those
with whom she was acting, attempted to proclaim a new constitution; and, while prevented for the time from
accomplishing her object, declared publicly that she would only defer her action.
This conduct and action was upon an occasion and under circumstances which have created general alarm
and terror.
We are unable to protect ourselves without aid and therefore pray for the protection of the United States
forces.
HENRY E. COOPER,
F. W. McCHESNEY,
W. C. WILDER,
C. BOLTE,
A. BROWN,
WILLIAM O. SMITH,
HENRY WATERHOUSB,
THEO. F. LANSING,
ED. SUHR,
L. A. THURSTON,
JOHN EMMELUTH,
WM. E. CASTLE,
J. A. McCandless,
Citizens' Committee of Safety.
No. 7.
Mr. Blount to Mr. Gresham.
No. 4. HONOLULU, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, May 4, 1893.
SIR : Up to the period of the hauling down of the United States ensign from the Government building there had
been inaction on the part of those opposed to annexation. Since then, inspired by that fact, the natives have
seemed to act with freedom in expressing their views on the subject of annexation and of the revolution
dethroning Liliuokalani. Annexationists and antiannexationists have been active
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