HAWAII. 



377 



A VIEW IN MAIN STREET, HONOLULU. 



a satisfactory guarantee that the Government does 

 not and will not seek any modification of the Consti- 

 tution by any other means than those provided in 

 the organic law. 



Before the first meeting, Marshal Wilson, the 

 head of the police, went to the Committee of 

 Safety arid demanded that the meeting should 

 not be held, promising at the same time that the 

 Queen would not issue a new Constitution, even 

 if he had to use force to prevent her. Mr. Thurs- 

 ton declined to accept, such a guarantee, and 

 said that the Americans would stand it no long- 

 er, and purposed settling the matter once and 

 for all. Wilson reported to the Cabinet, and 

 advised arresting the committee, but the Cabinet 

 refused to allow it. After the adjournment of 

 the first meeting the Committee of Safety sent 

 a petition for protection to the United States 

 minister, who had arrived on the man-of-war 

 "Boston" from another part of the islands on Sat- 

 urday. It was couched in the following terms: 



We, the undersigned citizens and residents of 

 Honolulu, respectfully represent that, in view of re- 

 cent public events in this kingdom, culminating in 

 the revolutionary acts of Queen I/iliuokalani on 

 Saturday last, the public safety is menaced, and lives 

 and property are in peril, and we appeal to you and 

 the United States forces at your command for assist- 

 ance. 



The Queen, with the aid of armed force, and ac- 

 companied by threats of violence and bloodshed 

 from those with whom she wax acting, attempted t 

 proclaim u new Constitution, and, while prevented 

 for the time from accomplishing her object, declared 

 publicly that she would only defer her action. 



This conduct and action were upon an occasion and 

 under circumstances which have created general 

 alarm and terror. 



We are unable to protect ourselves without aid, and 

 therefore pray for the protection of the United States 

 forces. 



Minister Stevens addressed a written request 

 to Capt. Gilbert C. Wiltse, of the " Boston/ the 

 commander of the American naval force, as 

 follows : 



In view of the existing critical circumstance* in 

 Honolulu, indicating an inadequate legal force, I re- 

 quest you to land marines and sailors from the ship 

 under your command for the protection of the United 

 States legation and the United States consulate, and 

 to secure the safety of American life and property. 



Capt. Wiltse concurred in the views of Mr. 

 Stevens, and ordered a detachment of marines to 

 land under the command of Lieut.-Com. Swin- 

 burne, to whom he gave these instructions: 



You will take command of the battalion, and land 

 in Honolulu for the purpose of protecting our lega- 

 tion and the lives and property of American citi/i-ns, 

 and to assist in the preservation of public order. 

 (Jreat prudence must be exercised by both officers 

 and men, and no action taken that is not fully war- 

 ranted by the condition of amiirs and by the conduct 

 of those who may be inimical to the treaty rights of 

 American citizens. You will inform me at the earliest 

 practicable moment of any change in the situation. 



The Committee of Safety regretted that they 

 had been so hasty in asking for the intervention 

 of United States troops, and sent a committee 

 to Minister Stevens to prevail on him to delay 

 the landing of tin- men. But the troops, 160 

 strong, had already landed. A few were accom- 

 modated at the American legation and at the 

 consulate, ("apt. Wiltse had expected them to 

 be quartered in the opera house; but the agent 

 of the hall refused to let Mr. Stevens hiivr it for 

 the men, on the plea that it might suffer dam- 

 gf. and finally Arion Hall was secured. When 

 Mr. Thurston and 2 other delegates of the Com- 

 mittee of Safety told Minister Si evens that they 

 were not prepared to have the troops land so 



