HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS.	213
the large building was crowded to its utmost capacity, 1,260 being present, by actual 
count, while many others came later. Every class in the community was fully rep- 
resented, mechanics, merchants, professional men, and artisans of every kind being 
present in full force. The meeting was intensely enthusiastic, being animated by a 
common purpose and feeling, and most of the speakers were applauded to the echo. 
Hon. W. C. Wilder, of the committee of safety, was the chairman.
Mr. WILDER said: Fellow citizens, I have been requested to act as chairman of the 
meeting. Were it a common occurrence, I should consider it an honor, but to-day, 
we are not here to do honor to anybody. I accept the chairmanship of this meeting 
as a duty. [Applause.] We meet here to-day as men - not as any party, faction, or 
creed, but as men who are bound to see good government. It is well known to you 
all what took place at the palace last Saturday. I need not tell you the object of this 
meeting, and no such meeting has been held since 1887. There is the same reason 
now as then. An impromptu meeeing of citizens was called Saturday to take meas- 
ures for the public safety. The report of the committee will be read to you. We do 
not meet as revolutionists, but as peaceful citizens who have the right to meet and 
state their grievances. [Loud applause.] We will maintain our rights and have 
courage to maintain them. [Universal cheers.]
Noble Thurston being introduced by the chairman read the report of the commit- 
tee of safety.
"REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE or SAFETY.
"To the citizens of Honolulu:
"On the morning of last Saturday, the 14th instant, the city was startled by the in- 
formation that Her Majesty Queen Liliuokalani had announced her intention to 
arbitrarily promulgate a new constitution, and that three of the newly appointed 
cabinet ministers had, or were about to, resign in consequence thereof.
"Immediately after the prorogation of the legislature at noon the Queen, accom- 
panied, by her orders, by the cabinet, retired to the palace; the entire military force 
of the Government was drawn up in line in front of the building, and remained 
there until dark, and a crowd of several hundred native sympathizers with the new- 
constitution project gathered in the throne room and about the palace. The Queen 
then retired with the cabinet, informed them that she had a new constitution ready, 
that she intended to promulgate it and proposed to do so then and there, and de- 
manded that they countersign her signature.
"She turned a deaf ear to their statements and protests that the proposed action 
would inevitably cause the streets of Honolulu to run red with blood, and threat- 
ened that unless they complied with her demand she would herself immediately go 
out upon the steps of the palace and announce to the assembled crowd that the 
reason she did not give them the new constitution was because the ministers would 
not let her. Three of the ministers, fearing mob violence, immediately withdrew 
and returned to the Government building. They were immediately summoned back 
to the palace, but refused to go on the ground that there was no guaranty of their 
personal safety.
"The only forces under the control of the Government are the household guards 
and the police. The former are nominally under the control of the minister of 
foreign affairs and actually under the control of their immediate commander, Maj. 
Nowlein, a personal adherent of the Queen.
"The police are under the control of Marshal Wilson, the open and avowed royal 
favorite. Although the marshal is nominally under the control of the attorney- 
general, Her Majesty recently announced in a public speech that she would not allow 
him to be removed. Although the marshal now states that he is opposed to the 
Queen's proposition, he also states that if the final issue arises between the Queen 
and the cabinet and people he will support the Queen.
"The cabinet was absolutely powerless and appealed to citizens for support.
"Later they reluctantly returned to the palace, by request of the Queen, and for 
nearly two hours she again endeavored to force them to acquiesce in her desire, and 
upon their final refusal announced in a public speech in the throne room and again 
from the upper gallery of the palace that she desired to issue the constitution, but 
was prevented from doing so by her ministers and would issue it in a few days.
"The citizens responded to the appeal of the cabinet to resist the revolutionary 
attempt of the Queen, by gathering at the office of William O. Smith.
"Late in the afternoon it was felt that bloodshed and riot were imminent; that 
the community could expect no protection from the legal authorities; that, on the 
contrary, they would undoubtedly be made the instruments of royal aggression. 
An impromptu meeting of citizens was held, which was attended by the attorney- 
general, and which was addressed, among others, by the minister of the interior, 
J. F. Colburn, whs stated to the meeting substantially the foregoing facts.
" The meeting unanimously passed a resolution that the public welfare required

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