HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS.	569

This was accomplished without any demonstration of joy or grief on the part of the populace.
The afternoon before, in an interview with President Dole, in response to my inquiry, he said that the 
Provisional Government was now able to preserve order, although it could not have done so for several weeks 
after the proclamation establishing it.
In the evening of this same day the American minister called on me with a Mr. Walter G. Smith, who, he said, 
desired to make am important communication to me, and whom lie knew to be very intelligent and reliable. 
Thereupon Mr. Smith, with intense gravity, informed me that he knew beyond doubt that it had been arranged 
between the Queen and the Japanese commissioner that if the American flag and troops were removed the 
troops from the Japanese man of war Naniwa would land and reinstate the Queen.
Mr. Smith was the editor of the Hawaiian Star, established by the Annexation Club for the purpose of 
advocating annexation.
The American minister expressed his belief in the statement of Mr. Smith and urged the importance of the 
American troops remaining on shore until I could communicate with you and you could have the opportunity to 
communicate with the Japanese Government and obtain from it assurances that Japanese troops would not be 
landed to enforce any policy on the Government or people of the Hawaiian Islands.
I was not impressed much with these statements.
When the Japanese commissioner learned that the presence of the Japanese man of war was giving currency to 
suggestions that his Government intended to interfere with domestic affairs here, he wrote to his Government 
asking that the vessel be ordered away, which was done. He expressed to me his deep regret that any one should 
charge that the Empire of Japan, having so many reasons to value the friendship of the Government of the 
United States, would consent to offend that Government by interfering in the political conflicts in these islands, 
to which it was averse.
In the light of subsequent events, I trust the correctness of my action will be the more fully justified.
The Provisional Government left to its own preservation, the people freed from any fear of free intercourse 
with me in so far as my action could accomplish it, the disposition of the minds of all people to peace pending the 
consideration by the Government of the United States as to what should be its action in connection with affairs 
here, cleared the way for me to commence the investigation with which I was charged.
The causes of the revolution culminating in the dethronement of the Queen and the establishment of the 
Provisional Government, January 17,1893, are remote and proximate. A brief presentation of the former will aid in 
a fuller apprehension of the latter.
On June 14,1852, a constitution was granted by Kamehameha III, by and with the advice and consent of the 
nobles and representatives in legislative council. This instrument provided for a house of nobles, holding their 
seats for life, and that the number should not exceed thirty, and a house of representatives composed of not less 
than twenty-four nor more than forty members. Every male subject, whether native or naturalized, and every 
denizen of the Kingdom who had paid his taxes, attained the age of twenty-one years, and had resided in the 
Kingdom for one year immediately preceding the time of election was entitled to vote for the representative or 
representatives of the district in which he may have resided three months next preceding the day of election.

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