Jere Krischel at 05:13, 22 December 2005

2005-12-22T05:13:12Z

Jere Krischel at 18:48, 11 December 2005

2005-12-11T18:48:58Z

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5 8 2 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Whom did that information come from—the minis
fcers?
Mr. JONES. From the ministers themselves; yes.
The GIIAIEMAN. Did any of these ministers attend any of these
meetings?
Mr. JONES. Yes; Peterson and Colburn were there.
The CHAIRMAN. When you were present?
Mr. JONES. No.
The CHAIRMAN. SO that you do not know what they said?
Mr. JONES. No, I do not; I was not present.
The CHAIRMAN. Well, you can state whether it was commonly understood,
rumored there, stated among those people, that the ministers
had disclosed the fact that the Queen had desired them to join
her in the promulgation of this new constitution?
Mr. JONES. Yes. They undoubtedly went into office pledged to
support her in it.
The CHAIRMAN. What reason have you for that statement!
Mr. JONES. I think Mr. Colburn clearly pledged himself to it, and
the others, too.
Senator GRAY. Do you found that opinion upon that letter which
you received ?
Mr. JONES. Partially, and from other information. When the Queen
—you said 1 might allude to rumors?
The CHAIRMAN. That is what I was asking about.
Mr. JONES. When the Queen urged them to sign the constitution,
they asked for more time. She'turned to Peterson and said, "Why
more time; you have carried that constitution around in your pocket
for more than a month—why do you want more time?"
Senator GRAY. Who gave that account?
Mr. JONES. That came from the Palace that Saturday.
Senator GRAY. By whom ?
Mr. JONES. Well, I heard it. Chief Justice Judd told me.
Senator GRAY. That he heard it?
Mr. JONES. 1 do not know whether he heard it or not; I could not
say, but that was the rumor that was about, and I believe it was correct.
The CHAIRMAN. Chief Justice Judd told you?
Mr. JONES. He was at the Palace.
The CHAIRMAN. He told you of the fact, that he had been authentically
informed?
Mr. JONES. Yes.
Senator GRAY. Did he state whom he heard it from?
Mr. JONES. NO; I could not say that.
Senator GRAY. He stated it as a rumor?
Mr. JONES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. That is what I want to get at, whether the common
belief of the people in Honolulu was that the Queen had caused to be
prepared, or prepared herself, this new constitution, and had asserted
her purpose to abrogate the constitution of 1887—supplant it by a new
constitution?
Mr. JONES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And i t had been carried around in the pocket of
Peterson for a month before that time?
Senator GRAY. Let us understand. Do you mean that that was
understood for a month before—that he was carrying it around?
Mr. JONES. Not that for a mouth.
Senator GRAY. That Saturday you heard that?
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 583,
Mr. JONES. Yes—not that the rumor had been in circulation for a
month, but the Queen declared that he, Peterson, had carried the constitution
in his pocket for a month.
Senator GRAY. That rumor came out on Saturday ?
Mr. JONES. On Saturday, yes.
The CHAIRMAN. State whether it was a part of the understanding
of. the general community that the ministry had refused to sign this
new constitution with the Queen.
Mr. JONES. That day, yes. .
The CHAIRMAN. I mean on th&t Saturday?
Mr. JONES. On that Saturday.
The CHAIRMAN. That was the public understanding?
Mr. JONES. They did. It was unquestionably so—they declined on
that day to sign it.
The CHAIRMAN. On Saturday?
Mr. JONES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And they gave information to the community that
the Queen demanded of the ministry that they sign the constitution,
and they refused to do it?
Mr. JONES. On that day, yes.
The CHAIRMAN. State whether it was part of that general understanding
or rumor that they came to the citizens or any citizens to get
advice as to what they ought to do under such circumstances.
Mr. JONES. Yes, they did. But I was not present at those meetings.
The CHAIRMAN. I am speaking of the common understanding of
the people.
Mr JONES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Was that a part of it;—that they had come to the
citizens for advice as to what they should do?
Mr. JONES. They came to Thurston and asked his advice, and they
were also present that afternoon at the meeting at W. O. Smith's office.
I think that is included in Mr. Blount's report. But I was not present
at that meeting.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, as I understand you, it was the common belief
among the people of Honolulu from Saturday to Monday that the
Queen had attempted to abrogate the constitution of 1887, and she had
only failed because the ministry refused to sign with her?
Mr. JONES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And also the common belief that the ministry, or
some of them, when they took office had pledged themselves to this
change of government?
Mr. JONES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. DO you know of any combination or any conspiracy
or concerted action or agreement or understanding prior to that revelation
for supplanting the Queen in her government?
Mr. JONES. NO; I do not.
The CHAIRMAN. Or for establishing a republic?
Mr. JONES. I do not.
The CHAIRMAN. Or for annexation to the United States?
Mr. JONES. I do not. The whole thing was like a thunder clap to
the community, so far as I am aware, and nothing was thought of it
until Saturday, when it was made public that the Queen was to withdraw
the constitution of 1887, and these things culminated very fast.
I knew nothing of anything of the kind.
The CHAIRMAN. If there had been any purpose on the part of a
number of the people of Hawaii, of Honolulu, to dethrone the Queen

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Jere Krischel at 05:13, 22 December 2005

Jere Krischel at 18:48, 11 December 2005