Jere Krischel at 09:33, 5 January 2006

2006-01-05T09:33:40Z

Jere Krischel at 04:52, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:52:30Z

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870 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
all classes have faced what they uniformly agreed Tras inevitable for
Hawaii.
The CHAIRMAN. Upon what ground do you base that conclusion—
that the monarchy must inevitably collapse?
Mr. OLESON. TO, first, the dying out of the Kamehameha line; second,
the abuses of the reign of Kalakaua among the Hawaiians, not
yet become extinct. There was intense opposition to him when he
became King. That lies dormant in the minds of the Hawaiians—
that these kings are not high chiefs, that there must be an end to
their rule sooner or later, and that they must have a government from
elsewhere.
The CHAIRMAN. If you believed Kalakaua to be a heathen, why did
you not attempt to overthrow him in 1887 ?
Mr. OLESON. There was a very strong sentiment to do it at the time.
The CHAIRMAN. HO you know the reason why it was not put into
effect?
Mr. OLESON. AS I said in my statement, because those men who
were influential felt that it was better not to make any such radical
change until the country was ripe for it and the situation demanded it.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been waiting for public sentiment to ripen
upon this question and the coming of events to show that it was better
for the safety and security of good government in Hawaii that the
monarchy should fall?
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Be substituted by a different form of government?
Mr. OLESON. Yes; as a logical sequence.
The CHAIRMAN. Monarchy through the world is regarded as being a
stronger form of government than a republic. Hid the people of
Hawaii expect that when the monarchy should cease they would be
able to establish and maintain a republican government in Hawaii of
their own resources and without assistance from any other country?
Mr. OLESON. No; I did not, personally; and those that I talked with
did not. We felt that it was impossible in the light of past experience,
and of the facts that we knew, for us to sustain an independent national
existence there.
The CHAIRMAN. SO that, at the collapse of the monarchy, whenever
that should occur, it was intimately associated, as I understand, with
the idea of annexation to the United States ?
Mr. OLESON. That was the solution of it.
The CHAIRMAN. And the two ideas ran together?
Mr. OLESON. Ean together. It was just as if the men had said " We
will go on with the monarchy as long as we can, and when we can not
the United States willtake us."
The CHAIRMAN. That was the whole idea?
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. The idea of going on separately from the United
States without the protection of the United States or the other countries
has not been entertained?
Mr. OLESON. That has not been entertained, except by Ashford and
Wilcox, as I deem very natural, when we consider their personal interests
lay in the direction of maintaining a republic. They would then be
able to dicker with the United States and get appointments in that
way. But I do not think men of intelligence have for a moment
thought of it. They may be able to do it, after all, and sustain their
rights. But when men followed this movement, they followed it as a
tentative matter and thought that was the only responsible govern-
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 871
ment they could get in the islands at the time. But the ultimate out
come must be annexation to the United States.
The CHAIRMAN. The present provisional forces of the Provisional
Government, that the Government seems to be able to equip, arm, and
pay, as I gather from this testimony, are about 1,200 men.
Mr. OLESON. I do not know that there are as many as that to pay.
Some of the volunteer forces are not under the pay of the Government.
The CHAIRMAN. Omitting the question of pay, the present military
force of the Provisional Government is 1,200 men.
Mr. OLESON. I think between 1,200 and 1,500.
The CHAIRMAN. Are those men well armed and equipped?
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. With modern guns?
Mr. OLESON. With modern guns; yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And modern ammunition?
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they composed most largely of the white race?
Mr. OLESON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any native Kanakas enrolled in this
force?
Mr. OLESON. I think there are some. Kanakas are not fighters.
The CHAIRMAN. They are not belligerent?
Mr. OLESON. They are in talking; but not beyond that.
The CHAIRMAN. They are a passionate people, and might be roused
into hostility?
Mr. OLESON. Yes; but in cold blood I do not think the native would
fight.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose the Queen had the means of arming 1,000 or
1,200 natives, an equal number of natives, with equal facilities of all
kinds, arms, ammunition, equipments, such as the Provisional Government
forces have, and of placing such men under such drill as would
make of them soldiers who could be handled in action, what would be
your opinion of the ability of that number of Kanakas, thus armed and
equipped, to stand against 1,200 white men?
Mr. OLESON. Wholly hypothetical.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your opinion ?
Mr. OLESON. I do not think they would stand at all.
The CHAIRMAN. HO you think they would ever attempt to stand?
Mr. OLESON. NO.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU think they have such an estimate of the courage
of the white race, and of that race's fighting quality, that they
would not make a stand against them?
Mr. OLESON. They would not.
The CHAIRMAN. Although they were perfectly armed, equipped,
organized as an army ready to defend the Queen?
Mr. OLESON. Yes; they could not be depended upon—that has been
proven repeatedly.
The CHAIRMAN. By actual experience?
Mr. OLESON. By actual experience.
The CHAIRMAN. Take the Queen in her present condition, with her
present resources, present playing upon the affections of the Hawaiian
natives, do you apprehend that she has any possible chance of reinstating
herself upon the throne?
Mr. OLESON. Not at all; and she has not had any chance since
January 14; not the ghost of a chance to reinstate herself by any
force she could marshal in the islands.

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Jere Krischel at 09:33, 5 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 04:52, 12 December 2005