being safe to have the harbor of Honolulu left without an
American vessel of war."

Revolution was, indeed, impending in Hawaii. On January 14, 1893,
the Queen abolished the later constitution under which the
Americans had exercised great power, and in its place she
proclaimed the restoration of the old constitution which
established an absolutism modified by native home rule. At two
o'clock on the afternoon of the 16th of January, the resident
Americans organized a committee of safety; at half-past four
United States marines landed at the call of Stevens. The Queen
was thereupon deposed, a provisional government was organized,
and at its request Stevens assumed for the United States the
"protection" of the islands. Without delay, John W. Foster, who
had just succeeded Blaine as Secretary of State, drew up a treaty
of annexation, which he immediately submitted to the Senate.

On March 4, 1893, Cleveland became President for the second time.
He at once withdrew the treaty and appointed James H. Blount
special commissioner to investigate the facts of the revolt.
While the report of Commissioner Blount did not, indeed, convict
Stevens of conspiring to bring about the uprising, it left the
impression that the revolt would not have taken place and
certainly could not have succeeded except for the presence of the
United States marines and the support of the United States
Minister. Cleveland recalled Stevens and the marines, and
requested the provisional government to restore the Queen. This
Sanford Ballard Dole, the President of the new republic, refused
to do, on the contention that President Cleveland had no right to
interfere in the domestic affairs of Hawaii. On the legality or