Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen/Appendix C
APPENDIX C.
Facts as to Submission of Hawaiian Question to the Decision of the United States.
By Her Majesty Liliuokalani, with the approval of the Provisional Government.
Date of so-called Revolution, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1893. about 6 p.m. S. B. Dole, S. M. Damon, and some twenty or thirty others sent for J. O. Carter to be of committee to be sent to palace to assist her in making any protest she desired to make against her deposition; J. O. C. being “Queen’s Councillor” and still faithful. he joined the party, headed by Mr. Damon, and advised Her Majesty that any demonstration Page 1330. on the part of her forces would precipitate a conflict with the forces of the United States; that it was desirable that such a conflict be avoided; that her case would be considered at Washington, and a peaceful submission to force on her part would greatly help her case. Mr. Damon had previously informed Her Majesty of her deposition, and Page 1317. that she might prepare a protest. Mr. Damon in his sworn statement says, “I did tell her that she would have a perfect right to be heard at a later period by the United Page 1674.
Also “Alexander’s History,” Oct. 1896. States Government. I was there as a member of the Provisional Government.” Mr. Damon personally called on the queen at Page 54. nine o’clock that forenoon and told her that he had decided to join the Provisional Government, and further that he was its first vice-president. He remains its minister of finance to the present date. The Provisional GovernmentPage 1318. had been recognized at this time. The protest says, “I yield to the superior force of the United States of America—until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon the facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representatives, and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereignPage 1394. of the Hawaiian Islands.” Mr. Damon and the Cabinet returned to the Provisional Government and presented the protest; and President Dole indorsed on the same, “Received by the hands of the late Cabinet this seventeenthPage 1399. day of January, a.d. 1893.” After this protest, the queen surrendered her arsenal. The letter sent by the same steamerPage 1027. on which (January 18) the annexation commissioners sailed (the queen having been refused the privilege of placing one representative on board), says to President Harrison,received at Executive office, Feb. 3, 1893. “This action on my part was prompted by three reasons: The futility of a conflict with the United States; the desire to avoid violence, bloodshed, and the destruction of life and property; and the certainty which I feel that you and your government will right whatever wrongs may have been inflicted on us in the premises.”