Template:944-945 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 06:37, 25 December 2005

2005-12-25T06:37:44Z

Jere Krischel at 04:58, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:58:44Z

New page

>J44 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
few friends, aud some speculation as to when a change might come, how
it would be forced aud who would do it, nothing was done; there was
no organization, nor any plans made. During the last week of the Legislature
the air was filled with rumors, ami the prospect looked verydark.
Still, nothing was done, and when the Queen, on the 14th of
January, actually attempted her revolutionary act—so far as any preparation
was concerned—we were actually taken by surprise.
I was intimately acquainted with Minister Stevens and Capt. Wiltse,
with both of whom I often talked over the political situation. We all
felt that trouble was impending, but I do not think that anything was
more strongly impressed upon my mind by what either of these men
said than the thought that if trouble came and our rights, our liberties,
and property were threatened, we must help ourselves, for we could
have no outside help, unless, indeed, such things should occur as might
ensue from a state of anarchy, when, as I understood, Americans might
expect assistance to the extent of personal protection and the protection
of property against mob violence. Knowing what a Hawaiian
mob meant from the illustration given in 1874, considerable uneasiness
was felt in Honolulu when the Boston, with Minister Stevens, left
Ilonolulii a week or ten days before the prorogation of the Legislature,
and her return was observed with great relief upon the morning of the
14th.
Several days before the prorogation, things were in a very i)recarious
condition. Corruption was open and flagrant in the Legislature; the
lottery and opium bills were suddenly taken up and passed, and the
same combination immediately ousted the Wilcox cabinet, which was
the only one since the session opened which had the entire confidence
of the community. Upon this, the Reform members of the Legislature,
by way of protest, hoping to prevent the obtaining of a quorum, with
which any more outrageous legislation could be enacted, absented
themselves from the House. Upon Saturday morning, however, the
day set for the prorogation, they succeeded in getting a quorum, a new
ministry was immediately anuounced, and the opium and lottery bills,
to the consternation and surprise of the community, were returned
signed.
After seeing personally what took place I returned to my business
and remained at my office closely occupied until nearly 2 o'clock. As 1
was about to return to my home I heard that the Queen was trying to
abrogate the constitution, and at once went to the street in front of the
palace, where I could see what was going on. Natives were the favored
ones, being allowed ingress and egress, and from them I learned what
was taking place. 1 saw the Queen come out on the veranda and speak
to the crowd of natives who assembled below. After speaking some
little time a native came and told me that she had said that owing to
unexpected opposition and difficulties over which she had no control
she would not then promulgate the new constitution, but she stated
that the matter was merely deferred for a few days.
Immediately after this I saw William White, the native member for
Lahaina, come out of the palace, run part way down the steps where
he stood, and began a loud and furious harangue. Twice I observed
Maj. Boyd, who was in full uniform, come down the steps and, touching
his shoulders, apparently say something to him, but he was furiously
shaken off'. Upon inquiry from another native who came out I
learned that he was making a most incendiary speech; that he was
saying that their hope of a new constitution was defeated by tne interference
of whites, and he urged them to rush into the palace and kill
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 945
such persons as were opposing this plan. I expected to see another
such riot as that of 1874, but learned afterwards that someone else
counseled them to wait a few days, when they would get all they
desired.
Returning down town I went to the office of W. O. Smith, where an
impromptu meeting of foreign residents had assembled. A paper was
lying upon the table, which had been extensively signed, in which the
signers pledged themselves to oppose to any extent the revolutionary
plans of the Queen, and to sustain the cabinet, which was trying to
fight her off. If I recollect right, Paul Neumann, Peterson, Colburn,
and others who have subsequently come out strongly in favor of the
Queen, were then present. I heard Colburn state the situation to the
meeting, saying how the lives of members of the cabinet had been
threatened in the palace on account of their opposition to the Queen's
plans, and Mr. Colburn then called upon the community to support
them in this opposition. We were not informed and did not then learn
that the Queen had expressed surprise at Peterson's opposition, he
having had a month to consider this proposed new constitution and not
having made any objections.
The community was now thoroughly aroused; it was felt that life,
property, and liberty were seriously imperiled, and the meeting immediately
elected a chairman and secretary, and a committee of public
safety of thirteen members was at once appointed, of which I was a
member. Subcommittees were at once appointed, which went about
their business immediately, and the meeting adjourned to meet at my
house on Sunday morning. That evening a number of us met at Mr.
Thurston's residence to talk over the situation and attempt to make
some plans for a provisional government in case the radical measures
of overthrowing the Queen should finally be deemed necessary as the
only available course. During the evening Mr. Fred. Wundenburg
came in and reported on what success he had met in a two or three
hours' search for arms and men to oppose the Queen. So far as I can
now recollect, he stated that he had not been able to find more than
60, although it was believed that a very much larger number could be
obtained as soon as the community should know that it was required.
I think that after Mr. WTundenburg left a messenger came from the
Drei Hundred, a well-known organization of Germans, offering the services
of their men, numbering, to my recollection now, about 80, and
their arms. The next morning the committee of public safety met at
my residence and remained in session a considerable part of the day.
It was finally decided that the proper method was to ascertain public
feeling, for which purpose a mass meeting was called. We felt that if
a representative meeting should demand the deposition of the Queen
and the establishment of another government which the members of the
meeting would back up, the time had come to make the attempt. The
question was one of force sufficient to carry out the intention.
The meeting was called for Monday, and its voice was so unmistakable
that preparations were concluded as rapidly as possible to take
possession of the Government by force, establish a Provisional Government,
and ask for annexation to the United States, which was also the
almost unanimous desire of the meeting. From the close of the meeting
till the final movement preparations were conducted openly and
notoriously. The offer of arms, ammunition, and men came in from all
sides; the thing lacking was a disciplined force, but there was no doubt
as to the enthusiasm and determination of the respectable, conservative
S. Doc. 231, pt 6 60

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
->J44 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
+{{p|944}}
-few friends, aud some speculation as to when a change might come, how
+few friends, and some speculation as to when a change might come, how
-it would be forced aud who would do it, nothing was done; there was
+it would be forced and who would do it, nothing was done; there was
 no organization, nor any plans made. During the last week of the Legislature
-the air was filled with rumors, ami the prospect looked verydark.
+the air was filled with rumors, and the prospect looked very dark.
 Still, nothing was done, and when the Queen, on the 14th of
 January, actually attempted her revolutionary act—so far as any preparation
 was concerned—we were actually taken by surprise.
 I was intimately acquainted with Minister Stevens and Capt. Wiltse,
 with both of whom I often talked over the political situation. We all
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 of property against mob violence. Knowing what a Hawaiian
 mob meant from the illustration given in 1874, considerable uneasiness
-was felt in Honolulu when the Boston, with Minister Stevens, left
+was felt in Honolulu when the ''Boston'', with Minister Stevens, left
-Ilonolulii a week or ten days before the prorogation of the Legislature,
+Honolulu a week or ten days before the prorogation of the Legislature,
 and her return was observed with great relief upon the morning of the
 th.
-Several days before the prorogation, things were in a very i)recarious
 condition. Corruption was open and flagrant in the Legislature; the
 lottery and opium bills were suddenly taken up and passed, and the
@@ Line 35: / Line 37: @@
 to the consternation and surprise of the community, were returned
 signed.
 After seeing personally what took place I returned to my business
-and remained at my office closely occupied until nearly 2 o'clock. As 1
+and remained at my office closely occupied until nearly 2 o'clock. As I
 was about to return to my home I heard that the Queen was trying to
 abrogate the constitution, and at once went to the street in front of the
 palace, where I could see what was going on. Natives were the favored
 ones, being allowed ingress and egress, and from them I learned what
-was taking place. 1 saw the Queen come out on the veranda and speak
+was taking place. I saw the Queen come out on the veranda and speak
 to the crowd of natives who assembled below. After speaking some
 little time a native came and told me that she had said that owing to
@@ Line 47: / Line 50: @@
 she would not then promulgate the new constitution, but she stated
 that the matter was merely deferred for a few days.
 Immediately after this I saw William White, the native member for
 Lahaina, come out of the palace, run part way down the steps where
@@ Line 52: / Line 56: @@
 Maj. Boyd, who was in full uniform, come down the steps and, touching
 his shoulders, apparently say something to him, but he was furiously
-shaken off'. Upon inquiry from another native who came out I
+shaken off. Upon inquiry from another native who came out I
 learned that he was making a most incendiary speech; that he was
 saying that their hope of a new constitution was defeated by tne interference
 of whites, and he urged them to rush into the palace and kill
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 945
+{{p|945}}
 such persons as were opposing this plan. I expected to see another
 such riot as that of 1874, but learned afterwards that someone else
 counseled them to wait a few days, when they would get all they
 desired.
 Returning down town I went to the office of W. O. Smith, where an
 impromptu meeting of foreign residents had assembled. A paper was
@@ Line 76: / Line 81: @@
 having had a month to consider this proposed new constitution and not
 having made any objections.
 The community was now thoroughly aroused; it was felt that life,
 property, and liberty were seriously imperiled, and the meeting immediately
@@ Line 92: / Line 98: @@
 , although it was believed that a very much larger number could be
 obtained as soon as the community should know that it was required.
-I think that after Mr. WTundenburg left a messenger came from the
 Drei Hundred, a well-known organization of Germans, offering the services
 of their men, numbering, to my recollection now, about 80, and
@@ Line 103: / Line 110: @@
 meeting would back up, the time had come to make the attempt. The
 question was one of force sufficient to carry out the intention.
 The meeting was called for Monday, and its voice was so unmistakable
 that preparations were concluded as rapidly as possible to take
@@ Line 112: / Line 120: @@
 sides; the thing lacking was a disciplined force, but there was no doubt
 as to the enthusiasm and determination of the respectable, conservative
 S. Doc. 231, pt 6 60