Template:948-949 - Revision history

Jere Krischel: /* AFFIDAVIT OF EDWARD D> TENNEY. */

2005-12-31T10:19:19Z

AFFIDAVIT OF EDWARD D> TENNEY.

Jere Krischel at 10:19, 31 December 2005

2005-12-31T10:19:06Z

Jere Krischel at 04:59, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:59:00Z

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948 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
they were poor and wanted to return to their homes as soon as possible,
and that a steamer would leave within three days after my note
was dated, and requested an interview within such time. In each case,
Mr. Blount fixed the interview after the departure of the steamer; in
one case the natives remained at considerable expense, for another
steamer did not go for ten days; in the other they were discontented
and disgusted, and went home.
WILLIAM E. CASTLE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 5th day of December A. D.,
1893.
[SEAL.] CHARLES F. PETERSON,
Notary Public.
AFFIDAVIT OF EDWARD D. TENNEY.
HONOLULU, Oahu, ss:
My name is EDWARD D. TENNET ; I was born in the State of New
York; I am 35 years of age; came to the Hawaiian Islands in 1877, and
have lived here ever since. I am a member of the well-known mercantile
house of Castle & Cooke; I am a member of the advisory council of
the Provisional Government and have been such since the 17th of January,
when the Government was proclaimed. Up to that time I have
had nothing to do with Hawaiian politics, but have been a careful
observer of the progress of events.
If we could have had good government I think the country would
have been as well off, at least for the present, to have remained as it
was, but the conviction has been growing upon me for several years
that the Hawaiian monarchy could not last. It certainly had reached
the end of its usefulness; corruption was rife and the Government was
certainly upon the verge of financial disaster. The Queen made matters
worse by her obstinate determination to assume despotic power
and overthrow constitutional government, and I think that she is
responsible for the overthrow of the monarchy and her own deposition.
I was present, a close observer of events, during January, 1893; had
been at my business Saturday morning the 14th, but was at home most
of the day. I heard from a passer-by of the Queen's attempt to abrogate
the constitution. Drove into town very soon; found the general
feeling was that the Queen had gone to a point where people could not
yield any longer. There was a feeling of intense and feverish anxiety
as to what might follow. It was so on Sunday and Monday; business
was almost entirely suspended. It was very well known that men were
preparing for action. In the afternoon all business was stopped and
the community thronged en masse to the old rifles armory, where a
most enthusiastic, but orderly and determined, meeting was held. All
were serious; all in deep earnest. The purpose of the mass meeting,
as it was there understood, was that the Queen must be deposed; that
she had gone to a point where the community could no longer "bear with
her.
I knew nothing whatever of the plans which were being made; I
had not consulted with any of the committee of safety. I had come
to the conclusion that to insure safety, security to property, and good
government, the form of Government must be changed; that night
was one of intense excitement and uncertainty. There was great fear
of what might happen; it was felt that if the mob element became
aroused the Queen's Government would have no control whatever,
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 949
and when it became known that United States troops were landed a
feeling of security became general—among the women and children
more particularly. The Queen's Government was very uncertain;
they did not know where they stood, and I do not think they could
have afforded protection.
The committee of safety proceeded openly. Its purpose was perfectly
well known to dethrone the Queen and establish a new Government.
It seemed to me certain that if the Queen's Government had felt themselves
masters of the situation, they would have arrested the leaders,
instead of which, the committee carried out its work at its own will.
The next day, the 17th, there was the same feeling of unrest and uncertainty
as to whether the Queen's Government would resist the new
Government. About 11 o'clock in the morning, I was waited upon by
a committee and asked if I would become one of the advisory council.
All arrangements as I then understood were then completed.
I said that while I was somewhat in the dark, I believed the only
way we could get settled government was to depose the Queen, and I
consented. Nothing was said about Minister Stevens or of any support
to be obtained from United States troops, nor had I heard any
rumors of that kind. No doubt was felt that we could depose the
Queen, and that under the prevailing conditions the new Government
would be immediately recognized. At 1 p. m. I met the committee at
W. O. Smith's office. The proclamation was read and agreed to and
signed by all who were then present. About 2:30 we left for the Government
building unarmed and walked up nearly all together. We
asked for the ministers. There were none there; waited ten or fifteen
minutes for some of them to appear.
There appearing no occasion for further delay, the proclamation was
then read, no one being present but the executive and advisory councils,
the committee on public safety, some Government clerks, and a few
others. While the proclamation was being read, Col. Soper arrived,
and it being deemed necessary that we have force at once I went to
the armory on Beretania street, whereupon a force of armed men went
there immediately. From that time on, dozens and scores of armed
men poured in till the buildings and premises were filled to overflowing.
I believe that before 5 p. m. 1,000 to 1,500 men were there, not
all armed by any means, but asking for arms to support the Provisional
Government. Several hundred were armed and all were determined
to hold the position at any cost. As an evidence of the feeling
of the community, I observed that many former supporters of the'
monarchy came in and joined us.
When we felt that we had force sufficient to hold our position, and
that the monarchy was in fact overthrown, we being in possession of the
headquarters and center of the Government, notes were sent to all the
foreign ministers and consuls, stating the fact and asking for recognition
as the de facto Government. I can not recollect whether, in fact,
Stevens's recognition came in just before or just after the Queen's surrender.
No one, at any rate, felt that there was any doubt that we
were masters of the situation, and that no other government existed.
As I recollect, before Stevens's recognition came, the order for the surrender
of the station house and barracks had been received.
Although the United States troops were on shore absolutely none
were seen, so far as I know. Arion Hall, where they were posted, faced
a street opposite the Government building, but no troops were in sight,
and they took absolutely no part at all. I recollect Capt. Wiltse came

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ''Notary Public.''
-==AFFIDAVIT OF EDWARD D> TENNEY.==
+==AFFIDAVIT OF EDWARD D. TENNEY.==
 {{sc|Honolulu}}, ''Oahu, ss'':

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
+{{p|948}}
 they were poor and wanted to return to their homes as soon as possible,
 and that a steamer would leave within three days after my note
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 steamer did not go for ten days; in the other they were discontented
 and disgusted, and went home.
-WILLIAM E. CASTLE.
 Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 5th day of December A. D.,
 .
-[SEAL.] CHARLES F. PETERSON,
-Notary Public.
+[SEAL.] {{sc|Charles F. Peterson}},<br/>
-AFFIDAVIT OF EDWARD D. TENNEY.
+''Notary Public.''
-HONOLULU, Oahu, ss:
-My name is EDWARD D. TENNET ; I was born in the State of New
+==AFFIDAVIT OF EDWARD D> TENNEY.==
 York; I am 35 years of age; came to the Hawaiian Islands in 1877, and
 have lived here ever since. I am a member of the well-known mercantile
@@ Line 22: / Line 27: @@
 had nothing to do with Hawaiian politics, but have been a careful
 observer of the progress of events.
 If we could have had good government I think the country would
 have been as well off, at least for the present, to have remained as it
@@ Line 31: / Line 37: @@
 and overthrow constitutional government, and I think that she is
 responsible for the overthrow of the monarchy and her own deposition.
 I was present, a close observer of events, during January, 1893; had
 been at my business Saturday morning the 14th, but was at home most
@@ Line 44: / Line 51: @@
 were serious; all in deep earnest. The purpose of the mass meeting,
 as it was there understood, was that the Queen must be deposed; that
-she had gone to a point where the community could no longer "bear with
+she had gone to a point where the community could no longer bear with
 her.
 I knew nothing whatever of the plans which were being made; I
 had not consulted with any of the committee of safety. I had come
@@ Line 53: / Line 61: @@
 of what might happen; it was felt that if the mob element became
 aroused the Queen's Government would have no control whatever,
-HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 949
+{{p|949}}
 and when it became known that United States troops were landed a
 feeling of security became general—among the women and children
@@ Line 59: / Line 67: @@
 they did not know where they stood, and I do not think they could
 have afforded protection.
 The committee of safety proceeded openly. Its purpose was perfectly
 well known to dethrone the Queen and establish a new Government.
@@ Line 69: / Line 78: @@
 a committee and asked if I would become one of the advisory council.
 All arrangements as I then understood were then completed.
 I said that while I was somewhat in the dark, I believed the only
 way we could get settled government was to depose the Queen, and I
@@ Line 81: / Line 91: @@
 asked for the ministers. There were none there; waited ten or fifteen
 minutes for some of them to appear.
 There appearing no occasion for further delay, the proclamation was
 then read, no one being present but the executive and advisory councils,
@@ Line 93: / Line 104: @@
 Government. Several hundred were armed and all were determined
 to hold the position at any cost. As an evidence of the feeling
-of the community, I observed that many former supporters of the'
+of the community, I observed that many former supporters of the
 monarchy came in and joined us.
 When we felt that we had force sufficient to hold our position, and
 that the monarchy was in fact overthrown, we being in possession of the
 headquarters and center of the Government, notes were sent to all the
 foreign ministers and consuls, stating the fact and asking for recognition
-as the de facto Government. I can not recollect whether, in fact,
+as the ''de facto'' Government. I can not recollect whether, in fact,
 Stevens's recognition came in just before or just after the Queen's surrender.
 No one, at any rate, felt that there was any doubt that we
@@ Line 105: / Line 117: @@
 As I recollect, before Stevens's recognition came, the order for the surrender
 of the station house and barracks had been received.
 Although the United States troops were on shore absolutely none
 were seen, so far as I know. Arion Hall, where they were posted, faced
 a street opposite the Government building, but no troops were in sight,
 and they took absolutely no part at all. I recollect Capt. Wiltse came