Jere Krischel at 07:21, 23 December 2005

2005-12-23T07:21:31Z

Jere Krischel at 04:56, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:56:41Z

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922 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
the declaration of the Provisional Government, that there was any white
organization being attempted against the Provisional Government?
Mr. STEVENS. My information was to the effect that the same men -who
put the lottery bill through, what they called the lottery and opium men,
had been acting together for a good while.
The CHAIRMAN. Bid you hear of any attempt at organization amongst
these, people, or any other white people, to overthrow or dislodge the
Provisional Government, or impair it?
Mr. STEVENS. Those rumors of attempt to overthrow the Provisional
Government? They were constantly getting information of attempts to
do it.
The CHAIRMAN. Attempts to do what, to form an organization?
Mr. STEVENS. TO catch them unawares—to surprise the Provisional
Government.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you understand from any information that you
had—of course anything like a reliable character—that there existed
an organization?
Mr. STEVENS. I should say that my information is that there are two
or three organizations, mainly political. They have one organization
called the Native Hawaiians; they have another, with a native name.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they natives?
Mr. STEVENS. They are natives. They have political organizations
among themselves.
The CHAIRMAN. State any other.
Mr. STEVENS. They had at one time what they called the "Liberty
League"; but I think that is disbanded. Those cliques have run
together; but the same men can extemporize an organization within a
week; because they drift together as naturally as similar men in our
cities.
The CHAIRMAN. I will try to get back to the question whether you
know or had any information of the existence of an organization
amongst the white people in Hawaii against the Provisional Government?
Air. STEVENS. Yes. . .
The CHAIRMAN. What was it?
Mr. STEVENS. I have forgotten the name of it; I think it is "Liberty
League." But they had so many names that I can not remember; but
I think it was "Liberty League."
The CHAIRMAN. Who was the leader of that organization, if it had
any?
Mr. STEVENS. It was understood that Mr. Colburn and Mr. Peterson
were in it.
The CHAIRMAN. I am speaking of the time that this Provisional
Government was established.
Mr. STEVENS. I have no doubt that those things have varied so that
there would be one clique in the League and then another clique.
The CHAIRMAN. I am speaking of the time of the organization of the
Provisional Government, not any anterior time.
Mr. STEVENS. Those since the Provisional Government was established
would be the same as they had before.
The CHAIRMAN. IS there such an organization?
Mr. STEVENS. There are several organizations of years' standing.
The CHAIRMAN. IS there now in existence, or was there at any time
while you were in Hawaii, any political organization of white men for
the purpose of antagonizing and breaking down that Provisional Government.
Can you answer that?
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 923
Mr. STEVENS. I can give my opinion.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not want your naked opinion. I want your
information.
Mr. STEVENS. My information is that the men who controlled the
Queen's Government mainly, and ever since she was in, have acted
together so often that that is virtually an organization.
The CHAIRMAN. DO you understand that there is such an organization
existing in Hawaii to-day?
Mr. STEVENS. 1 have no doubt that it exists to-day.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know anything about it?
Mr. STEVENS. I have no doubt it does.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any information about it?
Mr. STEVENS. NO ; I see in Mr. Blount's report—
The CHAIRMAN. I am not speaking of Mr. Blount's report.
Mr. STEVENS. I knew it was when I left.
The CHAIRMAN. I want to get at the proposition whether or not
there is any hostile opposition to the Provisional Government existing
amongst the white people of Hawaii at this time, or was when you left
there.
Mr. STEVENS. I have no doubt there is. 1 have no doubt the men
who acted before are acting now.
The CHAIRMAN. I want your information, if you have any information
about it.
Mr. STEVENS. I have no information that an organization exists
sincel left there, because that was six or eight months ago.
The CHAIRMAN. When you were there did. it exist?
Mr. STEVENS. It existed.
The CHAIRMAN. Who were the leaders of it?
Mr. STEVENS. The reason I referred to Mr. Blount's report is this:
Tou will find the committee, of which Mr. Cummings was one—I have
understood that he was; he was one of the leading members. That
was one organization. Then another organization is the one that
Nawahi was at the head of. When I was there he was one of the leaders
of a political organization under Kalakaua, and it is possibly in existence
to-day, for it has been in existence for years.
The CHAIRMAN. I am trying to ask you of organizations formed for
the purpose of opposing the Provisional Government.
Mr. STEVENS. I can not say that there is any such organization; I
can only reason from cause to effect—that those organizations would
be hostile to the Provisional Government.
The CHAIRMAN. TOU are not aware of the existence of any such
organization now?
Mr. STEVENS. No. In Mr. Blount's report I see he mentioned Mr.
Bush and Mr. Nawahi. But I can not swear to it.
The CHAIRMAN. NOW, what I want to get at is, whether among the
white people resident in Hawaii, who are not American citizens or
persons of American origin, there exists any opposition of an organized
character, whether political or military, against the Provisional Government.
Mr. STEVENS. What exists to-day? I cannot testify to that.
The CHAIRMAN. Was there in your knowledge at the time you left
there?
Mr. STEVENS. Only as it appeared in the papers.
The CHAIRMAN. Did it appear?
Mr. STEVENS. Yes. You will see it in Mr. Blount's report, and that

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Jere Krischel at 07:21, 23 December 2005

Jere Krischel at 04:56, 12 December 2005