Jere Krischel at 07:32, 23 December 2005

2005-12-23T07:32:37Z

Jere Krischel at 04:57, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:57:29Z

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926 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. And you included, of course, the action of the Legislature
upon these respective measures?
Mr. STEVENS. Yes; I got that not by going to the Legislature, but
from the best sources I could.
The CHAIRMAN. You received that information from those sources
which you considered most reliable?
Mr. STEVENS. Most reliable.
The CHAIRMAN. I want to know whether you formed the opinion as
minister of the United States before you left Honolulu to go down to
Hilo that, if such measures as the lottery or opium bill should pass,
they would produce a commotion or revolution ? Were you of that opinion
before you left for Uilo ?
Mr. STEVENS. I considered that settled, or I should not have gone
off. The repeated attempts and their failure, the petitions from all the
islands, the opposition of the chamber of commerce, and the Queen's
assurance to the ladies who called on her, satisfied me that they were
dead.
The CHAIRMAN. If, before you left Honolulu to go down to Hilo, you
had been informed that the Queen intended to promulgate a new constitution,
reversing the constitution of '87 and restoring the ancient
powers of the monarchy, would you have expected that to create a
revolution?
Mr. STEVENS. I could not expect otherwise. I knew it, but I had
repeatedly said so in conversations with Mr. Wodehouse, the English
minister, and others—that whenever an attempt should be made to
undo the action of 1887, by the Queen going back on her oath and
promises, there would be an end of the monarchy forever.
The CHAIRMAN. 11 ad you been possessed of any information that
Liliuokalani, after the prorogation of the Legislature, would promulgate
this new constitution upon her own autliority, would you have left
Honolulu?
Mr. STEVENS. NO; I would have stayed there. I considered it settled
when those four men went in, because of their character and their
means, and the information that the Queen's favorite had reason to
think he should remain marshal.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU speak of the Wilcox-Jones cabinet?
Mr. STEVENS. Yes; I considered that those men would be the Government
for the next eighteen months.
Senator FRYE. When you went on board the ship to go down to Hilo,
did you not have conversations with the officers of the ship, in which
you expressed yourself as satisfied that peace was restored to Hawaii,
and that it would continue until your term of office would expire, and
that you could go home in comfort?
Mr. STEVENS. I did.
Senator FRYE. Was not that your belief?
Mr. STEVENS. It was.
Senator FRYE. Mr. Wundenburg in his testimony says that the overthrow
of the monarchy could not have been accomplished had it not
been the general understanding that the American minister would
make use of the troops. In your opinion, did the American troops
have any effect on the overthrow of the monarchy?
Mr. STEVENS. Not the slightest.
Senator FRYE. And whether the troops were on shore or not, your
opinion is that the monarchy would have been overthrown?
Mr. STEVENS. Certainly.
Senator FRYE. Mr. Wundenburg also states that shortly after the
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 927
committee of safety met, on the 16th of January, it decided that they
were not ready for the landing of American troops; that a committee
of three, with Mr. Thurston, went to the American legation and asked
Mr. Stevens to delay lauding the Boston's men, and that it was reported
that Mr. Stevens said, "The troops will land at 5 o'clock,
whether you are ready or not."
Mr. STEVENS. I am sure that no such committee came; but the fact
is, the troops were landed aside from any wishes of the committee of
safety.
Senator FRYE. William H. Cornwall testified
Mr. STEVENS. He was one of the new cabinet.
Senator FRYE. He states that Ministers Parker and Peterson called
upon Minister Stevens and gave him to understand that the Government
was able to take care of the situation, and asked him to keep the
troops on board.
Mr. STEVENS. Not true.
Senator FRYE. Bid Ministers Parker and Peterson ever call upon
you and inform you that the Queen's Government was able to take
care of the situation, and ask you to keep the troops on board?
Mr. STEVENS. NO. YOU had better ask about Gov. Cleghorn's protest.
A great deal of importance was given to the island governor's
protesting after the troops were landed. Cleghorn, I have no doubt,
under the inspiration of the English minister—if you will ask me the
reasons, I will answer, but not now—came to me and wanted to know
why I landed them. I stated that the circumstances were such that
I was compelled to take the responsibility. I was very polite to him.
I said to hiin, "I do not blame you for coming, and if I were in your
place I would make the protest"; and I was just as courteous as I could
be. He went home, and I have no doubt he consulted the English
minister and had done so before coming to me.
Senator DAVIS. Did you tell Mr. Cleghorn then for what purpose you
had landed those troops?
Mr. STEVENS. Probably my remajks implied that it was the necessity
of the case. As nearly as I can recollect I said this: "The situation
is such that I felt it necessary to take the responsibility." I
probably put it in that form. My reason for saying that Cleghorn
came by the inspiration of the English minister is this: I knew for
months dating back in our intercourse that whatever the English
minister wanted Mr. Cleghorn to do he would do. He was a goodnatured
man, and entirely under Mr. Wodehouse's influence. The
governorship was of no account; it was abolished in 1887, and they
reestablished it in 1890 as a mere honorary office, because Cleghorn
was married to the sister of the Queen.
Senator FRYE. Cornwall stated that Mr. Hopkins insisted upon
knowing whether or not you intended to recognize the lawful Government
or the revolutionary Government, and that you said that you
should recognize the Provisional Government, because they were in
possession of the Government building, and that you intended to support
them?
Mr. STEVENS. I am very glad you asked that question. I had no
conversation with Mr. Hopkins whatever. I did not even know him.
Mr. Hopkins brought me a note, and I sent an answer.
Senator FRYE. Did you say that to anybody?
Mr. STEVENS. Never. I want to say that Mr. Hopkins brought the
note—they said it was Hopkins; I never had any conversation with

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Jere Krischel at 07:32, 23 December 2005

Jere Krischel at 04:57, 12 December 2005