Template:1112-1113 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 08:19, 11 February 2006

2006-02-11T08:19:56Z

Ken Conklin at 08:17, 10 February 2006

2006-02-10T08:17:03Z

Jere Krischel at 05:17, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T05:17:05Z

New page

1112 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Senator FRYE. That was composed of respectable men?
Mr. HOES. Highly.
Senator FEYE. Having the confidence of the people?
Mr. HOES. Having the confidence of the better class of the people,
but not having the confidence of the class of the people led by
unscrupulous adventurers like 0. W. Ashford and others like him,
totally devoid of character.
Senator FRYE. Was there an attempt being made to oust that cabinet?
Mr. HOES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Were those attempts made for the purpose of personal
aggrandizement of power or for questions that were up?
Mr. HOES. My understanding was, and I think the understanding of
most of the honest men there was, that it was a fight between so-called
royal prerogative on the one hand and honest government on the
other—a contest between the Queen and her desire for personal and
autocratic power on the one hand, and the better and higher interests of
the Hawaiian people on the other.
The CHAIRMAN. That is a very general statement and I want to
inquire of you whether this political controversy had reference to any
particular legislation or executive action in reference to changes in the
constitution, or any other thing—whether there was any real question.
Mr. HOES. I think at last it had primary reference to the passage of
the so-called " lottery bill."
Senator FRYE. Do you remember when the Boston left the harbor
and went down to Hilo?
Mr. HOES. Yes; very well.
Senator FRYE. At that time the Jones-Wilcox cabinet was in power,
was it not?
Mr. HOES. It was.
Senator FRYE. State whether or not at that time there was a feeling
of security that it would remain in power and that the thing was settled.
Mr. HOES. Yes; and 1 know, moreover, that it was the prevalent
opinion among the best classes there that the lottery bill and lottery
agitation would not be introduced again. It was the belief at that
time that it had received its death blow at an earlier stage of the
legislative proceedings, and, resting upon that belief, several of the
legislators who would have voted against it, believing that all
important legislation had already been transacted, left for their homes.
This so weakened the numerical strength of the party of good order
and the anti-lottery element in the legislature, that those who were
in favor of the lottery saw that their chance had come, and, in the
absence of the members referred to, and especially in the absence of
the Boston and Mr. Stevens, the American minister, sprung the lottery
bill very suddenly upon the legislature, and carried it through.
Senator FRYE. And they overturned the Jones-Wilcox cabinet?
Mr. HOES. Yes. I do not think I make any mistake in stating, in
order to show with what haste the whole thing was managed, that the
official announcement to the Legislature that the Queen had signed that
lottery bill was made to the Legislature the very same morning that the
Queen prorogued that body.
Senator FRYE. So that when the Boston actually sailed there was a
feeling of security that the conditions of peace were to last until the end
of that Legislature?
Mr. HOES. I believe that was the general feeling and belief.
Senator FRYE. When the Boston sailed there commenced a struggle
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 1113
in the Legislature? Did that end in the enactment of the lottery and
opium bills?
Mr. HOES. It did of the lottery bill; I am not clear in my mind as to
the opium bill, because everybody was so concerned in the fate of the
lottery bill that its discussion overshadowed everything else.
Senator FRYE. Did that not result in the displacement of the Jones-
Wilcox cabinet?
Mr. HOES. It did.
Senator FRYE. DO you remember the return of the Boston on Saturday
the 14th?
Mr. HOES. Yes.
Senator FRYE. Were you present and a spectator of most of the
things that took place on the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th of January,
1893?
Mr. HOES. Most all of them.
Senator FRYE. Will you state day after day what was going on?
The CHAIRMAN. Commencing, I suppose, with the arrival of the
Boston in the port of Honolulu?
Mr. HOES. When the Queen prorogued the Legislature I saw her
leave the building in her state carriage and go to the palace. A few
minutes subsequently I went home. Not long thereafter, I learned by
telephone that the Queen had promulgated, or was about to promulgate,
a new constitution. I went at once to the palace grounds, and found
collected there a large crowd of natives listening to a harangue by a
member of the late Legislature and friend of the Queen, named White,
who spoke from the front steps of the palace. The action of the
Queen created a great deal of excitement in the community—a suppressed,
but at the same time a determined excitement.
The CHAIRMAN. State what came under your personal observation.
Mr. HOES. The next day was Sunday. The excitement continued.
Everyone wondered what was to come next, and what was to be done
next. Monday came and a poster was seen upon the street.
Senator FRYE. Was that the poster [exhibiting paper] ?
Mr. HOES. It was a poster similar to this. I got this from the
printing office.
Senator FRYE. HOW was it seen upon the streets? Was it posted?
Mr. HOES. Posted about the streets.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU mean on the houses?
Mr. HOES. Publicly posted, in the usual manner.
Senator FRYE. Calling for a meeting on Monday afternoon!
Mr. HOES. Yes. Shall I read this?
Senator FRYE. YOU may.
Mr. HOES. The poster is as follows:
" Mass meeting. A mass meeting of citizens will be held at the Beretania
Street armory on Monday, January 16, at 2 p. m., to consider
the present critical situation. Let all business places be closed. Per
order of committee of safety. Honolulu, January 14, 1893."
Senator FRYE. Well?
Mr. HOES. I attended the meeting at the armory Monday afternoon,
January 16. I was told that it was a larger and more enthusiastic
meeting than gathered in the same place at the time of the revolution
of 1887. I am informed that> it was the most enthusiastic and unanimous
meeting—I mean unanimous in the sentiments which seemed to
pervade the people—of any state or political meeting ever held in Honolulu.
That meeting appointed a committee of safety.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
+{{p|1112}}
 Senator FRYE. That was composed of respectable men?
-Mr. HOES. Highly.
+Senator FRYE. That was composed of respectable men?
-Senator FEYE. Having the confidence of the people?
-Mr. HOES. Having the confidence of the better class of the people,
+Mr. HOES. Highly.
 but not having the confidence of the class of the people led by
-unscrupulous adventurers like 0. W. Ashford and others like him,
+Senator FRYE. Having the confidence of the people?
 totally devoid of character.
-Senator FRYE. Was there an attempt being made to oust that cabinet?
+Mr. HOES. Having the confidence of the better class of the people, but not having the confidence of the class of the people led by unscrupulous adventurers like C. W. Ashford and others like him, totally devoid of character.
 Mr. HOES. Yes.
-The CHAIRMAN. Were those attempts made for the purpose of personal
+Senator FRYE. Was there an attempt being made to oust that cabinet?
 aggrandizement of power or for questions that were up?
-Mr. HOES. My understanding was, and I think the understanding of
+Mr. HOES. Yes.
 most of the honest men there was, that it was a fight between so-called
-royal prerogative on the one hand and honest government on the
+The CHAIRMAN. Were those attempts made for the purpose of personal aggrandizement of power or for questions that were up?
-other—a contest between the Queen and her desire for personal and
-autocratic power on the one hand, and the better and higher interests of
+Mr. HOES. My understanding was, and I think the understanding of most of the honest men there was, that it was a fight between so-called royal prerogative on the one hand and honest government on the other— a contest between the Queen and her desire for personal and autocratic power on the one hand, and the better and higher interests of the Hawaiian people on the other.
 the Hawaiian people on the other.
-The CHAIRMAN. That is a very general statement and I want to
+The CHAIRMAN. That is a very general statement and I want to inquire of you whether this political controversy had reference to any particular legislation or executive action in reference to changes in the constitution, or any other thing— whether there was any real question.
 inquire of you whether this political controversy had reference to any
-particular legislation or executive action in reference to changes in the
+Mr. HOES. I think at last it had primary reference to the passage of the so-called "lottery bill."
-constitution, or any other thing—whether there was any real question.
-Mr. HOES. I think at last it had primary reference to the passage of
+Senator FRYE. Do you remember when the ''Boston'' left the harbor and went down to Hilo?
 the so-called " lottery bill."
-Senator FRYE. Do you remember when the Boston left the harbor
+Mr. HOES. Yes; very well.
 and went down to Hilo?
-Mr. HOES. Yes; very well.
+Senator FRYE. At that time the Jones-Wilcox cabinet was in power, was it not?
 Senator FRYE. At that time the Jones-Wilcox cabinet was in power,
-was it not?
+Mr. HOES. It was.
 Mr. HOES. It was.
-Senator FRYE. State whether or not at that time there was a feeling
+Senator FRYE. State whether or not at that time there was a feeling of security that it would remain in power and that the thing was settled.
 of security that it would remain in power and that the thing was settled.
-Mr. HOES. Yes; and 1 know, moreover, that it was the prevalent
+Mr. HOES. Yes; and I know, moreover, that it was the prevalent opinion among the best classes there that the lottery bill and lottery agitation would not be introduced again. It was the belief at that time that it had received its death blow at an earlier stage of the legislative proceedings, and, resting upon that belief, several of the legislators who would have voted against it, believing that all important legislation had already been transacted, left for their homes. This so weakened the numerical strength of the party of good order and the anti-lottery element in the legislature, that those who were in favor of the lottery saw that their chance had come, and, in the absence of the members referred to, and especially in the absence of the ''Boston'' and Mr. Stevens, the American minister, sprung the lottery bill very suddenly upon the legislature, and carried it through.
 opinion among the best classes there that the lottery bill and lottery
-agitation would not be introduced again. It was the belief at that
+Senator FRYE. And they overturned the Jones-Wilcox cabinet?
 time that it had received its death blow at an earlier stage of the
-legislative proceedings, and, resting upon that belief, several of the
+Mr. HOES. Yes. I do not think I make any mistake in stating, in order to show with what haste the whole thing was managed, that the official announcement to the Legislature that the Queen had signed that lottery bill was made to the Legislature the very same morning that the Queen prorogued that body.
 legislators who would have voted against it, believing that all
-important legislation had already been transacted, left for their homes.
+Senator FRYE. So that when the ''Boston'' actually sailed there was a feeling of security that the conditions of peace were to last until the end of that Legislature?
 This so weakened the numerical strength of the party of good order
-and the anti-lottery element in the legislature, that those who were
+Mr. HOES. I believe that was the general feeling and belief.
 in favor of the lottery saw that their chance had come, and, in the
-absence of the members referred to, and especially in the absence of
+Senator FRYE. When the ''Boston'' sailed there commenced a struggle
 the Boston and Mr. Stevens, the American minister, sprung the lottery
-bill very suddenly upon the legislature, and carried it through.
+{{p|1113}}
 Senator FRYE. And they overturned the Jones-Wilcox cabinet?
-Mr. HOES. Yes. I do not think I make any mistake in stating, in
+in the Legislature? Did that end in the enactment of the lottery and opium bills?
 order to show with what haste the whole thing was managed, that the
-official announcement to the Legislature that the Queen had signed that
+Mr. HOES. It did of the lottery bill; I am not clear in my mind as to the opium bill, because everybody was so concerned in the fate of the lottery bill that its discussion overshadowed everything else.
 lottery bill was made to the Legislature the very same morning that the
-Queen prorogued that body.
+Senator FRYE. Did that not result in the displacement of the Jones-Wilcox cabinet?
 Senator FRYE. So that when the Boston actually sailed there was a
-feeling of security that the conditions of peace were to last until the end
+Mr. HOES. It did.
 of that Legislature?
-Mr. HOES. I believe that was the general feeling and belief.
+Senator FRYE. Do you remember the return of the ''Boston'' on Saturday the 14th?
 Senator FRYE. When the Boston sailed there commenced a struggle
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 1113
+Mr. HOES. Yes.
 in the Legislature? Did that end in the enactment of the lottery and
-opium bills?
+Senator FRYE. Were you present and a spectator of most of the things that took place on the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th of January, 1893?
 Mr. HOES. It did of the lottery bill; I am not clear in my mind as to
-the opium bill, because everybody was so concerned in the fate of the
+Mr. HOES. Most all of them.
 lottery bill that its discussion overshadowed everything else.
-Senator FRYE. Did that not result in the displacement of the Jones-
+Senator FRYE. Will you state day after day what was going on?
 Wilcox cabinet?
-Mr. HOES. It did.
+The CHAIRMAN. Commencing, I suppose, with the arrival of the ''Boston'' in the port of Honolulu?
-Senator FRYE. DO you remember the return of the Boston on Saturday
-the 14th?
+Mr. HOES. When the Queen prorogued the Legislature I saw her leave the building in her state carriage and go to the palace. A few minutes subsequently I went home. Not long thereafter, I learned by telephone that the Queen had promulgated, or was about to promulgate, a new constitution. I went at once to the palace grounds, and found collected there a large crowd of natives listening to a harangue by a member of the late Legislature and friend of the Queen, named White, who spoke from the front steps of the palace. The action of the Queen created a great deal of excitement in the community— a suppressed, but at the same time a determined excitement.
 Mr. HOES. Yes.
-Senator FRYE. Were you present and a spectator of most of the
+The CHAIRMAN. State what came under your personal observation.
 things that took place on the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th of January,
-?
+Mr. HOES. The next day was Sunday. The excitement continued. Everyone wondered what was to come next, and what was to be done next. Monday came and a poster was seen upon the street.
 Mr. HOES. Most all of them.
-Senator FRYE. Will you state day after day what was going on?
+Senator FRYE. Was that the poster [exhibiting paper]?
 The CHAIRMAN. Commencing, I suppose, with the arrival of the
-Boston in the port of Honolulu?
+Mr. HOES. It was a poster similar to this. I got this from the printing office.
 Mr. HOES. When the Queen prorogued the Legislature I saw her
-leave the building in her state carriage and go to the palace. A few
+Senator FRYE. How was it seen upon the streets? Was it posted?
 minutes subsequently I went home. Not long thereafter, I learned by
-telephone that the Queen had promulgated, or was about to promulgate,
+Mr. HOES. Posted about the streets.
 a new constitution. I went at once to the palace grounds, and found
-collected there a large crowd of natives listening to a harangue by a
+The CHAIRMAN. You mean on the houses?
 member of the late Legislature and friend of the Queen, named White,
-who spoke from the front steps of the palace. The action of the
+Mr. HOES. Publicly posted, in the usual manner.
-Queen created a great deal of excitement in the community—a suppressed,
-but at the same time a determined excitement.
+Senator FRYE. Calling for a meeting on Monday afternoon?
 The CHAIRMAN. State what came under your personal observation.
-Mr. HOES. The next day was Sunday. The excitement continued.
+Mr. HOES. Yes. Shall I read this?
 Everyone wondered what was to come next, and what was to be done
-next. Monday came and a poster was seen upon the street.
+Senator FRYE. You may.
 Senator FRYE. Was that the poster [exhibiting paper] ?
-Mr. HOES. It was a poster similar to this. I got this from the
+Mr. HOES. The poster is as follows:
 printing office.
-Senator FRYE. HOW was it seen upon the streets? Was it posted?
+"Mass meeting. A mass meeting of citizens will be held at the Beretania Street armory on Monday, January 16, at 2 p.m., to consider the present critical situation. Let all business places be closed. Per order of committee of safety. Honolulu, January 14, 1893."
 Mr. HOES. Posted about the streets.
-The CHAIRMAN. YOU mean on the houses?
+Senator FRYE. Well?
 Mr. HOES. Publicly posted, in the usual manner.
-Senator FRYE. Calling for a meeting on Monday afternoon!
+Mr. HOES. I attended the meeting at the armory Monday afternoon, January 16. I was told that it was a larger and more enthusiastic meeting than gathered in the same place at the time of the revolution of 1887. I am informed that it was the most enthusiastic and unanimous meeting— I mean unanimous in the sentiments which seemed to pervade the people— of any state or political meeting ever held in Honolulu. That meeting appointed a committee of safety.