HAWAIIAN   ISLANDS.	585
hostile to the existing Government. Protests were filed by the minister of 
foreign affairs and by the governor of the island against the landing of the 
troops.
Messrs. Parker and Peterson testify that on Tuesday at 1 o'clock they called on 
Mr. Stevens, and by him were informed that in the event the Queen's forces 
assailed the insurrectionary forces he would intervene.
At 2:30 o'clock of the same day the members of the Provisional Government 
proceeded to the Government building in squads and read their proclamation. They 
had separated in their march to the Government building for fear of observation 
and arrest. There was no sign of an insurrectionary soldier on the street. The 
committee of safety sent to the Government building a Mr. A. S. Wilcox to see 
who was there, and, on being informed that there were no Government forces on 
the grounds, proceeded in the manner I have related and read their proclamation. 
Just before concluding the reading of this instrument fifteen volunteer troops 
appeared. Within a half hour afterward some thirty or forty made their 
appearance.
A part of the Queen's forces, numbering 224, were located at the station house, 
about one-third of a mile from the Government building. The Queen, with a body 
of 50 troops, was located at the palace, north of the Government building about 
400 yards. A little northeast of the palace and some 200 yards from it, at the 
barracks, was another body of 272 troops. These forces had 14 pieces of 
artillery, 386 rifles, and 16 revolvers. West of the Government building and 
across a narrow street were posted Capt. Wiltse and his troops, these likewise 
having artillery and small-arms.
The Government building is in a quadrangular-shaped piece of ground surrounded 
by streets. The American troops were so posted as to be in front of any movement 
of troops which should approach the Government building on three sides, the 
fourth being occupied by themselves. Any attack on the Government building from 
the east side would expose the American troops to the direct fire of the 
attacking force. Any movement of troops from the palace toward the Government 
building in the event of a conflict between the military forces would have 
exposed them to the fire of the Queen's troops. In fact, it would have been 
impossible for a struggle between the Queen's forces and the forces of the 
committee of safety to have taken place without exposing them to the shots of 
the Queen's forces. To use the language of Admiral Skerrett, the American troops 
were well located if designed to promote the movement for the Provisional 
Government and very improperly located if only intended to protect American, 
citizens in person and property.
They were doubtless so located to suggest to the Queen and her counsellors that 
they were in cooperation with the insurrectionary movement, and would when the 
emergency arose manifest it by active support.
It did doubtless suggest to the men who read the proclamation that they were 
having the support of the American minister and naval commander and were safe 
from personal harm.
Why had the American minister located the troops in such a situation and then 
assured the members of the committee of safety that on their occupation of the 
Government building he would recognize it as a government de facto, and as such 
give it support? Why was the Government building designated to them as the place 
which, when their proclamation was announced therefrom, would be followed by his

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