Template:946-947 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 10:11, 31 December 2005

2005-12-31T10:11:16Z

Jere Krischel at 04:58, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:58:52Z

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946 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
portion of the community to make an eud of corrupt and misgovernment
and get security and peace by good government.
During this period I saw Minister Stevens several times, also Capt.
Wiltse, and conversed with them upon the situation. I stated freely
that we proposed to fight for good government, and hoped that we
should at least have the moral assistance of the United States by a
recognition of the Provisional Government which was proposed to be
established, but I have no hesitation in saying that we were given to
understand clearly and definitely that the usual rule in such cases
would be followed and that we could not be recognized unless we
became in fact the Government of the country by taking possession
of the seat of government, which I certainly understood to mean the
various departments, including the treasury, the courts, and the
archives of the Government. It was to this end that our efforts were
directed and we expected a bloody fight to ensue when we went to the
Government building.
According to my recollection now, the request to Minister Stevens
to land United States marines was not thought of until Monday forenoon,
when it was prepared in response to the request of numerous
citizens of many nationalities, some of whom had a vivid recollection
of the doings of the mob of 1874. They were people who thoroughly
indorsed our course and believed that we would succeed, but who felt
that while the attack was being made and the fight going on around
the Government building, a brutal mob would, in all probability, be
incited by the royalists to burn and destroy property, in the suburbs
as well as in the business portions of the town and that outrages would
be committed upon the persons of women and children. Threats of
such violence were made, and certainly several members of the Legislature,
if their words were to be believed, would not only incite, but
lead on just such a mob.
The request was therefore made to Minister Stevens for exactly that
kind of protection. It was put in writing, signed by all the Committee
of Public Safety, and taken to Minister Stevens by Mr. Thurston and
myself after the mass meeting. About 5 o'clock that evening troops
were landed and disposed about the town where they could be most
easily obtained should occasion require. Both Mr. Thurston and myself
were ill with very severe colds, which in my case ran into an attack
of asthma, and with Mr. Thurston into threatened pneumonia, which
prevented our taking part in much which followed during the next
twenty-four hours. Monday night was one of suspense and terror
throughout the entire community. A riotous uprising of the mob element
was feared at any moment; no confidence was felt in the ability
or disposition of the Queen's Government to cope with the same. Two
incendiary fires did, in fact, occur, but no outbreak happened.
It is my belief, which 1 think is shared by nearly every one, that the
mere presence of United States troops exercised a restraining influence
and prevented any riotous uprising. While the troops were landing
and marching up Port street, I was in town and met Marshal C. B.
Wilson, with several others, near the bank of Bishop & Co. Mr. Wilson
quite sternly wanted to know what the troops were landed for. I told
him exactly what had occurred, giving him the substance of the note
to Minister Stevens, and stating that I believed the object for which
the troops were landed would be strictly observed.
At this point I desire to state that if there had been any plan or conspiracy
by which the United States troops were to land and assist the
revolutionists in overturning the Government, I should most certainly
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 947
have known it. There was no such plan, and I utterly repudiate the
attempt to impugn the character and actions of both Minister Stevens
and Capt. Wiltse, and state here that it seemed to me at that time, and
I believe now that they would have been perfectly justified in giving a
quicker and more open support to the Provisional Government than
was finally accorded by recognition, and that they still would have
been within the requirements of international law upon that subject.
For a few moments on Tuesday evening between five and six o'clock
I was able to go to the Government building, where I found the Provisional
Government in full possession and exercising the functions of
government. A military establishment was being rapidly perfected;
there were hundreds of men under arms whose names were being
enrolled in companies; patrols were already being set to guard the
town, and there was every'evidence of the Provisional Government's
being in successful control. I inquired at once whether the United
States minister had recognized the Provisional Government but was
answered that such recognition had not yet been accorded.
The negotiations were going on at that time for the surrender of the
barracks and stalion house, while a conference was held at the palace
with the Queen. Going out of the building I saw that all was quiet at
the Arion Hall; not a soldier being in sight excepting two or three
sentries, who were pacing the yard. Indeed I saw nothing of United
States troops after their landing on Monday night until my departure
on the following Thursday morning with the annexation commission
for Washington. The United States troops did not lift a finger to
bring about the result. If the Queen's Government, the police department,
thought they would be attacked by United States troops that
certainly was their own concern, and nothing with which either the Provisional
Government or the United States troops had anything to do.
When in the yard surrounding the Government building, somewhere
between 5 and 6 in the evening, I met Capt. Wiltse and asked him
with some surprise if they were not going to recognize the Provisional
Government. I knew that we were in possession, and knowing the
moral strength we should receive from such recognition and that we
were certainly the de facto government, I felt that it might have been
given sooner. Capt. Wiltse replied quickly: " Oh no, we can't recognize
you until you are also in possession of the barracks and station
house."
I returned from Washington on the 7th of April upon the same steamer
which brought Mr. Charles Eordhoff to Honolulu. Mr. Blount was
already here and the flag had already been lowered. Although there
was some solicitude iu town, I found everything orderly and quiet.
Within a few days I called on Commissioner Blount and had a pleasant
conversation with him. I informed him that I had an intimate knowledge
of what had taken place, and believing that he desired to obtain
only the facts and all the facts, should be happy to furnish him all the
information in my power; and also put him in the way of receivinginformation
on all subjects connected with the islands. Although I saw
Commissioner Blount several times after this, up to the time of his
departure, he has never accorded me an interview, nor has he asked
for any statement in regard to the matter.
Owing to my intimate knowledge and acquaintance with the Hawaiian
people, several deputations from other parts of the country came
to me to procure interviews with Mr. Blount. I recollect particularly
two instances in which I wrote a note, saying that the natives would
like to intarview him; that an interpreter would be furnished; that

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
+{{p|946}}
-portion of the community to make an eud of corrupt and misgovernment
+portion of the community to make an end of corrupt and misgovernment
 and get security and peace by good government.
 During this period I saw Minister Stevens several times, also Capt.
 Wiltse, and conversed with them upon the situation. I stated freely
@@ Line 16: / Line 17: @@
 directed and we expected a bloody fight to ensue when we went to the
 Government building.
 According to my recollection now, the request to Minister Stevens
 to land United States marines was not thought of until Monday forenoon,
@@ Line 30: / Line 32: @@
 if their words were to be believed, would not only incite, but
 lead on just such a mob.
 The request was therefore made to Minister Stevens for exactly that
 kind of protection. It was put in writing, signed by all the Committee
@@ Line 44: / Line 47: @@
 or disposition of the Queen's Government to cope with the same. Two
 incendiary fires did, in fact, occur, but no outbreak happened.
-It is my belief, which 1 think is shared by nearly every one, that the
 mere presence of United States troops exercised a restraining influence
 and prevented any riotous uprising. While the troops were landing
@@ Line 53: / Line 57: @@
 to Minister Stevens, and stating that I believed the object for which
 the troops were landed would be strictly observed.
 At this point I desire to state that if there had been any plan or conspiracy
 by which the United States troops were to land and assist the
 revolutionists in overturning the Government, I should most certainly
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 947
+{{p|947}}
 have known it. There was no such plan, and I utterly repudiate the
 attempt to impugn the character and actions of both Minister Stevens
@@ Line 64: / Line 69: @@
 was finally accorded by recognition, and that they still would have
 been within the requirements of international law upon that subject.
 For a few moments on Tuesday evening between five and six o'clock
 I was able to go to the Government building, where I found the Provisional
@@ Line 70: / Line 76: @@
 there were hundreds of men under arms whose names were being
 enrolled in companies; patrols were already being set to guard the
-town, and there was every'evidence of the Provisional Government's
+town, and there was every evidence of the Provisional Government's
 being in successful control. I inquired at once whether the United
 States minister had recognized the Provisional Government but was
 answered that such recognition had not yet been accorded.
 The negotiations were going on at that time for the surrender of the
-barracks and stalion house, while a conference was held at the palace
+barracks and station house, while a conference was held at the palace
 with the Queen. Going out of the building I saw that all was quiet at
 the Arion Hall; not a soldier being in sight excepting two or three
@@ Line 86: / Line 93: @@
 certainly was their own concern, and nothing with which either the Provisional
 Government or the United States troops had anything to do.
 When in the yard surrounding the Government building, somewhere
 between 5 and 6 in the evening, I met Capt. Wiltse and asked him
@@ Line 92: / Line 100: @@
 moral strength we should receive from such recognition and that we
 were certainly the de facto government, I felt that it might have been
-given sooner. Capt. Wiltse replied quickly: " Oh no, we can't recognize
+given sooner. Capt. Wiltse replied quickly: "Oh no, we can't recognize
 you until you are also in possession of the barracks and station
 house."
 I returned from Washington on the 7th of April upon the same steamer
-which brought Mr. Charles Eordhoff to Honolulu. Mr. Blount was
+which brought Mr. Charles Nordhoff to Honolulu. Mr. Blount was
 already here and the flag had already been lowered. Although there
-was some solicitude iu town, I found everything orderly and quiet.
+was some solicitude in town, I found everything orderly and quiet.
 Within a few days I called on Commissioner Blount and had a pleasant
 conversation with him. I informed him that I had an intimate knowledge
 of what had taken place, and believing that he desired to obtain
 only the facts and all the facts, should be happy to furnish him all the
-information in my power; and also put him in the way of receivinginformation
+information in my power; and also put him in the way of receiving information
 on all subjects connected with the islands. Although I saw
 Commissioner Blount several times after this, up to the time of his
 departure, he has never accorded me an interview, nor has he asked
 for any statement in regard to the matter.
 Owing to my intimate knowledge and acquaintance with the Hawaiian
 people, several deputations from other parts of the country came
 to me to procure interviews with Mr. Blount. I recollect particularly
 two instances in which I wrote a note, saying that the natives would
-like to intarview him; that an interpreter would be furnished; that
+like to interview him; that an interpreter would be furnished; that