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Mr. Oleson. Mr. Adnerson, who was one of my teachers. He was in one of the companies. I had special permission to go to the gate to see some friends who called to see me.
Senator Gray. Were you under arms?
Mr. Oleson. I was under arms; yes.
Senator Gray. Were you attached to any company?
Mr. Oleson. I was attached to one of the companies; yes.
Mr. Gray. Were you walking around all this time while you were under arms and attached to a company.
Mr. Oleson. I did not get my rifle until just before the police station was surrendered; so I was not in line with the other men until that time. I had reported and had been assigned to a company.
Senator Gray. But you were still walking around among the people and around the Government building?
Mr. Oleson. We were allowed to do that; yes.
Senator Gray. Were you in Honolulu when the troops were landed Monday evening?
Mr. Oleson. I was not in the city.
Senator Gray. You did not see them when they landed and marched out?
Mr. Oleson. No.
Senator Gray. It was afterward you heard they were there and went out?
Mr. Oleson. Yes; I saw them in the evening, in Mr. Atherton's yard.
Senator Gray. And you saw them in Arion Hall?
Mr. Oleson. I heard the next day that they were in Arion Hall.
Senator Gray. I thought you said you were there when the troops marched back to Arion Hall?
Mr. Oleson. No; I just dropped off a horse car that evening where the troops were. I stopped to see what they were doing there. I asked the people what they were about, what the troops were there for, and the people did not seem to know.
Senator Gray. Did you not know they were there before you started out in the horse car?
Mr. Oleson. No.
Senator Gray. Where were you going?
Mr. Oleson. Out to make a call, I think.
Senator Gray. Where?
Mr. Oleson. I think I went out to Mr. W. A. Bowen's, a friend of mine.
Senator Gray. Where does he live?
Mr. Oleson. It is a street that runs parallel with King street—the second street to the north, running parallel to King street.
Senator Gray. How far out-past Mr. Atherton's?
Mr. Oleson. Oh, yes.
Senator Gray. Beyond Mr. Atherton's?
Mr. Oleson. Yes; quite a distance beyond.
Senator Gray. And you got out when you got to Mr. Atherton's for the purpose of seeing the troops?
Mr. Oleson. Yes.
Senator Gray. How long were you there?
Mr. Oleson. Just a few minutes.
Senator Gray. Then you went on and made your call?
Mr. Oleson. Yes.
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Senator Gray. Hid you come in on the horse cars? When you came in did you see the soldiers ?
Mr. Oleson. I think I came in on the Beretania street line, the next street running parallel with King street.
Senator Gray. And you did not see the soldiers?
Mr. Oleson. No.
Senator Gray. And you did hear where they were?
Mr. Oleson. No.
Senator Gray. You did not hear until the next day, Tuesday?
Mr. Oleson. Tuesday.
Senator Gray. How did you learn it?
Mr. Oleson. I learned it through the morning paper. When I received that I do not know. I did not go into the city until about 1 o'clock.
Senator Gray. And you had your paper before you went into the city?
Mr. Oleson. Yes.
Senator Gray. You have been an instructor of education and connected with the islands for fifteen years?
Mr. Oleson. Yes.
Senator Gray. Does that bring you in contact with the native population?
Mr. Oleson. Altogether.
Senator Gray. What do you find among the common people—those whom you come in contact with—in regard to learning, manners, and the ordinary intellectual conditions?
Mr. Oleson. I have a great regard for the Hawaiians, having mingled with them so much, and I have a high estimate as to their good nature and imitative faculties, and as to their fitness for manual employment. I do not think the higher education is suitable for them—I do not think they are fit for it, and having obtained it, they can not make a right use of it.
Senator Gray. But they have had the opportunities?
Mr. Oleson. Yes. Since I have been in the islands my efforts have been to pull down the course of study. They had previously taught them calculus and trigonometry in the schools, but the Kamehameha school did not go beyond algebra. That was put in to please the boys.
Senator Gray. You thought it was better to adhere to the average native capacity?
Mr. Oleson. Certainly. We had extensive manual-training shops there, blacksmith, iron and machine works, wood turning, printing, carpenter work; and it was my aim in organizing the school—I had to overcome many difficulties—to make it a manual-training school, so as to develop the Hawaiians on the side they showed the most aptitude for.
Senator Gray. Do you think they are susceptible of as high training and as broad culture as the white race?
Mr. Oleson. They have very little faculty for originating—they are great imitators. That is shown in their manual-training work; they can do a thing after they are shown how to do it.
Senator Gray. Is not that a characteristic of the inferior races?
Mr. Oleson. Certainly.
Senator Gray. And you would consider them an inferior race?
Mr. Oleson. As compared with the Anglo-Saxon. They have many good traits, lovable traits, and I have cherished a high estimate for the Hawaiians since my residence in the islands. I do not know any men more stalwart than some of them have been under temptation.
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