HAWAIIAN   ISLANDS.	767
representation, honest administration, prevention of riot and bloodshed, maintenance of law and order, etc., when 
as a matter of fact there is not now, and never has been, the least danger of disorder or opposition to law except at 
the hands of revolutionists themselves. The rant in the speeches at their meeting in the Rifles' armory on the 16th 
of January, and in their "proclamation,'' and the mock heroic utterances of Wilder (see Two Weeks of Hawaiian 
History, pages 15 and 16 when he assumed the chairmanship of the meeting are amongst the poorest examples 
imaginable of a stale herring drawn across a trail. There has been no fraud discovered nor malfeasance unearthed, 
nor great wrong righted; on the contrary thefts and spoliations have been committed under the very noses of the 
Provisional Government with apparent impunity, the probability being that exposure would be disagreeable, as it 
would be likely to implicate more or less distinguished members of their own precious crew.
The bald fact stands out in plain view to day, exactly as it did in 1887, that the sole prompting motive of the 
missionary revolutionists was in both cases a lust of power coupled with a desire to possess themselves of the 
property of another without giving compensation therefor, sentiments which they enjoy in common with the vulgar 
highwayman and Ms more gentlemanly prototype, the filibuster. As they could not Lave held together for an hour 
without the assistance of the United States officials and forces, the singular spectacle is presented of a United States 
naval commander in Honolulu protecting a band of filibusters with the forces under his command while they 
overturn and destroy a Government between which and his own country special treaty relations of amity and 
commerce were in full force and unimpaired, and at the same date, due east about 5,000 miles as the crow flies, 
another naval commander, under the same flag, blockades a filibustering force in Key West to prevent it from 
making a descent on a friendly power. The question naturally arises: Why this difference? What had little Hawaii 
done that she should merit such treatment?
About 5 o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, the 16th day of January, A. D. 1893, a large detachment of marines 
and sailors from the United States ship Boston, lying in the harbor of Honolulu, landed without permission or 
request from the Hawaiian Government., and took position in King street between the Government building and 
the palace. The United States troops were fully armed and carried double cartridge belts filled with ammunition, 
also haversacks and canteens, and were accompanied by a Gating gun battery, also a field hospital corps. Between 
7 and 8 o'clock the same evening the force was quartered in the building immediately in rear of the Music Mail, 
being within half pistol shot, and in practical possession of the Government building.
At the date above mentioned, and for many years immediately preceding the landing of this force, the Hawaiian 
Kingdom was at peace with all nations. With all the great powers, and with many of the smaller Governments, 
Hawaii sustained treaty relations which were in full force and effect. This was more especially true in the case of 
the United States, with whom the most friendly relations of amity and commerce had existed from the date, of the 
first treaty, dated December 23, 1826, to the above-mentioned date, and for whom little Hawaii (rulers and people 
alike) had always cherished the most friendly feelings. Diplomatic and consular representatives of various 
countries were accredited to the Hawaiian court and raised the flags of their respective governments in Honolulu, 
The Hawaiian Government was represented at various capitals and seaports throughout the world by diplo

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