Outline of Topics

pp. 363-398 - Summary and conclusions of the Morgan Report

Senator Morgan's complete 35 page summary of the report of his Committee on Foreign Relations to the full Senate is at the beginning of the Morgan report.

For a shorter version of that summary, created by Aloha For All editors to highlight topics of greatest interest today, see: Highlights of Morgan's summary

The remainder of the Morgan report (about 800 pages) is a collection of transcripts of sworn testimony before the committee; historical documents from the Kingdom of Hawaii; various reports describing the Hawaiian islands and their commercial and military significance to the United States, etc. There seems to be no logic to the order in which these items are presented.

pp. 399-401 - Translation of poster calling on supporters of the Queen

translation of a poster calling upon supporters of the Queen to attend a mass meeting

translation of the accompanying extra edition issued by the Ka Leo o Ka Lahui, a Honolulu newspaper, published in Honolulu in the Hawaiian language, on January 16, 1893.

pp. 401-402 - Instructions to Commodore Perry

instructions of the secretary of the navy to commodore perry, dated april 15, 1847 (Related to Mexico, not Hawaii. Perhaps this is in the Morgan report to show that it is customary for Presidents to send personal emissaries on confidential missions without Senate confirmation, and/or to compare American military aggressiveness in Mexico in 1847 with the relatively modest peacekeeping action in Hawaii in 1893)

pp. 402-405 - Treaty of Annexation by Kamehameha III

treaty of annexation made in the time of kamehameha iii, which failed of the king's signature by reason of his death, the original being on file in the office of the secretary of state -- the treaty contained ten articles plus a separate and secret article

pp. 405-407 - Instructions to General Winfield Scott

instructions from hon. w. l. marcy, secretary of war, to maj. gen. winfield scott, commanding the army of the united states in mexico (Related to Mexico, not Hawaii. Perhaps this is in the Morgan report to show that it is customary for Presidents to send personal emissaries on confidential missions without Senate confirmation, and/or to compare American military aggressiveness in Mexico in 1847 with the relatively modest peacekeeping action in Hawaii in 1893)

pp. 407-409 - Treaty of Reciprocity

treaty of reciprocity between the united states and hawaii, dated and signed the 20th of july, 1855, submitted to the senate for ratification by President Pierce on December 22, 1855, but which was not ratified by the senate

pp. 409-418 - Report on Hawaii

report on the physical features, facts of landing, supplies, climate, diseases, etc., of the hawaiian islands, prepared by capt. george p. scriven, of the signal corps, assisted by lieut. j. y. mason blunt, of the fifth cavalry, with the accompanying maps.

Contents. Page.
Location, distances from the Pacific coast 410
Communications with the United States 410
Names, areas 411
General physical characteristics 411
Soil 412
Climate 412,413
Earthquakes 413
Population, characteristics, religions, education 413-415
Laws, military forces, police 415
Language, Government 415,416
Business, currency, finance, commerce 416,417
Products, resources, vegetation 417
Industries 417
Diseases (other than leprosy) 418
Manner of life, clothing 418

pp. 419-436 - Individual characteristics of the eight inhabited islands of the Hawaiian group

(Cities, Towns, and Ports of each) -- Island of Oahu; Island of Hawaii; Island of Maui; Island of Kauai; Island of Molokai; Island of Lanai or Ranai; Island of Niihau; Island of Kahulaui [Kahoolawe]. Also Kaula, Lenua [Lehua], Molokini.

pp. 436-437 - Communications of the Hawaiian Islands.

RAILROADS (Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kaui [Kauai]) ROADS. TELEGRAPHS. TELEPHONES. POSTAL SERVICE. INTER-ISLAND STEAMERS AND VESSELS.

pp. 441-454 - Lectures by Capt. C.E. Dutton

Lectures delivered at the U.S. National Museum February 9 and March 15,1884, under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution and of the Anthropological and Biological Societies of Washington, by Capt. C. E. Dutton, of the U.S. Army ordnance dept. in Washington, D.C., on U.S. geological duty.

THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AND PEOPLE. [geology, volcano, weather, Hawaiian language, ancient navigation, religion, Kamehameha conquest, government, population, private property, legal system, education]

pp. 454-464 - SANFORD B. DOLE academic paper "EVOLUTION OF HAWAIIAN LAND TENURES" read before the Hawaiian Historical Society December 5, 1892

EVOLUTION OF HAWAIIAN LAND TENURES [how the Polynesians settled Hawaii; land of plenty and peace; religious taboos; irrigation; population increase caused warfare to control land; feudal system of land tenure wherein chiefs and tenants could be disposessed arbitrarily. Kamehameha I, following conquest, redistributed land but then kept land tenures stable. Kamehameha II wanted to redistrubute, but Kaahumanu stopped it. Under Kamehameha III chiefs and foreigners wanted civil rights protected and stability of land tenure written into law. Process of the steps in the Mahele described in great detail. "A brief ten years had been sufficient for the Hawaiian nation to break down the hoary traditions and venerable customs of the past, and to climb the difficult path from a selfish feudalism to equal rights, from royal control of all the public domain to peasant proprietorship and fee-simple titles for poor and for rich. It came quickly and without bloodshed because the nation was ready for it. Foreign intercourse, hostile and friendly, and the spirit of a Christian civilization had an educating influence upon the eager nation, united by the genius of Kamehameha I, with its brave and intelligent warrior chiefs resting from the conquest of arms, their exuberant energies free for the conquest of new ideas; with rare wisdom, judgment, and patriotism they proved equal to the demands of the time upon them."

pp. 464-465 - Extract from Report of John Quincy Adams

ALSO THE FOLLOWING EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF HON. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. "It is a subject of cheering contemplation to the friends of human improvement and virtue, that by the mild and gentle influence of Christian charity, dispensed by humble missionaries of the gospel, unarmed with secular power, within the last quarter of a century, the people of this group of islands have been converted from the lowest debasement of idolatry to the blessings of the Christian gospel; united under one balanced government; rallied to the fold of civilization by a written language and constitution, providing security for the rights of persons, property, and mind, and invested with all the elements of right and power which can entitle them to be acknowledged by their brethren of the human race as a separate and independent community. To the consummation of their acknowledgment the people of the North American Union are urged by an interest of their own, deeper than that of any other portion of the inhabitants of the earth—by a virtual right of conquest, not over the freedom of their brother man by the brutal arm of physical power, but over the mind and heart by the celestial panoply of the gospel of peace and love."

pp. 465-475 - Review of Treaty Commercial Results

ALSO THE FOLLOWING HAWAIIAN TREATY [Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 as greatly strengthened in 1887] AND REVIEW OF ITS COMMERCIAL RESULTS

A review of the extensive commercial interaction between Hawaii and its chief trading partner, the U.S. Great detail is provided about the financial activities of sugar baron Claus Spreckels, along with arguments that he did not have a monopoly.

"The Hawaiian treaty was negotiated for the purpose of securing political control of those islands, making them industrially and commercially a part of the United States and preventing any other great power from acquiring a foothold there, which might be adverse to the welfare and safety of our Pacific coast in time of war."

pp. 475-482 - Article by Capt. A.T. Mahan

ARTICLE IN THE "FORUM" FOR MARCH, 1893, ON "HAWAII AND OUR FUTURE SEA-POWER," WRITTEN BY CAPT. A. T. MAHAN. The United States compared with the great naval powers Britain, France, and Spain; including sea lanes, distances to be traveled for refueling in case of war, the need for a chain of secure seaports across the Pacific and the anticipated Central American canal.

pp. 483-488 - 1840 Hawaiian Constitution

A TRANSLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT OF 1840.

pp. 489-500 - Remarks of Mr. Draper

REMARKS OF MR. DRAPER, OF MASSACHUSETTS, MADE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND PUBLISHED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD OF FEBRUARY 4, 1894. [Extensive discussion of distances between secure ports for major naval powers, the need for coaling stations. Recounting some views favorable to annexation as expressed by various U.S. officials beginning 1866. 91% of the international trade of Hawaii is with the U.S.]

"I believe that the true policy of this Government is to negotiate a suitable treaty with the de facto Government in Hawaii, and annex the islands. After this (or before if necessary), if Liliuokalani is supposed to have any rights, purchase them (since she is willing to sell), but on no account ought we to neglect this opportunity of securing this naval and coaling station, so important to us, both from the point of view of commerce and of coast defense."

pp. 500-503 - Article about Paulet affair of 1843

EXTRACT FROM AN ARTICLE, PUBLISHED IN HARPER'S MAGAZINE FOR SEPTEMBER, 1883, PREPARED BY MR. MARSHALL, A SPECIAL ENVOY OF KAMEHAMEHA III TO THE UNITED STATES AND ENGLAND, TO ARRANGE FOR THE REVOCATION OF THE ACTS OF LORD GEORGE PAULET IN OCCUPYING HAWAII AS TERRITORY OF GREAT BRITAIN (The Paulet affair of 1843, and heroism of Americans and Dr. Judd in restoring sovereignty)

pp. 503-517 - History of the Hawaiian Islands by James Jackson Jarves

EXTRACTS FROM THE HISTORY OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, BY JAMES JACKSON JARVES, PUBLISHED IN 1846. (How the first Constitution was created with the help of Reverend Richards. Some of the missionaries resigned from their ministries to go to work for the King. The continuing mission, and the former missionaries now the King's men, were united in their wish to build up a nation of Hawaiians independent from all foreign influence. They adopted 8 rules of protocol, copied here as taken from the missionary minutes for 1838, regarding church/state relations. The peopie came to trust the written laws -- they were thoroughly convinced that the immunity, once claimed by chiefs for crimes, was at an end when there was an impartial jury trial of a chief in 1840 for the murder of his wife. He, with an accomplice, were both found guilty, and suffered the full penalty of the law, death by hanging. The foreigners also began to see that there was some virtue in the courts by a fine imposed upon the English consul for riotous conduct. 6-point demand letter of Captain Paulet (1843). Full text of King's response. Provisional ceding of sovereignty. November 28, 1843 joint declaration of Britain and France recognizing independence of Hawaii. Government courts and executive agencies established. Names of the (House of) Nobles are listed. Royal school established; names of the 15 students are listed. Vast majority of foreign ships visiting Hawai'i are American. Hawaii has 70,000 people who read; 65 million pages published (as of 1846!). Titles of some newspapers, and of many liberal arts books printed in Hawaii, are listed. The (im)morality of the people is described, and a table shows how many crimes were recorded of each category.

pp. 517-521 - Timeline by C.C. Bennett

EXTRACTS FROM THE HONOLULU DIRECTORY AND HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE HAWAIIAN OR SANDWICH ISLANDS, BY C. C. BENNETT, INCLUDING A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF NOTABLE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH HAWAIIAN HISTORY A timeline for the period 1736 to 1869. Birth and death dates of important alii. Dates and names of ship arrivals, Hawaiian battles, political events, and arrival of each company of missionaries.

pp. 521-522 - Deed of Cession

DEED OF CESSION of Hawaii by Kamehameha III to Captain Paulet, February 25, 1843.

pp. 522 - Voter Qualifications

XIX . ARTICLE 78, CONSTITUTION OF 1852. (Qualifications to vote for legislative Representatives)

pp. 530 - Joint Resolution of Hawaiian Legislature 1856

Joint resolution of the Hawaiian Legislature of 1856. Comment on legislative provision for publication of Hawaiian law reports.

"It may not be inappropriate in this connection to state that so highly esteemed are some of the dicta of our Hawaiian courts abroad that their decisions have in more than one instance been quoted in some of the higher courts of the United States. This is no small honor to be attained by a nation which, one generation only ago, had no law but the "word of the chief"

pp. 530-531 - List showing large American presence in hawaiian government

XX. LIST SHOWING THAT NATIVE HAWAIIANS WERE A VERY SMALL PROPORTION OF THE OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF THE CONDUCT OF THE KINGDOM GOVERNMENT. The largest proportion of Kingdom government officers were American citizens; or immigrants from America who became naturalized Kingdom subjects or denizens; or native-born Kingdom subjects whose parents were American immigrants.

pp. 531-533 - Statement of Admiral Belknap

STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL BELKNAP, FROM THE BOSTON HERALD OF JANUARY 31, 1893.

"The revolution in the Hawaiian Islands, resulting in the deposition of the Queen and the establishment of a provisional government, is an event not unexpected to diplomatic, naval, and consular officers who have had any acquaintance or familiarity with the course of affairs in that island Kingdom for the past twenty years. ... A glance at a chart of the Pacific will indicate to the most casual observer the great importance and inestimable value of those islands as a strategic point and commercial center. Situated in mid-north Pacific, the group looks out on every hand toward grand opportunities of trade, political aggrandizement, and polyglot intercourse. ... The group now seeks annexation to the United States; the consummation of such wish would inure to the benefit of both peoples, commercially and politically. ... Our statesmen should act in this matter in the spirit and resolve that secured to us the vast Louisiana purchase, the annexation of Texas, and the acquisition of California."

pp. 533 - Testimony before the Committee on Foreign Relations

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, UNDER THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE OF DECEMBER 20, 1893:

Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations shall inquire and report whether any, and, if so, what irregularities have occurred in the diplomatic or other intercourse between the United States and Hawaii in relation to the recent political revolution in Hawaii, and to this end said committee is authorized to send for persons and papers and to administer oaths to witnesses.

FIRST DAY.

WASHINGTON, D. C, December 27,1893.

pp. 533-560 - Testimony of Oliver P. Emerson

Emerson was born in 1845 on Maui, the son of a missionary, and grew up there [a native-born subject of the Kingdom]. He himself became an ordained minister several years after his father died; and was fluent and preached in Hawaiian. He held minor government posts. He was living in Honolulu in January 1893, and had always been a Royalist until the distillery, lottery, and opium bills passed during the closing week of the legislature, when it also became clear the Queen would proclaim a new constitution. Great corruption in the government and bribery in the legislature related to liquor, opium, and gambling; including Mr. Wilson, the Chief Marshall of the Kingdom, who conspired with opium smugglers. A new constitution would have the Queen appointing the Nobles, allowing greater corruption. Easing voting requirements would allow more of the lower classes to vote who could easily be bribed or emotionally swayed. The Wilcox-Jones cabinet (which resisted the distillery, opium, and lottery bills), was voted out (by the legislature) on the Friday before the revolution, and the Cornwell-Peterson cabinet (which favored those bills) was appointed by the Queen the same day. [The constitution required that at least one member of the cabinet must sign a bill along with the Queen before it can become law] Events of January 16 and 17, 1893. Flying of U.S. flag. Lengthy testimony regarding the Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese contract laborers, describing their religions, how they get wives, moral conduct, right to vote, living conditions; their relationships with whites and kanakas; and the labor contract arrangements between the government of Hawaii and the governments of these other nations. "The CHAIRMAN. I will ask if it is your opinion that the native population of Hawaii, the Kanakas, in view of the facts you have stated, are liable to become so powerful in government as to be able to control the other nationalities that have come into those islands, or have they lost the power to rule them? Mr. EMERSON. I consider that they have lost that control already, and in my opinion they can never regain it." Among the 13,000 who were eligible to vote, the majority were kanakas. Before the revolution most kanakas opposed annexation and supported the concept of monarchy, although perhaps most did not support Liliuokalani being monarch. Now that the monarchy is finished, most probably support annexation. Among 12,000 Portuguese, of whom 1500-2000 were voters, nearly all would have voted against the monarchy; and since the monarchy has disappeared, would now solidly favor annexation. Likewise the other Europeans, although some English favor the monarchy.

For a more thorough summary of Emerson's testimony, please read the Summary of Emerson's Testimony

pp. 560-593 - Testimony of Peter Cushman Jones

Peter Cushman Jones gave a sworn deposition in Honolulu, and then appeared before the Morgan Committee in Washington where he read his deposition into the record and he was cross-examined. November 8, 1892 the Queen appointed him Minister of Finance. January 17, 1893 he took the same position in the provisional Government. Jones offered to Grover Cleveland's commissioner James Blount a detailed eyewitness account of the overthrow, but Blount refused to receive it or to interview him. Jones read into the [Morgan] record the statement he had prepared for Blount, filled with details of the events that took place during the revolution. Jones gave details of who attended various meetings of the Committee of Safety and the Provisional Government, by what route they traveled (using a map), and the times those meetings occurred. He described the corruption and instability of the Kalakaua and Liliuokalani governments. The American sailors from the Boston did not participate in taking over any buildings. The revolution would have taken place, and been successful, even if the Boston had not been present.

For a more thorough summary of P.C. Jones' testimony, please read the Summary of P.C. Jones' Testimony

pp. 593-621 - Testimony of Zephaniah Swift Spalding

Mr. Spalding was born in Ohio, September, 1837. He had been a lieutenant colonel in the army. He was sent to Hawaii in 1867 (just after the Civil War) by Secretary Seward as a secret or confidential agent of the State Department. It was at the time the treaty of reciprocity was being advocated, and Secretary Seward wished to know what effect it would have upon the future relations of the United States and Hawaii. Discussion of Mahele, Crown lands, government lands, kuleana lands.

Would any natives would be capable of managing Spalding's sugar plantation? "I do not think there was ever a native on the islands who could run it for five years without ruining it. I was in partnership with Kamehameha V when he was King, and got to know him pretty well. ... Kalakaua, the last king, was a good-natured, indolent sort of man. He was a man of very fair education; but ... his idea of morality was not very great. ... he owned a quarter interest in my plantation at one time. ... I found it was utterly useless to depend on him. He had engaged people to do work in the fields. They would start out to do the work, then would stop and have a little talk over it, and then go fishing instead of going to work. ... I was obliged to buy Kalakaua out."

Discussion of what led up to the revolution of 1887 ("Bayonet Constitution"), especially Walter Murray Gibson who was simultaneously minister of foreign affairs, ex-officio minister of the interior, ex-officio minister of finance, and ex-officio attorney-general. The members of the House of Nobles were all appointed by the King and beholden to him, so there was no way to reform the government except by creating a revolution to take the nobles out of the King's hands. This revolution was so powerful and had so much support that it would have been possible to overthrow the monarchy and establish a Republic at that time.

" ... the natives have looked more upon the United States as the father of their Government. They always speak of the American war ships as "our war ships," in contradistinction from the British war ships; and the 4th of July, has been the gala day of the country." About 90% of the value of all property in Hawaii is owned by whites; and about 75% of that is owned by people of American parentage.

Spalding said that since he returned to Hawaii in October 1893, he has heard rumors of royalists wanting to restore the Queen (such as Wilson) hiding guns. "But it was only when they expected to have aid and assistance from the United States in doing it." There would not be enough royalist arms or manpower to restore the Queen or to keep her in power without help from outside Hawaii.

Hawaii is not a good place to produce sugar. Plantation workers must be paid highly enough to be able to recruit them from abroad; therefore, labor costs are too high. Before the reciprocity treaty (1875 and 1887) all the plantations had gone bankrupt. The treaty is what made the plantations successful. Neither a monarchial nor a republican form of government would allow Hawaii to flourish as an independent nation without the protection of a foreign government, because there is not enough land or labor to make Hawaii self-sustaining without economic concessions or military uses. If there is a restoration of the monarchy, the preference would probably be for Kaiulani rather than Liliuokalani, because it is a choice of evils; and the evil we do not yet know seems less frightening than the evil we already know.

Senator FRYE. Have you ever thought over the question of annexation to California? Mr. SPALDING. Yes, a good deal. Senator FRYE. How would that do? Mr. SPALDING. I do not see any objection to it. Senator FRYE. You would elect your members of the house and senate, and perhaps one member of Congress? Mr. SPALDING. All these things would follow the change."

For a more thorough summary of Spalding's testimony, please read the Summary of Spalding's Testimony

pp. 622-684 - Testimony of William De Witt Alexander

For a more thorough summary of Alexander's testimony, please read the Summary of Alexander's Testimony

pp. 745-778 - Testimony of James H. Blount

[Brief historical background: The Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown on January 17, 1893. The new Provisional Government immediately send its proposed treaty of annexation to Washington. President Harrison (Republican) submitted it to the Senate. President Grover Cleveland (Democrat) took office on March 4, 1893 (unlike today when Presidents take office early in January). Cleveland immediately withdrew the treaty from the Senate. James Blount (Democrat) had been Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs during the Harrison administration. On March 10 Cleveland sent a message to Blount asking him to go to Hawaii as the President's personal representative and U.S. commissioner with paramount powers. On March 11 Blount received his written commission. His job was to investigate U.S. wrongdoing in the revolution, to assess whether the Provisional Government was firmly in control, to take charge of U.S. military forces in Hawaii and abrogate the temporary US. protectorate, and to write a report. Blount's instructions were kept secret, and he was neither nominated nor confirmed for his position by the Senate, despite the fact that his powers would be greater than those of Minister Stevens who remained on duty in Honolulu.]

In Honolulu Blount conducted his activities in secret. Other than presenting ordinary documents to enter Hawaii he did not present any formal credentials to officials of the Provisional Government. He did not show his documents of authority even to Minister Stevens, until Blount published those documents in the Honolulu newspapers for political reasons. Blount did not confer with Minister Stevens regarding Blount's order to remove U.S. military personnel from land and to haul down the U.S. flag from the Hawaii government building -- actions he took only 2 or 3 days after arriving in Honolulu. Blount did not take testimony under oath. He spoke with many people informally, both royalists and annexationists. But he selected only some of them for formal examination with stenographic record -- all of whom were royalists. Blount said some potential witnesses were reluctant to go on the record for fear that the opposite side would ultimately be victorious and their testimony would then be held against them. He claimed he was unaware of the U.S. proposal to reinstate the Queen [or the related issue, not discussed in Blount's testimony, whether members of the Provisional Government would then face the death penalty for treason].

Some of the senators on the committee later said Blount's appointment to such a secret mission with such paramount powers, without Senate confirmation, was unconstitutional; but they were in the minority. The entire committee did conclude that most of Blount's conclusions in his report were in error, although he was treated quite gently during his testimony - the committee seems to have gone out of its way to place the blame not on Blount, but on the circumstances of his inquiry, such as not having an adequate clerical staff to aid him. His investigative efforts were hampered by the secrecy surrounding his mission, and the poor quality of witnesses he interviewed.

For a more thorough summary of Blount's testimony, please read the Summary of Blount's Testimony.

pp. 851-876 - Testimony of William Brewster Oleson

William Brewster Oleson, age 43, has lived in Hawaii for 15 years, from August 1878 to June 1893. He was present during the revolutions of 1887, 1889, and 1893. Oleson became a teacher at the Kamehameha Manual-Labor school in 1886. He makes a strong case that no support was expected from the U.S. Troops. "If a timid man, last January, was frightened and hoped for aid and protection from the United States troops he had nothing to base that hope upon." He makes mention of the 1887 revolution and 1889 Wilcox uprising, put down by the Honolulu Rifles, and the complete lack of aid provided by the U.S. Troops who were within a stone's throw of the fighting. Oleson was an eyewitness to the revolution of 1893. He gives details of times, places, numbers of armed men, saying the Queen's forces behaved just as in 1887 and 1889 -- timid and ineffective.

"An important factor in the political evolution of Hawaii was furnished by the career of Kalakaua, the immediate predecessor and brother of Liliuokalaui.

"In 1873 he advocated his election to the vacant throne by promising to abolish the poll tax, to fill all Government offices with natives, and to remove the prohibitions on the sale of liquor to the aborigines.... he dismissed capable and upright officials and filled the civil service with political adventurers, who brought scandal to every department of the Government. He caused grogshops to be licensed in the country districts against the protests of his own people. He raised the cry, 'Hawaii for Hawaiians,' hoping thus to curry popularity by exciting race jealousies against foreigners. He sought to create a state church of which he should be the head. His visits to the other islands were utilized for the recrudescence of lascivious orgies of the old heathen religion. He rehabilitated the trade of sorcery, and turned the influence of the Kahunas to his own political advantage. He stationed soldiers with side arms in double rows at polling places, thus intimidating voters and pushing men out of line who were suspected of opposition to his schemes, thus forcibly preventing their voting. He appointed legislators to lucrative Government positions while they continued to retain seats in the Legislature. ... He used the royal franking privilege to pass through the custom-house, free of duty, liquors belonging to certain firms, thus, In one instance, defrauding the Government of revenue to the amount of $4,749.35. For this service he received hundreds of cases of cheap gin, which he sent to every voting precinct to secure the election of his candidates to the Legislature. He went personally to one country district, with a company of soldiers, and by their votes defeated Pilipo, the lion of North Kona, Kalakaua's staunchest opponent in the Legislature. He laid claim to the 'primacy of the Pacific,' and sent royal commissioners to the New Hebrides and Gilbert Islands and Samoa to prepare for a Hawaiian protectorate over those islands. He warned the great powers of Europe, in a grandiloquent protest, against any further annexation of islands in the Pacific Ocean, claiming for Hawaii exclusive right 'to assist those islands in improving their social and political condition.' Finally, he accepted a bribe of $71,000 from a Chinaman, named Aki, for an opium license, which he had already sold and delivered to another Chinaman, who had paid $80,000 for it.

"The census of 1823 showed the population to be 130,313. According to the census of 1890 the native Hawaiians numbered 34,430, a decrease since 1823 of 95,877. The annual decrease since 1866 has averaged 1,085. Thus, since 1860, when the native Hawaiians numbered 66,984, the decrease has been 50 per cent. ... The native Hawaiians now number about one-third of the population. ... Thus, on those more susceptible to the corrupting influences of the throne who have fallen into dissipation, and who are seeking their own personal advancement at the expense of all political morality, this alarming decrease has had the effect of exciting intense race hatred. ... Of those, however, who are allied to the churches, who have been stalwart in their resistance to Kalakaua's demoralizing influences, who are to-day the personification of the character and conscience of this remnant of a race, this decrease has had the effect of drawing them into closer and trustful fellowship with the better class of Anglo-Saxons. ...The best elements among Hawaiians have in the past twenty years uniformly cast in their lot with the white foreigners, and have gratefully accepted their leadership.

"The Chairman. Amongst the Americans there in Hawaii, since you have resided on the islands, has there been any evident disposition to promote annexation to the United States? Mr. Oleson. There has been no concerted attempt; it has been written on publicly in the papers. Men have advocated it in the papers, and Hawaiians have advocated it more than the Americans. The Chairman. Do you speak of the Kanakas? Mr. Oleson. Native Hawaiians.

"The Chairman. The present provisional forces of the Provisional Government, that the Government seems to be able to equip, arm, and pay, as I gather from this testimony, are about 1,200 men. ... Omitting the question of pay, the present military force of the Provisional Government is 1,200 men. Mr. Oleson. I think between 1,200 and 1,500. The Chairman. Are those men well armed and equipped? Mr. Oleson. Yes. The Chairman. Take the Queen in her present condition, with her present resources, present playing upon the affections of the Hawaiian natives, do you apprehend that she has any possible chance of reinstating herself upon the throne? Mr. Oleson. Not at all; and she has not had any chance since January 14; not the ghost of a chance to reinstate herself by any force she could marshal in the islands."

Oleson testified that the presence of U.S. troops would not have prevented the Queen's forces from attacking the revolutionaries if they had wanted to; that there were many routes the royalists could have traveled that would avoid the U.S. position; but also the U.S. troops in that part of town were out of sight inside Arion Hall with only two sentries posted. "The Chairman. The present provisional forces of the Provisional Government, that the Government seems to be able to equip, arm, and pay, as I gather from this testimony, are about 1,200 men. ... Omitting the question of pay, the present military force of the Provisional Government is 1,200 men. Mr. Oleson. I think between 1,200 and 1,500. The Chairman. Are those men well armed and equipped? Mr. Oleson. Yes. The Chairman. Take the Queen in her present condition, with her present resources, present playing upon the affections of the Hawaiian natives, do you apprehend that she has any possible chance of reinstating herself upon the throne? Mr. Oleson. Not at all; and she has not had any chance since January 14; not the ghost of a chance to reinstate herself by any force she could marshal in the islands."

For a more thorough summary of Oleson's testimony, please read the Summary of Oleson's Testimony.

pp. 879-941 - Testimony of John L. Stevens

John L. Stevens, age 73, was born in Maine. He was appointed by President Harrison to be Minister of the United States to the Kingdom of Hawaii, and arrived in Honolulu in September 1899 while Kalakaua was King. It was Stevens' first visit to Hawai'i. He remained in Hawai'i as U.S. Minister until May 24, 1893.

Minister Stevens makes clear that the landing of troops from the Boston was not in support of any anticipated revolution, but rather was necessary to protect American lives and property and maintain order. There had been great fear of violence expressed by many people. There was anarchy in the streets and no effective government forces to control likely rioting or setting of fires. There were conflicting mass meetings of royalists and annexationists. The orders to the U.S. troops were the same as had been given on several previous occasions over a period of many years. The timing of the landing of U.S. troops had no relation to the timing of diplomatic recognition of the Provisional Government, because the purpose of the troops was to protect lives, property, and civil order; and not to support any political faction. Ministers of many foreign governments had converged on Minister Stevens pleading with him to land the troops, since they had none of their own to protect themselves or their citizens. For 48 hours from Saturday afternoon to Monday afternoon there was an interregnum -- no effective government. Thereafter it became clear that the Provisional Government was in control of government buildings and the streets.

Stevens acknowledged that the mere presence of U.S. troops might be likely to help whatever government was in power to hold on to power. He gave the example that in 1874, when Kalakaua had been elected by the legislature and rioting broke out, Kalakaua had called in U.S. troops to put down the rioting; and that had the effect of sustaining him in power when his opponents might have been able to dislodge him, even though the sole intention of the troops was to preserve order. And so, in 1893, since the Provisional Government had established control, the presence of U.S. troops may have helped them even though not intended to do so.

Stevens testified that a Japanese ironclad warship was expected in Honolulu not long after the revolution. The Japanese minister had been demanding that the Queen extend voting rights to Japanese (as a way of establishing Japanese political power in Hawai'i), and that the same demand was made to the Provisional Government immediately after the revolution. [At the time of the 1893 revolution there were approximately 12,000 Japanese in Hawaii, of whom about 7500 were adult men (estimates based partly on Nordyke, "The Peopling of Hawaii"). The Japanese population was accelerating rapidly throughout the 1890s, with very large changes between one Census and the next and large inflows and outflows on various ships due to expiration of labor contracts. In any case, giving voting rights to Japanese would make them an extremely strong voting bloc, especially if Chinese continued to be excluded from voting. By the time of the U.S. Census in 1900 there were 61,000 Japanese out of a total Hawaii population of 154,000]

There were strong rumors that the Japanese diplomats were conspiring with the Queen that 800 Japanese plantation workers who had formerly been in the Japanese army would support the Queen in a counter-revolution if she would give voting rights to the Japanese in Hawai'i. Stevens testified that was a major reason why he ordered the raising of the U.S. flag, to show the Japanese that Hawai'i was an American protectorate.

Prior testimony by royalists in affidavits to the Morgan committee and in the Blount report is used by Senator Frye to vigorously cross-examine Stevens regarding claims that Stevens pledged support for the revolution before it occurred. Stevens strongly denies all the allegations. Such allegations had been made by Mr. Wundenburg, Colburn, Cornwall, Petersen, Paul Neumann, Charles Gulick, John Kaulukou, Dr. G. Trousseau, Sam Parker, and others. The cross-examination of Stevens was extremely vigorous.

Stevens' testimony occupies 60 pages of the Morgan Report. For a summary of it (still quite lengthy) focusing on topics of importance today, please read the Summary of Stevens' Testimony

pp. 941-962 AFFIDAVITS AND STATEMENTS (complete set)

pp. 941-943 AFFIDAVIT OF JAMES F. MORGAN

No relation to Senator Morgan. Age 32, came from New York at age 2. Founding member of advisory council of Provisional Government. Describes details of events of January 17, 1893 revolution; conversation with Marshal Wilson.
Summary of James F. Morgan Affidavit

pp. 943-948 AFFIDAVIT OF WILLIAM R. CASTLE

Born in Honolulu in March, 1849; parents were American missionaries; father arrived 1837 and is the senior member of the mercantile house of Castle & Cooke; studied in Ohio and New York; returned in 1876, at the request of King Kalakaua, as attorney-general. Was a member of the Legislature five sessions. Had long opposed annexation, until government corruption (lottery and opium bills), ineffective government, and Queen's attempted coup against Constitution. Detailed events of the revolution; anarchy in the streets; great fear of mob rioting (recall Kalakaua election of 1874). Blount refused to interview natives whom Castle had recommended to him.
Summary of William R. Castle Affidavit

pp. 948-950 AFFIDAVIT OF EDWARD D. TENNEY

Age 35, born in New York, arrived 1877, non-political until revolution, then became founding member of advisory council of Provisional Government. Details of events leading up to and during the revolution. 1000-1500 men at the armory including several hundred who were armed. U.S. forces at Arion Hall stayed out of sight. Provisional Government proclaimed martial law and patrolled Honolulu and surrounding suburbs. P.G. firmly in control, but raising U.S. flag on government building helped women and children feel more secure.
Summary of Edward D. Tenney Affidavit

pp. 950-951 AFFIDAVIT OF COMMITTEE OF SAFETY

12 members jointly signed a short sworn affidavit. C.Bolte, Ed. Suhr, F.W. McChesney, J.A. McCandless, William O. Smith, Wm. R. Castle, Andrew Brown, John Emmeluth, W.C. Wilder, Theodore F. Lansing, Henry Waterhouse, L.A. Thurston. Document says they did not (singly or jointly) have any agreement or understanding with Stevens or Wiltse regarding assistance in overthrowing the monarchy, and were never encouraged by them to do it. Provisional Government had ample forces of its own; presence of U.S. troops helped suppress irresponsible lawless element of all nationalities. Armed supporters of P.G. were the same men and officers who had carried through a peaceful revolution in 1887 and suppressed an armed uprising in 1889. Affidavit is short, so no summary is needed.

pp. 951-952 STATEMENT OF PERSONS PRESENT AT MEETING OF COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, JANUARY 16

John H. Soper, J.H. Fisher, Theodore F. Lansing, Henry Waterhouse, William O. Smith, John Emmeluth, J.B. Castle, F.W. McChesney, Andrew Brown, C. Bolte, J.A. McCandless. Brief sworn statement that there was no expectation of help from U.S. troops to overthrow monarchy, and "the statement of F. Wundenburg upon this subject and others, as published in connection with Mr. Blount's report, are misleading and untrue."

pg 952 AFFIDAVIT OF FRANK BROWN

In Hawaii 47 years, member of legislature for many sessions. Says beginning Saturday January 14 there was an interregnum (no government). Mr. Brown was at the anti-Kalakaua riot in 1874 and fearful of the same in 1893 if U.S. troops had not landed.

pg. 953 AFFIDAVIT OF P. F. A. EHLERS

Born in Germany; resided in Honolulu since 1866. During the revolution of January 14-17, 1893 there was a state of great excitement and alarm; the presence of the United States forces when they landed was a good thing, and prevented possible lawlessness which would have resulted in loss of property and possibly life.

pg. 953 AFFIDAVIT OF J. H. FISHER

Born San Francisco, age 36, lived in Honolulu since February, 1883. Was captain of Company B, Honolulu Rifles, disbanded in August, 1890. That on the 14th day of January began to recruit ex-members of Company B and others to join in the movement for deposing Liliuokalani and forming a Provisional Government. Knew that other ex-captains of the Honolulu Rifles were doing the same. ... Orders were issued to assemble at the old armory promptly at 3 o'clock on afternoon of January 17. Matters were precipitated by the shot fired by Ordnance Officer Good on Fort street about 2:20 o'clock. Was at the armory immediately after, and at the request of the members of the new Government sent men as fast as they arrived in squads to the Government building, the first sent being Capt. Zeigler with about 36 men. Had not been told nor did not believe the United States marines would take part one way or another. This being the fourth time during his residence in Honolulu that he has taken up arms in defense of good government in the Hawaiian Islands.

pg. 954 AFFIDAVIT OF F. J. LOWREY

American citizen; has large business interests in the Hawaiian Islands; Monday, the 16th, there was a general dread of incendiarism, and precautions were taken by himself and others for the protection of property; the feeling was so high that it was liable to break out into lawlessness and violence at any moment; that when he heard of the landing of the United States forces it was a great relief.

pg. 954 AFFIDAVIT OF C. B. RIPLEY

American citizen, has a family, and is a householder in Honolulu; the landing of the United States forces was fully justified by the critical condition of affairs at that time, and unquestionably prevented riotous acts which would probably have resulted in loss of life and property.

pp. 954-955 AFFIDAVIT OF E. F. BISHOP

Born in the United States and has resided in Honolulu over ten years; secretary of C. Brewer and Company; took no part in the revolution of January 17, 1893, and has since remained passive politically; on the evening of Monday, January 16, he heard that the United States forces had landed at about 5 o'clock; he did not understand that they had landed for the purpose of taking any hand in the revolution, but for the purpose of protecting American life and property; the same evening, at about 8 p. m., he was present with his father-in-law, J. S. Walker, when that gentleman received a note from J. L. Stevens, the American minister, asking for the use of Arion Hall as a shelter for the troops; that Mr. Walker immediately wrote a note informing the minister that the hall was leased to Mr. G. J. Waller.

pg. 955 AFFIDAVIT OF J. B. ATHERTON

American citizen; resided in Honolulu for many years, has a family, a home, and large business interests; Monday, January 16, as an American citizen he went to see Mr. Stevens, the American minister, at about 2 p. m., to suggest the landing of the Boston's forces for the protection of American life and property; was told by the minister that it was his intention to land the forces, and was promised a guard for his home and property if he wished; that this affiant was very apprehensive and did not know what might happen; that he was present and witnessed the riot in 1874 at the time of the election of Kalakaua, and knew what such a thing meant as soon as the natives should be aroused and incendiarism suggested to them; that in his opinion there was more reason for the landing of the troops in January, 1893, than in 1874.

pg. 955 AFFIDAVIT OF W. L. WILCOX

Born in the Hawaiian Islands, and has resided here during his whole life; that he has acted as interpreter during very many sessions of the Legislature and is permanently employed as Hawaiian interpreter for the courts; that he is perfectly familiar with the native language, and during the three days from January 14 to January 17 circulated among the Hawaiian people in Honolulu; that particularly on the Monday before the landing of the troops threats were made by the natives that they would destroy property in Honolulu by burning; these threats he repeated to members of the committee of safety and others.

pp. 955-956 STATEMENT OF CHARLES L. CARTER

At the meeting of citizens on Saturday, January 14, in response to the call of the Queen's cabinet for help ... led me to ask Mr. Colburn, minister of the interior, at the close of his speech, what assurance there was that the constituted police and military forces would not make an attack? Whether the Queen's adherents would be removed from command of them? To this Mr. Colburn replied that ... a satisfactory settlement was even then being made. ... A request to Mr. Stevens to land his forces had been prepared and was in Hartwell's hands to be delivered; that Mr. Stevens had consented to this for the purpose of defending the cabinet and the constitution against any possible aggression by the Queen. Later, Mr. Hartwell told me the paper had gone off for Mr. Peterson's signature and asked me to get it. I tried but failed to find Peterson. I have since been told that Mr. Peterson still has the paper, and that for palpable reasons it was never shown to Mr. Blount. The next morning the cabinet evaded all this and adhered to the Queen, and Mr. Stevens stated that he could not assist a counter revolution by the committee of safety.

pp. 956-962 STATEMENT OF L. A. THURSTON, HAWAIIAN MINISTER, PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 21, 1893

Even at this late date Thurston has never seen a copy of the still-secret Blount Report, although numerous allegations against Thurston and his colleagues, presumably contained in the Blount Report, have been leaked and published in the newspapers. Personal attacks charging fraud and duplicity. Aside from the personal attacks, there are two main historical/political conclusions (apparently) reached by Blount, which Thurston spends many pages refuting.

1. Blount charges that the American troops were landed under a prearranged agreement with the committee of safety that they should so land and assist in the overthrow of the Queen. [detailed response from Thurston]

2. Mr. Blount charges that the Queen had ample military force with which to have met the committee, and but for the support of the United States representatives and troops the establishment of the Provisional Government would have been impossible. Response from Thurston in great detail, naming people, places, and times. Also very detailed comparisons are made with the 1887 revolution which took over the government and reduced Kalakaua to a figurehead, and the defeat of the 1889 Wilcox uprising -- Thurston notes that the same armed men and their captains who were so strong and effective in those situations also led the revolution of 1893, where their experience made them even more effective. Meanwhile the Queen dithered, had weak forces and unreliable allies, spent her time trying to engage foreign diplomats instead of commanding her ramshackle military, and even tried asking U.S. minister Stevens to use troops to support her.

The full statement was carefully written for publication in the newspapers, and is so packed with detail that no summary should be attempted.