The Liberal, Volume I, Number 39, 25 January 1893 — CALL OFF THE DOGS. [ARTICLE]

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CALL OFF THE DOGS.

Nine days ago there were landed from the U.S.S. Boston a battalion of marines and blue jackets, with all the trappings of war. Those forces came ashore at the order of the American Minister, given, as we understand, upon the request of the Committee of Safety, then two days old. The action of the Minister in landing his forces was doubtless a most fortunate one, under the existing conditions, and to it may be ascribed the immunity from bloodshed and perhaps worse evils which they city has enjoyed. And when the transition from one system of government to another was in progress, it was fitting that the presence of the naval forces on shore should be continued. But after the change was effected, and the new government was installed, and almost the entire white portion of the community had sprung to its armed support, and it was manifest that there was no longer any need of foreign soldiers on shore to quell riots or prevent rapine, those foreign forces should, as it seems to us, have been returned to their ship. We fear the P.G. committing a grave error in deferring its request for the recall of the troops who landed from the "Boston" The local white residents are fairly falling over each other in their cudevours to obtain places in the improvised military force which the P.G. has called to its support. It would hardly be an exaggeration to declare that the entire white popunation of Honolulu is under arms in the interest of the government, and that there is not an enemy either in sight or in prospect. What possible reason, therefore, can there be for the continued presence of the "Boston" forces on shore? It will be remembered that, on the occasion of the coup d'etal of July 1-6, 1887, not a man was brought ashore from the A, the only war vessel in port, and when, in 1889, during the Wilcox skirmish, a small force landed from the A they were recalled to their ship early the following morning. Yet who shall say that any greater need for the presence of foreign troops exists to-day than on either of the occasions just stated? By the way, there is something serious and ominous in the presence of foreign troops upon any soil. Why are the "Boston" forces now permenently quariereci in the very heart of our city? Will the gentlemen of the Provisional Government kindly answer this question, -if they can? Have the gentlemen of

the P.G. seriously considered the inevitable effect at home and abroad, of permitting the longer occupation of the city by those forces? We cannot believe they have, for among these effects we detest the following''; The American government, knowing that their soldiers are bring used to the city will find it difficult to believe that our country is ready or fit for . They will not care to assume the guardianship of, each less grant the Capital without a of Federal Troops. If the P.G. is sincere (as of course it is,) in its expressed desire for political union with the United States, permit the question whether that desire is in a fair way of fulfillment through the medium of a foreign occupation of our city in the present?