Difference between revisions of "Template:536-537"

From TheMorganReport
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{p|536}}
+
{{p|538}}
  
−
The CHAIRMAN. Improve the matter?  
+
The CHAIRMAN. Was the Queen a communicant in any of the churches?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. Improve the situation. The matter of annexation to this country was not plain; the matter of establishing a republic seemed to be a questionable thing.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. I think she was not a communicant in any church; she went around to different churches.  
  
−
Senator GRAY. If you were a sincere royalist, as you say, it was because you believed the best interests of the islands would be subserved by that form of government?  
+
Senator GRAY. Was she an avowed Christian?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. Yes, I did so believe to the last.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. I think not an avowed Christian.  
  
−
Senator FRYE. On or about January 14 you changed your opinion as to the propriety of continuing the Queen in power?  
+
The CHAIRMAN. Do you mean that she adhered to the pagan ideas?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. I think it was associated first with the action of the House of Representatives, when there was a departure of some of the gentlemen, some of the white men who were members of the Legislature, to their homes—when there was a minority of those who were for reform measures, for good government, and there was a majority— claimed to be a majority—of those who were for spoils—for lottery, opium, and so on.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. She received Kahunas, sorcerers, in the palace.  
  
−
Senator GRAY. If those who favored reform measures had remained would there have been a majority that way?  
+
Senator GRAY. Do you know that of your own knowledge?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. Yes; there would have been a majority. I do not think the lottery bill could have been carried through. I saw how things were working. This Legislature was bribed, evidently it was bribed. It was the common talk of the natives that it was being bribed, and the Queen began to disclose her thorough sympathy with that party. The passage of the distillery bill and the opium bill, which are destructive bills, would have killed off the natives. Then there was the passage of the lottery bill, and afterwards the discharge of the good cabinet, the Wilcox-Jones cabinet, and the putting in a most irresponsible cabinet. Then there was the proclamation, or an attempt to put into execution a new constitution.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. I know it as well as I do my own existence.  
  
−
Senator SHERMAN. State what was the nature of that proposed change.
+
Senator GRAY, Do you know it of your own knowledge?
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. You mean of the constitution?
+
Mr. EMERSON. I never saw the Kahunas there; I know the man who was at her right hand sent out a proclamation for the restoration of the Kahunas. I know that man, for I have talked with him, and charged him with his wickedness.
  
−
Senator SHERMAN. Yes.  
+
The CHAIRMAN. Now, I want to get at this cabinet business; I speak of the Cornwell-Peterson cabinet, the last one. How long was that in existence before the revolution occurred?
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. The constitution, it is said, was destroyed by the Queen, and some have said that the constitution was one that would disfranchise the white men. Those who were not married to native women would have had the vote taken from them. It was a constitution that would have taken away the ballot from me. It would have taken from the people the power to elect the nobles and put it into the hands of the Queen. By the restricted ballot we were enabled, so far at least as the Legislature is concerned, to elect men of character who stood out against these measures of corruption.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. I cannot be perfectly sure. I think the old cabinet was voted out Friday, and that cabinet was appointed the same day.  
  
−
Senator GRAY. By a restricted ballot?  
+
Senator FRYE. The Friday before the revolution?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. Yes; by a restricted ballot.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Did any of the ministers of the Wilcox-Jones cabinet join the Queen in signing any of these bills—the opium bill, the distillery bill, or the lottery bill?
  
−
The CHAIRMAN. You spoke of the Wilcox-Jones cabinet. What was the successor cabinet called ?
+
Mr. EMERSON. I cannot say yes or no; but my opinion is that they stood out against it.  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. The Parker-Cornwell cabinet—Colburn and Peterson. I believe it was Peterson—Cornwell or Peterson—who made the cabinet. They were the ones who made the cabinet.
+
The CHAIRMAN. You do not know whether the later cabinet, the Cornwell Peterson cabinet, signed those measures with the Queen?
  
−
The CHAIRMAN. Who was premier in tlie last cabinet?
+
Mr. EMERSON. The later cabinet, as I understood, did support her.  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. Wilcox was the one previously to that—I do not know—I think it was Cornwell. I am not sure whether it was Cornwell or Peterson.
+
Senator GRAY. The cabinet that was appointed on Friday?
  
−
Senator FRYE. What was the distillery bill of which you spoke?
+
Mr. EMERSON. Yes, sir; I think it was Friday.
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. As I understood it the idea was that there would be
+
Senator SHERMAN. The cabinet that was appointed on the 13th?
  
−
{{p|537}}
+
The CHAIRMAN. I understand we have a constitution of Hawaii, and I understand it is required by the constitution of Hawaii that in order that a bill may become a law after it has passed the Legislature, it is necessary that it be signed by one member of the cabinet along with the Queen? Is that the fact?
  
−
great opportunity for making rum, making alcoholic drinks there from sugar-cane juice and other products, that it might be a means of revenue or wealth to the islands—enlarge the business.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. I can not say as to that.  
  
−
Senator FRYE. Encourage the opening of saloons?
+
The CHAIRMAN. You do not know.  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. It would have probably supplied cheaper drinks to the saloons.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. No.  
  
−
Senator FRYE. What was the opium bill?
+
The CHAIRMAN. Before going to more particular inquiries as to your knowledge of the incidents of the revolution, I would like to ask you something about the state of the education amongst the native population in Hawaii—I mean now all the islands.
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. It was a bill that legalized the sale of opium. I do not know just the nature of the bill, but it was one that made it legal to sell opium.
+
Senator FRYE. Do you mean the Kanakas?
  
−
Senator FRYE. Have you been troubled there from the use of opium?
+
The CHAIRMAN. Yes.  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. We have had a good deal of trouble. It has been smuggled into the country. There have been opium rings, and some of the men connected with the Government were connected with the rings, no doubt. There is no doubt that the chief marshal of the Kingdom was.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. We have a very good system of public schools. They are taught most of them by white men or women, some coming from California and some farther east. All these teachers are not teachers such as would be classed as supporting the highest moral and religious principles, but a good many of them are fine men and women.  
  
−
Senator FRYE. Whom do you mean; Wilson?  
+
Senator GRAY. Do you mean that they are all white men and women?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. Wilson. There is no doubt about that. It is common talk—was common. You can hear it out on the street from every other person almost.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. Most of them.  
  
−
Senator GRAY. Hear what?
+
{{p|539}}
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. That Wilson was connected with the opium ring, and that he was hand and glove in with Capt. Whalen, who was captain of a yacht.
+
Senator GRAY. What do you mean by "supporting the highest moral principles"?
  
−
Senator FRYE. A yacht used for smuggling?
+
Mr. EMERSON. I mean in certain cases charges have been brought against some. I know charges to have been brought against a teacher, and so soon as he was found guilty of immorality he was removed.  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. Yes. And there were also men who had come there as smugglers and whom Mr. Wilson had handled gently. He had pounced upon Chinamen to keep up a show of maintaining the law— some little Chinamen; but the great sinners were let go.
+
Senator GRAY. White men?
  
−
Senator FRYE. Did those bills all pass that Legislature?  
+
Mr. EMERSON. Yes. I know of schools that are taught by a graduate of our female seminaries.
 +
 
 +
The CHAIRMAN. I have seen it stated that every person in Hawaii and all these islands, who is above eight years of age, can read and write. Are you prepared to sustain that statement from your own observation?  
 +
 
 +
Mr. EMERSON. I believe I would have to look a long while to find a single person who is over twelve years of age who can not read or write—among the natives; not the Portugese.
 +
 
 +
Senator GRAY. Among the natives of the Sandwich Islands.
  
 
Mr. EMERSON. Yes.  
 
Mr. EMERSON. Yes.  
  
−
Senator FRYE. By what majority?  
+
The CHAIRMAN. As a rule, in your pastoral intercourse among them, have you found the native Hawaiians to be an intelligent, thoughtful people? I am asking now with regard to the native population, the Kanakas.
 +
 
 +
Mr. EMERSON. I have been greatly grieved to find—speaking of my relations to them religiously—a growing increase, it seems to me, of a superstitious sentiment, and that sentiment would argue a rather low state of religious life in the churches, which I am sorry to acknowledge is the case.
 +
 
 +
The CHAIRMAN. Now, asking more particularly of practical affairs, everyday life, do you find the native Hawaiians intelligent people, susceptible to instruction; are they thoughtful or are they otherwise?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. I am not sure of the majority.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. Well, sir, they are Polynesians, and as Polynesians, bright and intelligent as they may be, they have certain marked defects in their character.  
  
−
Senator FRYE. But they did pass, and the Qaeen approved them.
+
Senator SHERMAN. How as to honesty and integrity in their dealings?
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. The Queen signed them.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. There are some pretty bad characters among them.  
  
−
Senator SHERMAN. In that week?  
+
The CHAIRMAN. As a genaral rule, taking the native classes as a mass?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. That week, as I remember.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. If I could institute a comparison, it seems to me that they stand a good deal on a par with the negro, although my sympathies are with them, perhaps, and my kindness is with them more than with the negro. I feel that they are very loveable, happy, and in many ways bright, interesting people.  
  
−
Senator FRYE. And they were approved?  
+
Mr. CHAIRMAN. Kind-hearted and benevolent?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. And they were approved. Protests were sent in by leading ladies of the city who had tried to stand between the Queen and temptation. We recognized her as our Queen, and we tried to stand between her and temptation. And I would like to say here that a good deal of what has been said of how the Queen was received is true. She was received in our houses. She was on the throne, and we thought we must do so, to try to keep her from evil. I went with native pastors to tell her we would support her, remember her in our prayers, and try to help her. Again and again that was done, not as a proof of her character, but to get as good a Queen as we could in the country.  
+
Mr. EMERSON. Kind-hearted and benevolent to a fault. But they are improvident; they are averse to labor; and if I were going to mention one thing which those Hawaiians need taken away from them, I would say that they need less government affairs and more interest in business affairs, in industry. If the brighter young men instead of itching to get into the legislature, to pose as statesmen or as speechmakers, would be more interested in getting to work and getting homes, building up homes, it would be vastly better for that people. That seems to me one of the great faults with them.  
  
−
Senator GRAY. How did the Queen receive you?  
+
Senator SHERMAN. They are fond of office?  
  
−
Mr. EMERSON. As she is very capable of receiving—in the most courteous and kindly way. And she also reciprocated our sentiments in a spirit not only enlightened but in seeming sympathy with us, as she did the ladies who waited upon her. And the very next move she made was to sign the lottery bill.
+
Mr. EMERSON. Yes, they are fond of office. They get two dollars and fifty cents a day as legislators; they think that a good deal.

Revision as of 22:21, 26 December 2005

-p538-

The CHAIRMAN. Was the Queen a communicant in any of the churches?

Mr. EMERSON. I think she was not a communicant in any church; she went around to different churches.

Senator GRAY. Was she an avowed Christian?

Mr. EMERSON. I think not an avowed Christian.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you mean that she adhered to the pagan ideas?

Mr. EMERSON. She received Kahunas, sorcerers, in the palace.

Senator GRAY. Do you know that of your own knowledge?

Mr. EMERSON. I know it as well as I do my own existence.

Senator GRAY, Do you know it of your own knowledge?

Mr. EMERSON. I never saw the Kahunas there; I know the man who was at her right hand sent out a proclamation for the restoration of the Kahunas. I know that man, for I have talked with him, and charged him with his wickedness.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, I want to get at this cabinet business; I speak of the Cornwell-Peterson cabinet, the last one. How long was that in existence before the revolution occurred?

Mr. EMERSON. I cannot be perfectly sure. I think the old cabinet was voted out Friday, and that cabinet was appointed the same day.

Senator FRYE. The Friday before the revolution?

Mr. EMERSON. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Did any of the ministers of the Wilcox-Jones cabinet join the Queen in signing any of these bills—the opium bill, the distillery bill, or the lottery bill?

Mr. EMERSON. I cannot say yes or no; but my opinion is that they stood out against it.

The CHAIRMAN. You do not know whether the later cabinet, the Cornwell Peterson cabinet, signed those measures with the Queen?

Mr. EMERSON. The later cabinet, as I understood, did support her.

Senator GRAY. The cabinet that was appointed on Friday?

Mr. EMERSON. Yes, sir; I think it was Friday.

Senator SHERMAN. The cabinet that was appointed on the 13th?

The CHAIRMAN. I understand we have a constitution of Hawaii, and I understand it is required by the constitution of Hawaii that in order that a bill may become a law after it has passed the Legislature, it is necessary that it be signed by one member of the cabinet along with the Queen? Is that the fact?

Mr. EMERSON. I can not say as to that.

The CHAIRMAN. You do not know.

Mr. EMERSON. No.

The CHAIRMAN. Before going to more particular inquiries as to your knowledge of the incidents of the revolution, I would like to ask you something about the state of the education amongst the native population in Hawaii—I mean now all the islands.

Senator FRYE. Do you mean the Kanakas?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes.

Mr. EMERSON. We have a very good system of public schools. They are taught most of them by white men or women, some coming from California and some farther east. All these teachers are not teachers such as would be classed as supporting the highest moral and religious principles, but a good many of them are fine men and women.

Senator GRAY. Do you mean that they are all white men and women?

Mr. EMERSON. Most of them.

-p539-

Senator GRAY. What do you mean by "supporting the highest moral principles"?

Mr. EMERSON. I mean in certain cases charges have been brought against some. I know charges to have been brought against a teacher, and so soon as he was found guilty of immorality he was removed.

Senator GRAY. White men?

Mr. EMERSON. Yes. I know of schools that are taught by a graduate of our female seminaries.

The CHAIRMAN. I have seen it stated that every person in Hawaii and all these islands, who is above eight years of age, can read and write. Are you prepared to sustain that statement from your own observation?

Mr. EMERSON. I believe I would have to look a long while to find a single person who is over twelve years of age who can not read or write—among the natives; not the Portugese.

Senator GRAY. Among the natives of the Sandwich Islands.

Mr. EMERSON. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. As a rule, in your pastoral intercourse among them, have you found the native Hawaiians to be an intelligent, thoughtful people? I am asking now with regard to the native population, the Kanakas.

Mr. EMERSON. I have been greatly grieved to find—speaking of my relations to them religiously—a growing increase, it seems to me, of a superstitious sentiment, and that sentiment would argue a rather low state of religious life in the churches, which I am sorry to acknowledge is the case.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, asking more particularly of practical affairs, everyday life, do you find the native Hawaiians intelligent people, susceptible to instruction; are they thoughtful or are they otherwise?

Mr. EMERSON. Well, sir, they are Polynesians, and as Polynesians, bright and intelligent as they may be, they have certain marked defects in their character.

Senator SHERMAN. How as to honesty and integrity in their dealings?

Mr. EMERSON. There are some pretty bad characters among them.

The CHAIRMAN. As a genaral rule, taking the native classes as a mass?

Mr. EMERSON. If I could institute a comparison, it seems to me that they stand a good deal on a par with the negro, although my sympathies are with them, perhaps, and my kindness is with them more than with the negro. I feel that they are very loveable, happy, and in many ways bright, interesting people.

Mr. CHAIRMAN. Kind-hearted and benevolent?

Mr. EMERSON. Kind-hearted and benevolent to a fault. But they are improvident; they are averse to labor; and if I were going to mention one thing which those Hawaiians need taken away from them, I would say that they need less government affairs and more interest in business affairs, in industry. If the brighter young men instead of itching to get into the legislature, to pose as statesmen or as speechmakers, would be more interested in getting to work and getting homes, building up homes, it would be vastly better for that people. That seems to me one of the great faults with them.

Senator SHERMAN. They are fond of office?

Mr. EMERSON. Yes, they are fond of office. They get two dollars and fifty cents a day as legislators; they think that a good deal.

Retrieved from "https://morganreport.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Template:536-537&oldid=3223"