|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lydia Paki Lili'uokalani was a keenly intelligent woman, a strong leader and fervently against annexation. Her mottos were 'Onipa'a (Stand Firm!) and 'Hawai'i for Hawaiians'. She was weary of the 'Cabinet Government' created by the 'Bayonet Constitution' and sought a new constitution strengthening the Kingdom's government. In response to this royal intent, pro-annexation leader Lorrin Thurston and the Annexation Club organized the Committee of Safety, which planned the outright overthrow of the Monarchy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday morning on January 16, 1893 - while the Royal Court was at Christian church (ironically) - the Safety Committee launched their revolt by convincing U.S. military commanders, including Captain of the visiting warship USS Boston, to make U.S. Marines secure the Palace - in order to'protect American lives and property' - without authorization from Washington.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newly-elected President Grover Cleveland, after word of the coup involving American troops, he reacted with indignation and incredulity - dispatching Congressman James Blount to investigate. Blount was outraged and demanded the American occupation to end. July 4 1894, the illegal Provisional Government made up of Annexation Club/Safety Commitee members, declared the Kingdom as the Republic of Hawaii - thus the U.S. had no authority. The Cleveland administration sent another minister - seeking reinstatement of Queen Lili'uokalani as Hawaii's constitutional authority - but the illegal Republic's cabinet refused to surrender.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lili'uokalani and supporters, furious about the state of their Kingdom, planned a counter-coup. The insurrection was defused and Queen Lili'uokalani was arrested. Despite persuasive and articulate argument by the Queen, she was found guilty of conspiracy and placed under house arrest.
The political end came in 1897 when William McKinley became President. Once Republican Congress and new Republican President got together, Hawaii's future was manifest - a 'possession' of the United States. No sooner had 'Ole Glory' skipped up the 'Iolani Palace flagpole than the Military marched ashore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President Cleveland later wrote, "Hawaii is ours. As I look back upon the first steps in this miserable business and as I contemplate the means used to complete the outrage, I am ashamed of the whole affair."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|