Jere Krischel at 22:55, 14 January 2006

2006-01-14T22:55:07Z

Jere Krischel at 04:40, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:40:48Z

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7 3 2 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
vations at all that led you to think that he was disposed to participate
in Hawaiian politics, Hawaiian affairs?
Mr. HOBBS. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Interfere in the slightest degree with the independence
of that country?
Mr. HOBBS. NO.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU know Captain Wiltse well ? •
Mr. HOBBS. Very well.
The CHAIRMAN. "Have you had frequent conversations with him ?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
Senator FRYE. SO far as you know Captain Wiltse's purpose in landing
troops was to protect the lives and property of Americans?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Was that the understanding when the troops left
the ship?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. To protect life and property?
Mr. HOBBS. The troops were ordered to take no side, but to remain
passive in the troubles that were occurring—political troubles.
The CHAIRMAN. Could you detect any difference between the movement
of the troops ashore from the Boston and the movement that took
place twenty years ago, in 1874, when you were there, as to its purposes,
objects, and motives?
Mr. HOBBS. I should say it was for the same reason.
The CHAIRMAN. SO far as you know it all appeared to be for the same
purpose ?
Mr. HOBBS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. The preservation of life and property?
Mr. HOBBS. Exactly.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you have any suspicion or conjecture that those
troops were sent there for the purpose of breaking up one government
and erecting another ?
Mr. HOBBS. Not the slightest. I did not know what was the purpose
I did not figure it at all.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU did not think there was any such purpose?
Mr. Hobbs. No.
Adjourned to meet to-morrow, the 10th instant, at 10 o'clock a. m.
WEDNESDAY, January 10, 1894.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: The chairman (Senator MORGAN) and Senators GRAY and
*?RYE.
Absent: Senators BUTLER and SHERMAN.
SWORN STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT CHARLES LAIRD.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your rank in the Navy?
Mr. LAIRD. Lieutenant, senior grade.
The CHAIRMAN. When did you first visit the Hawaiian Islands?
Mr. LAIRD. On the arrival of the Boston there, August 24, 1892.
The CHAIRMAN. Were you much ashore after your arrival there?
Mr. LAIRD. Yes; most of the time when I was off duty I was
ashore and met the people.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 733
The CHAIRMAN. Did you have a great mauy acquaintances among
them ?
Mr. LAIRD. A great many.
The CHAIRMAN. What was the general state or condition of the
people as to peacefulness and quietness after January, 1893?
Mr. LAIRD. It was generally quiet; but there was a great deal of
tension on account of the numerous changes in the cabinet and the
difficulties in the Legislature. At times in and about the club I would
hear people, members of the Legislature, speak of the tension, and when
the lottery bill was brought up for passage there was a great deal of
tension amongst the people.
The CHAIRMAN. DO you mean that that occurred after the last
change in the cabinet?
Mr. LAIRD. NO; this was progressing with each change in the cabinet.
The business portion of the community was more and more dissatisfied.
The CHAIRMAN. What cabinet was in when you went there—the
Wilcox cabinet?
Mr. LAIRD. I can not tell. I know some of the members of the last
cabinet. Mr. Parker was a member of the last cabinet.
Senator GRAY. Who was that?
Mr. LAIRD. Sam Parker.
The CHAIRMAN. I think he was a member of the last cabinet?
Senator FRYE. He was a member of the cabinet that displac
Wilcox cabinet. ed the
Mr. LAIRD. He was a member of the one that displaced the Wilcox
cabinet—minister of foreign relations.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you know Mr. Parker?
Mr. LAIRD. Yes; very well.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you hear him speak of Hawaii and the various
changes of the cabinet and the passage of the lottery and the opium
bills?
Mr. LAIRD. I went to his house at various times, visited his family,
and it was very seldom that he discussed politics. If he did it was in
a light, frivolous way. He was 6 feet in height, but he had more of
the characteristics of a child than of a full-grown man.
The CHAIRMAN. These discussions that you heard in the club were
from other persons?
Mr. LAIRD. Yes; from other persons, people who would come there
to get their luncheon.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you go with the Boston down to Hilo on that
practice cruise?
Mr. LAIRD. Yes, I did.
The CHAIRMAN. When did you leave Honolulu?
Mr. LAIRD. We left on January 4 and returned on January 14.
The CHAIRMAN. At the time you left there were you aware of the
existence of any public commotion or any threat against the integrity
of the government, or opposition to it at all?
Mr. LAIRD. NO. On the contrary, I was at a dinner with Mr. Irwin,
who was Glaus Spreckles's partner, and he expressed himself as being
well satisfied with this new cabinet.
Senator FRYE. That was the Wilcox cabinet?
Mr. LAIRD. Yes; Mr. Wilcox, from Hawaii; P. C. Jones, Mark Robinson,
and Cecil Brown, all men of very high standing in the community.
Senator FRYE. Was Mr. Irwin a man of wealth?

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Jere Krischel at 22:55, 14 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 04:40, 12 December 2005