404	HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS.
by the Provisional Government, except 16 left as the guard of the 
fallen Queen at her house.
The white men here, as well as the natives, have not been much accus- 
tomed to the use of arms. There are scarcely any men familiar with 
military discipline. Companies are now being organized and drilled. 
They must have a few weeks for drill. Only a small force of a few hun- 
dred will be required, but these must be disciplined men. So far the 
Provisional Government has been sustained by the uprising and union 
of the business men and best citizens. Bankers, merchants, clerks, pro- 
fessional men, respectable mechanics have stood manfully by the new 
Government and kept guard by night. This kind of defense must give 
place to a small, reliable military force. Time is the necessity of the 
new Government. There are 40,000 Chinese and Japanese on the 
islands, and evil-disposed persons might stir some of them to disorder. 
But the chief elements of evil are in Honolulu, where are the rene- 
gade whites at the head of the lottery and opium rings, and a consider- 
able number of hoodlum foreigners and the more vicious of the natives.
Another important reason for our action is the possibility of the 
arrival here of a British war vessel, and that the English minister here, 
thus aided, might try to press unduly the Provisional Government 
With the islands under our protection we think the English minister 
will not attempt to insist that his Government has the right to inter- 
fere while our flag is over the Government building. This is all I have 
time to write before the departure of the mail. We shall continue to 
maintain our present position with great caution and firmness until we 
hear from the President through the Secretary of State. As a neces- 
sary precaution against all contingencies, I advise that Admiral Sker- 
rett be promptly sent here with one or two ships in addition to the 
Boston.
I am, sir, etc.,
JOHN L. STEVENS.
(One or two of the preceding numbers of the dispatches by this mail 
were written prior to this date, but they were dated February 1 because 
this is the day of the steamer's departure.)
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Stevens to Capt. Wiltse.
UNITED STATES LEGATION,
Honolulu, February 1, 1893.
SIR: The Provisional Government of the Hawaiian Islands having duly and offi- 
cially expressed to the undersigned, the fear that said Government may be unable 
to protect life and property and to prevent civil disorder in Honolulu, the capital of 
said Hawaiian Islands, request that the flag of the United States may be raised for 
the protection of the Hawaiian Islands, and to that end confer on the United States, 
through the undersigned, freedom of occupation of the public buildings of the Ha- 
waiian Government and the soil of the Hawaiian Islands, so far as may be necessary 
for the exercise of such protection, but not interfering with the adminstration of the 
public affairs by said Provisional Government.
I hereby ask you to comply with the spirit and terms of the request of the Hawai- 
ian Provisional Government, and to that end to use all the force at your command, in 
the exercise of your best judgment and discretion, you and myself awaiting instruc- 
tions from the United States Government at Washington. 
I am, air, etc.,
JOHN L. STEVENS, 
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.
Capt. G. C. WILTSE,
Commander of the U. S. Ship Boston.

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