Jere Krischel at 22:02, 14 January 2006

2006-01-14T22:02:21Z

Jere Krischel at 03:08, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T03:08:29Z

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724 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
The longest stay was about six months. In fact, we were there all the
time during the first visit of the King to the United States after he became
King. I think he came to the United States shortly after he was
elected.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, Kalakaua?
Mr. HOBBS. Kalakaua, yes. You might say that we arrived there
in the first instance in the Tuscarora in 1874. I think it was just a
day after Lunalilo died. "We were there when the trouble came up,
after Kalakaua was elected King, and had to land our forces at that
time to keep the peace. They were on shore, I think, some two weeks,
something like that, and then continued our % oyage to China on deep
sea soundings, in which the ship was engaged at that time.
The CHAIRMAN. Who was the American minister at Honolulu at
that time?
Mr. HOBBS. Mr. Pierce.
The CHAIRMAN. Was it at his request that the troops were sent to
Honolulu?
Mr. HOBBS. I so understood it. But on that point I am not certain.
That is my recollection.
The CHAIRMAN. Was there much commotion amongst the people at
that time?
Mr. HOBBS. NO; as I remember it it appeared to be a very peaceable
kind of riot; it was all quelled within a few minutes after the force
landed.
The CHAIRMAN. The Hawaiian s, as a rule, are not a very riotous
people?
Mr. HOBBS. NO ; they are very docile.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been amongst them enough to form an
estimate of their general characteristics ?
Mr. HOBBS. So far as I know, they do not care very much for work,
so long as they have plenty of poi and fish. They let matters go on so
long as the have their poi and fish.
The CHAIRMAN. They are not an industrious, enterprising people ?
Mr. HOBBS. NO; not SO in my opinion.
Senator FRYE. YOU are speaking now of the Kanakas ?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Would you say that they are a people given to
intrigue and conspiracy ?
Mr. HOBBS. I should say not.
The CHAIRMAN. They are disposed to put up with what is given to
them?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. During your visit to Hawaii did your hear the subject
of annexation to the United States discussed amongst the people
there ?
Mr. HOBBS. NO; I do not think I did.
The CHAIRMAN. And more recently, when you were there on the
Boston, and before the time you went out to Hilo, what was the condition
of the popular mind as to peacefulness and quietude?
Mr. HOBBS. All through that time there appeared to be a good deal
of uneasiness among the people, due to the change in the ministry—
rather unsettled; did not know what to do. They could not make any
engagements ahead. They did not know what was going to happen
until what was known as the Wilcox ministry came into power. After
that ministry was installed the people had great faith and reliance that
their troubles were over, and that that ministry would probably hold
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 725
over for two years following the adjournment of the Legislature, which
was expected soon; and on the way to Hilo I got that impression from
Mr. Stevens, in the conversations which I had with him from time to
time, that the present ministry would not be voted ont.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Stevens was of that opinion, was he?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes; he seemed to be. And after the ministry was
thrown out, Capt. Wiltse said to me that he was afraid that would be
the result—that they would not stay in.
The CHAIRMAN. Did Mr. Stevens go with the Boston on any official
business, or was it a pleasure excursion?
Mr. HOBBS. He had never visited the island of Hilo since he had
been there, and he went principally to visit that island.
The CHAIRMAN. The Boston went out for target practice?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And Mr. Stevens went along as a guest of the
officers of the ship?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
Senator FRYB. Did Mr. Stevens in these conversations with you
express himself as pleased with the contentment and prospect of peace,
and that it would last until his return home?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes; that was the idea I got from him—that if this
ministry was not voted out they would have peace and quiet at least
for two years, until this new Legislature came in, which would not be
for two years.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you gather from Mr. Stevens that that was a
satisfactory state of affairs?
Mr. HOBBS. I did, because all the men in that ministry were regarded
as very reliable and very highly esteemed. Mr. Wilcox especially was
a very wealthy man from Kauai. He was minister of the interior. Mr.
Jones was the minister of finance; Cecil Brown was attorney-general,
and a half white man; Mark Eobinson was minister of foreign affairs.
The CHAIRMAN. Is Cecil Brown of American origin?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes, I think he came from Georgetown—I think he came
from the District of Columbia. At all events he was at school over in
Georgetown, I know, as a young man.
The CHAIRMAN. Georgetown College?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
Senator FRYB. I would like to ask another question. You saw considerable
of Mr. Stevens while you were there?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes, a good deal of him.
Senator FRYB. What impression did you form of his character?
Mr. HOBBS. I regarded him as an able man in every way. I became
very much attached to him, and was at his house frequently.
The CHAIRMAN. Your relations with Mr. Stevens were such as might
be called confidential?
Mr. HOBBS. I should scarcely say that, although Mr. Stevens was
from Maine and I was originally from Maine, and it was a little common
amenity between us on that account, perhaps.
Senator FRYE. Was Mr. Stevens a man whom you looked upon as
inclined to be a filibusterer or inclined to disturb the condition of
things at all?
Mr. HOBBS . No; I would not have thought that of him.
The CHAIRMAN. I was going to ask you whether you heard anything
from Mr. Stevens in the discussion of Hawaiian affairs that led you
to suppose he was trying to disrupt that Government, dethrone the

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Jere Krischel at 22:02, 14 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 03:08, 12 December 2005