Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1893 — THURSTON'S TALK. [ARTICLE]

THURSTON'S TALK.

The Hawaiian Minister Denies Blount’s Account. He Regards the Commissioner’s Statement _ .. :... . _ in übctumwm* ■■* . Lorin A. Thurston, Minister to the United States from the Provisional government of Hawaii, Wednesday, gave to the publie a long statement concerning the revolution in the islands last winter and the events leading to it, as well as recounting the history of the matter since that time. He insists that troops were landed to protect American citizens and that they took no part in the movement against the Queen. In support of his statement he says: 1. The troops did not land till Monday night,the 16th of January,after tne revolution had been in full progress since the afternoon of Saturday, the 14th, during which time the committee of safety was openly organized for the avowed purpose of overthrowing the Queen. _ 2. There was absolutely no attempt at concealment from the government of the objects and intentions of the committee. 3. The Queen, her Cabinet and their supporters were utterly demoralized, suspicious and devoid of leadership. 4. The committee and their supporters were united; had ample force to execute their purpose, knew precisely what they wanted and proceeded with intelligent de* liberation, thoroughness and confidence to do it. Mr. Thurston then goes into a lengthy account of the causes "find circumstances of the revolution, in which he cites incidents to prove the assertion made above, i. e., that the Queen would have been deposed if tho United State troops had not been there, and that they were not responsible for her overthrow. He insists that her forees were demoralized and without leadership, and that her cause was an utterly hopeless one. He recalls previous revolutions against the native governments, and concludes in the following words: In reply to the sneer that the persons taking part in the movement were aliens, I would say that every man of them was, by the laws of the country, a legal voter, whose right to the franchise was, by the proposed constitution, to be abrogated. A large proportion of them wero born in the country, and almost without exception those not born there hid lived there for years, owned property there, and j had made it their home. They were the I men who had built up the country commercially, agriculturally, financially and politically, and created and made possible a civilized government therein. They were, and are. such men as are to-day the leading citizens of the most progressive* community of the United States, with interests as thoroughly identified with the interests of Hawaii as are the interests of native and foreign-born citizens In similar communities in this country identified with it.