Template:606-607 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 09:13, 31 December 2005

2005-12-31T09:13:16Z

Ken Conklin at 19:46, 29 December 2005

2005-12-29T19:46:36Z

Jere Krischel at 18:52, 11 December 2005

2005-12-11T18:52:37Z

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606 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
cabinet, so as to get authority, power, to enact the opium bill and the
lottery bill—what was the impression?
Mr. SPALDING. The impression as to the means that she used?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
Mr. SPALDING. I do not know that I got any very definite idea, except
what seemed the result, perhaps, of my own previous knowledge. For
instance, on the island of Kauai we elected one of the nobles at the
previous election; elected him on the reform ticket. We considered
him just as much a member of that Reform party as Mr. Jones, Mr.
Wilcox, or anybody else. He was an ignorant old fellow, but goodnatured.
As there did not seem to be anybody on the island willing
to spend the time to attend the sessions of the Legislature, and as this
old fellow was willing to go—of course he had to pay his own expenses—
he was nominated by this Reform party. He was considered just as
good a man, so far as his principles were concerned, as good a Reformist
as anyone else. But it was his vote that had been obtained in some
way or other which gave the Queen the balance of power—his and that
of the son-in-law of this Judge Weidemaun. Of course, at the time I
left there was no doubt of this noble from Kauai continuing to vote, as
he had done before, with the Reform party. But he was a great friend
of Paul Neumann who came on here, you remember, in the interest of
the Queen. He probably gained this vote for the Queen. Paul Neumann
had been in the previous cabinet—had been elected to the Legislature
as a noble from Honolulu; only a few months before that he had
been elected by a sort of joint vote. The cabinet went out for want of
confidence, and he was out of it entirely. This man from Kauai was a
sugar planter. We always supposed that he would vote in the same
lines that he had always expressed his opinions. We knew his opinions,
and he was nominated by this Reform party, nominated against a man
who was running as an Independent, but more in favor of the Queen's
party than the Reform party. But it was losing this vote that upset the
whole thing. I had no reason to think it would happen at the time I
left Honolulu.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the opinion, the belief, of the men engaged
there in promoting the interests of what you call the reform party as
to these men having been corruptly influenced to go into the meshes of
the Queen and vote for the opium bill and the lottery bill? What did
you find to be the state of opinion in Hawaii about that when you
returned ?
Mr. SPALDING. I found this—that the men who voted for that opium
bill and lottery bill were the men who were known and acknowledged
there as being the most corrupt, men of the least reputation. Some of
the natives, for instance, with no shadow of reputation, belong to that
class or party.
The CHAIRMAN. The class that voted for these bills ?
Mr. SPALDING. That voted for these bills.
The CHAIRMAN. I am speaking of the change.
Mr. SPALDING. YOU mean the effect, the change by which the votes
from the reform party were carried over?
The CHAIRMAN. What is the opinion as to the means employed to
procure this change?
Mr. SPALDING. Some claim that money was used and others bribery
of one kind and another. But I do not think there was any more
bribery used than is general in such cases. I think this man from
Kauai was influenced more by Paul Neumann simply talking to him.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 607
They are both Germans, and he has a great idea of Paul Neumann's
greatness. My own idea would be that he was more influenced by
Neumann than any other influence.
The CHAIRMAN. That is your idea?
Mr. SPALDING. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the prevailing idea or opinion on that sub
ject?
Mr. SPALDING. A great many think there was bribery used.
Senator GRAY. And others agree with the opinion you express?
Mr. SPALDING. I suppose so. But, of course, I could not say much
of my own knowledge how the people did regard it. I do not think I
paid much attention to it. I know that I heard with a great deal of
astonishment of this old fellow from Kauai and his false position
toward the reform party.
Senator GRAY. Was he a native?
Mr. SPALDING. NO, a German. He married a native, had a native
wife.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the present state of things in the Hawaiian
Islands?
Mr. SPALDING. It is quite depressed. Of course, certain lines of
business that have to be carried on, cultivation of the cane, manufacture
of the sugar, and moving of the sugar are going on; but what you call
mercantile business, selling supplies and other things, is very much
depressed, because of the low price of sugar.
The CnAiRMAN. Is it want of confidence in the Government that
produces this depression?
Mr. SPALDING. NO.
The CHAIRMAN. Do the people of Hawaii, the native Kanakas, seem
to resent this change in the Government?
Mr. SPALDING. I have never seen anything that indicated a marked
sentiment.
The CHAIRMAN. You were on your estate there, were you?
Mr. SPALDING. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Saw the people who were there?
Mr. SPALDING. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Did they exhibit any dissatisfaction at the existing
state of affairs?
Mr. SPALDING. NO. They have talked among themselves, not with
me, but 1 have heard of their talking about their having something to
say in the Government; that is, having a vote, the franchise the same
as they had been in the habit of having it. But at the same time I do
not think they care particularly about that. I do not think they are
much interested in that. If you will allow me to say it—without blowing
my own trumpet;—when it was asked of the natives in my neighborhood
what they thought of the annexation question, they said they
wanted first to know what Spalding thought about it; if he did not
want to have it, they did not. It shows that I am a sort of adviser to
them. They come to me with all their troubles.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you always occupied that position toward
them?
Mr. SPALDING. Yes.
The CnAiRMAN. Do yon enjoy the confidence of the natives?
Mr. SPALDING. Yes, the best of them, because they always know that
they can come to me, and my manager when I am away, and have any
benefits which are necessary, any assistance which is necessary. For

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 cabinet, so as to get authority, power, to enact the opium bill and the lottery bill—what was the impression?
-Mr. SPALDING. The impression as to the means that she used?
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} The impression as to the means that she used?
-The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} Yes.
-Mr. SPALDING. I do not know that I got any very definite idea, except what seemed the result, perhaps, of my own previous knowledge. For instance, on the island of Kauai we elected one of the nobles at the previous election; elected him on the reform ticket. We considered him just as much a member of that Reform party as Mr. Jones, Mr. Wilcox, or anybody else. He was an ignorant old fellow, but goodnatured. As there did not seem to be anybody on the island willing to spend the time to attend the sessions of the Legislature, and as this old fellow was willing to go—of course he had to pay his own expenses— he was nominated by this Reform party. He was considered just as good a man, so far as his principles were concerned, as good a Reformist as anyone else. But it was his vote that had been obtained in some way or other which gave the Queen the balance of power—his and that of the son-in-law of this Judge Weidemann. Of course, at the time I left there was no doubt of this noble from Kauai continuing to vote, as he had done before, with the Reform party. But he was a great friend of Paul Neumann who came on here, you remember, in the interest of the Queen. He probably gained this vote for the Queen. Paul Neumann had been in the previous cabinet—had been elected to the Legislature as a noble from Honolulu; only a few months before that he had been elected by a sort of joint vote. The cabinet went out for want of confidence, and he was out of it entirely. This man from Kauai was a sugar planter. We always supposed that he would vote in the same lines that he had always expressed his opinions. We knew his opinions, and he was nominated by this Reform party, nominated against a man who was running as an Independent, but more in favor of the Queen's party than the Reform party. But it was losing this vote that upset the whole thing. I had no reason to think it would happen at the time I left Honolulu.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} I do not know that I got any very definite idea, except what seemed the result, perhaps, of my own previous knowledge. For instance, on the island of Kauai we elected one of the nobles at the previous election; elected him on the reform ticket. We considered him just as much a member of that Reform party as Mr. Jones, Mr. Wilcox, or anybody else. He was an ignorant old fellow, but goodnatured. As there did not seem to be anybody on the island willing to spend the time to attend the sessions of the Legislature, and as this old fellow was willing to go—of course he had to pay his own expenses— he was nominated by this Reform party. He was considered just as good a man, so far as his principles were concerned, as good a Reformist as anyone else. But it was his vote that had been obtained in some way or other which gave the Queen the balance of power—his and that of the son-in-law of this Judge Weidemann. Of course, at the time I left there was no doubt of this noble from Kauai continuing to vote, as he had done before, with the Reform party. But he was a great friend of Paul Neumann who came on here, you remember, in the interest of the Queen. He probably gained this vote for the Queen. Paul Neumann had been in the previous cabinet—had been elected to the Legislature as a noble from Honolulu; only a few months before that he had been elected by a sort of joint vote. The cabinet went out for want of confidence, and he was out of it entirely. This man from Kauai was a sugar planter. We always supposed that he would vote in the same lines that he had always expressed his opinions. We knew his opinions, and he was nominated by this Reform party, nominated against a man who was running as an Independent, but more in favor of the Queen's party than the Reform party. But it was losing this vote that upset the whole thing. I had no reason to think it would happen at the time I left Honolulu.
-The CHAIRMAN. What is the opinion, the belief, of the men engaged there in promoting the interests of what you call the reform party as to these men having been corruptly influenced to go into the meshes of the Queen and vote for the opium bill and the lottery bill? What did you find to be the state of opinion in Hawaii about that when you returned?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} What is the opinion, the belief, of the men engaged there in promoting the interests of what you call the reform party as to these men having been corruptly influenced to go into the meshes of the Queen and vote for the opium bill and the lottery bill? What did you find to be the state of opinion in Hawaii about that when you returned?
-Mr. SPALDING. I found this—that the men who voted for that opium bill and lottery bill were the men who were known and acknowledged there as being the most corrupt, men of the least reputation. Some of the natives, for instance, with no shadow of reputation, belong to that class or party.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} I found this—that the men who voted for that opium bill and lottery bill were the men who were known and acknowledged there as being the most corrupt, men of the least reputation. Some of the natives, for instance, with no shadow of reputation, belong to that class or party.
-The CHAIRMAN. The class that voted for these bills?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} The class that voted for these bills?
-Mr. SPALDING. That voted for these bills.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} That voted for these bills.
-The CHAIRMAN. I am speaking of the change.
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} I am speaking of the change.
-Mr. SPALDING. You mean the effect, the change by which the votes from the reform party were carried over?
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} You mean the effect, the change by which the votes from the reform party were carried over?
-The CHAIRMAN. What is the opinion as to the means employed to procure this change?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} What is the opinion as to the means employed to procure this change?
-Mr. SPALDING. Some claim that money was used and others bribery of one kind and another. But I do not think there was any more bribery used than is general in such cases. I think this man from Kauai was influenced more by Paul Neumann simply talking to him.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} Some claim that money was used and others bribery of one kind and another. But I do not think there was any more bribery used than is general in such cases. I think this man from Kauai was influenced more by Paul Neumann simply talking to him.
 {{p|607}}
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 They are both Germans, and he has a great idea of Paul Neumann's greatness. My own idea would be that he was more influenced by Neumann than any other influence.
-The CHAIRMAN. That is your idea?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} That is your idea?
-Mr. SPALDING. Yes.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} Yes.
-The CHAIRMAN. What is the prevailing idea or opinion on that sub ject? Mr. SPALDING. A great many think there was bribery used.
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} What is the prevailing idea or opinion on that sub ject? Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} A great many think there was bribery used.
-Senator GRAY. And others agree with the opinion you express?
+Senator {{sc|Gray.}} And others agree with the opinion you express?
-Mr. SPALDING. I suppose so. But, of course, I could not say much of my own knowledge how the people did regard it. I do not think I paid much attention to it. I know that I heard with a great deal of astonishment of this old fellow from Kauai and his false position toward the reform party.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} I suppose so. But, of course, I could not say much of my own knowledge how the people did regard it. I do not think I paid much attention to it. I know that I heard with a great deal of astonishment of this old fellow from Kauai and his false position toward the reform party.
-Senator GRAY. Was he a native?
+Senator {{sc|Gray.}} Was he a native?
-Mr. SPALDING. No, a German. He married a native, had a native wife.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} No, a German. He married a native, had a native wife.
-The CHAIRMAN. What is the present state of things in the Hawaiian Islands?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} What is the present state of things in the Hawaiian Islands?
-Mr. SPALDING. It is quite depressed. Of course, certain lines of business that have to be carried on, cultivation of the cane, manufacture of the sugar, and moving of the sugar are going on; but what you call mercantile business, selling supplies and other things, is very much depressed, because of the low price of sugar.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} It is quite depressed. Of course, certain lines of business that have to be carried on, cultivation of the cane, manufacture of the sugar, and moving of the sugar are going on; but what you call mercantile business, selling supplies and other things, is very much depressed, because of the low price of sugar.
-The CnAiRMAN. Is it want of confidence in the Government that produces this depression?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} Is it want of confidence in the Government that produces this depression?
-Mr. SPALDING. No.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} No.
-The CHAIRMAN. Do the people of Hawaii, the native Kanakas, seem to resent this change in the Government?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} Do the people of Hawaii, the native Kanakas, seem to resent this change in the Government?
-Mr. SPALDING. I have never seen anything that indicated a marked sentiment.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} I have never seen anything that indicated a marked sentiment.
-The CHAIRMAN. You were on your estate there, were you?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} You were on your estate there, were you?
-Mr. SPALDING. Yes.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} Yes.
-The CHAIRMAN. Saw the people who were there?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} Saw the people who were there?
-Mr. SPALDING. Yes.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} Yes.
-The CHAIRMAN. Did they exhibit any dissatisfaction at the existing state of affairs?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} Did they exhibit any dissatisfaction at the existing state of affairs?
-Mr. SPALDING. No. They have talked among themselves, not with me, but I have heard of their talking about their having something to say in the Government; that is, having a vote, the franchise the same as they had been in the habit of having it. But at the same time I do not think they care particularly about that. I do not think they are much interested in that. If you will allow me to say it—without blowing my own trumpet;—when it was asked of the natives in my neighborhood what they thought of the annexation question, they said they wanted first to know what Spalding thought about it; if he did not want to have it, they did not. It shows that I am a sort of adviser to them. They come to me with all their troubles.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} No. They have talked among themselves, not with me, but I have heard of their talking about their having something to say in the Government; that is, having a vote, the franchise the same as they had been in the habit of having it. But at the same time I do not think they care particularly about that. I do not think they are much interested in that. If you will allow me to say it—without blowing my own trumpet;—when it was asked of the natives in my neighborhood what they thought of the annexation question, they said they wanted first to know what Spalding thought about it; if he did not want to have it, they did not. It shows that I am a sort of adviser to them. They come to me with all their troubles.
-The CHAIRMAN. Have you always occupied that position toward them?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} Have you always occupied that position toward them?
-Mr. SPALDING. Yes.
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} Yes.
-The CHAIRMAN. Do you enjoy the confidence of the natives?
+The {{sc|Chairman.}} Do you enjoy the confidence of the natives?
-Mr. SPALDING. Yes, the best of them, because they always know that they can come to me, and my manager when I am away, and have any benefits which are necessary, any assistance which is necessary. For
+Mr. {{sc|Spalding.}} Yes, the best of them, because they always know that they can come to me, and my manager when I am away, and have any benefits which are necessary, any assistance which is necessary. For