Republic of Hawaii

As United States Marines marched past ‘Iolani Palace on their way to their peacekeeping stations, they dipped their U.S. flag while passing by, as a sign of respect to the Queen. The 152 sailors never entered the Palace grounds, never fired a shot, and did not participate in the takeover of any buildings.

Blount Investigation

The first order of business for the Provisional Government after the successful overthrow of Lili‘uokalani was to form an interim government while Lorrin A. Thurston was in Washington, DC to negotiate annexation with Congress. One group proposed the assumption of power of Princess Victoria Ka‘iulani while a body formed by the Committee of Safety could act as a regency government. With the physical absence of the princess from the islands, the proposal was immediately struck down.

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The Provisional Government was dealt a huge blow when President Benjamin Harrison, an avowed imperialist who sought the annexation of Hawai‘i was voted out of the White House. Grover Cleveland, an anti-imperialist, assumed the presidency and right away worked to rectify the Hawaiian crisis. Just a month before becoming president, Lorrin A. Thurston had struck a deal with Congress as it prepared to ratify a treaty of annexation. Cleveland, having heard the appeals of Princess Victoria Ka‘iulani on behalf of her imprisoned aunt, withdrew the treaty and launched an investigation of the matter.

Related Topics:
White House - Grover Cleveland

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Cleveland appointed James Henderson Blount of Macon, Georgia as Commissioner Paramount and Minister to Hawai‘i. His chief mission was to investigate the overthrow of Lili‘uokalani's government. Blount concluded in his report that the revolution had utilised the aid of the United States Minister to Hawai‘i who ordered the landing of troops from the USS Boston. Disturbed by the revelation, Cleveland sent Albert Sydney Willis of Kentucky to Honolulu as Minister to Hawai‘i with secret instructions. Willis, initially rebuffed by the queen, obtained Lili‘uokalani's promise to grant an amnesty after a considerable delay. After securing that promise, Willis made a formal demand for the dissolution of the Provisional Government and complete restoration of the monarchy, although unbeknownst to him by that time it was too late since Cleveland had already referred the matter to Congress. Taking the demand at face value, on December 23, 1893, Sanford B. Dole sent a reply to Willis declining to surrender the authority of the Provisional Government to the deposed queen. Congress declared against any further intervention by adopting the Turpie Resolution on May 31, 1894.

Related Topics:
James Henderson Blount - Macon, Georgia - USS ''Boston'' - Albert Sydney Willis - Kentucky - Honolulu - December 23 - 1893 - Congress - Turpie Resolution - May 31 - 1894

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