HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS	587
In pursuance of a prearranged plan, the Government thus established hastened off commissioners to 
Washington to make a treaty for the purpose of annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the United States.
During the progress of the movement the committee of safety alarmed at the fact that the insurrectionists had 
no troops and no organization, despatched to Mr. Stevens three persons, to wit, Messrs. L. A. Thurston, W. 0. 
Wilder, and H. F. Glade, "to inform him of the situation and ascertain from him what if any protection or 
assistance could be afforded by the United States forces for the protection of life and property, the unanimous 
sentiment and feeling being that life and property were in danger." Mr. Thurston is a native-born subject; Mr. 
Wilder is of American origin, but has absolved his allegiance to the United States and is a naturalized subject; 
Mr. Glade is a German subject.
The declaration as to the purposes of the Queen contained in the formal request for the appointment of a 
committee of safety in view of the facts which have been recited, to wit, the action of the Queen and her 
cabinet, the action of the Royalist mass meeting, and the peaceful movement of her followers, indicating 
assurances of their abandonment, seem strained in so far as any situation then requiring the landing of troops 
might exact.
The request was made, too, by men avowedly intending to overthrow the existing government and substitute a 
provisional government therefor, and who, with such purpose in progress of being effected, could not proceed 
therewith, but fearing arrest and imprisonment and without any thought of abandoning that purpose, sought the 
aid of the American troops in this situation to prevent any harm to their persons and property. To consent to an 
application for such a purpose without any suggestion dissuading the applicants from it on the part of the 
American minister, with naval forces under his command, could not otherwise be construed than as complicity 
with their plans.
The committee, to use their own language, say: " We are unable to protect ourselves without aid, and, 
therefore, pray for the protection of the United States forces."
In less than thirty hours the petitioners have overturned the throne, established a new government, and 
obtained the recognition of foreign powers.
Let us see whether any of these petitioners are American citizens^ and if so whether they were entitled to 
protection, and if entitled to protection at this point whether or not subsequently thereto their conduct was such 
as could be sanctioned as proper on the part of American citizens in a foreign country.
Mr. Henry B. Cooper is an American citizen; was a member of the committee of safety; was a 
participant from the beginning in their schemes to overthrow the Queen, establish a Provisional Government, and 
visited Capt. Wiltse's vessel, with a view of securing the aid of American troops, and made an encouraging 
report thereon. He. an American citizen, read the proclamation dethroning the Queen and tablishing the 
Provisional Government.
Mr. F. W. McChesney is an American citizen; was cooperating in the revolutionary movement, and had 
been a member of the advisory council from its inception.
Mr. W. 0. Wilder is a naturalized citizen of the Hawaiian Islands, owing no allegiance to any other country. 
He was one of the original members of the advisory council, and one of the orators in the mass meeting on the 
morning of January 16.

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