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The CHAIRMAN: So that the advocacy and promotion of British interests in Hawaii, you think, were as manifest as those of the American interests?
Mr. BELKNAP: Beyond a doubt. Wherever you find an American minister or consul in any part of the world attempting to further the interests of the United States the English always secretly undermine the efforts of the consul and minister. That has been my observation the world over.
Senator BUTLER: Do you think that proceeds from the English people realizing the fact that the commercial competition is to be between the two great nations?
Mr. BELKNAP: I think it does in a measure. If any American goes beyond a native of Great Britain, it is continually a thorn in the side of the English people.
Senator FRYE: Now I will be pleased to have you go on with your statement.
Mr. BELKNAP: I told Mr. Pierce that I would do everything possible. I arranged that day a system of signals by which Mr. Pierce could signal to me on board the ship if he found it necessary.
The CHAIRMAN: Was there at that time any outbreak or riot?
Mr. BELKNAP: No.
The CHAIRMAN: Simply expectation?
Mr. BELKNAP: Yes.
Senator FRYE: An outbreak liable to occur at any time?
Mr. BELKNAP: Yes.
The CHAIRMAN: You made arrangements beforehand for the landing of the troops?
Mr. BELKNAP: Yes. There was a British man-of-war In the harbor, and we did not want him to get ahead of us. We arranged a system of signals with lanterns and rockets at night and a flag by day. On the morning of the meeting of the Legislature I determined to attend and witness the proceedings in company with the minister. Capt. Skerrett and I---- Capt. Skerrett commanded the Portsmouth which arrived in Honolulu the morning after we did---- went to the legislative hall. We staid there and saw the organization of the Assembly. As a ballot was about to take place we left the hall and remained outside. Perhaps in a quarter of an hour after that the voting was finished and the ballots were counted, and it was found that Kalakaua had received 39 votes and Queen Emma 6. Kalakaua was declared elected. As soon as this news was given outside of the court-house, where the Legislature was in session, the adherents of Queen Emma broke out into a riot. They rushed up the back way, through a door in the back, into the hall, or through the windows out into the legislative assembly and then began to club the members and senators, I do not know which, broke chairs, smashed tables and windows, and threw all they could lay their hands on out into the street. A large party of them assembled about Queen Emma's residence, and they were making threats to devastate the town.
While this riot was in progress I said to Mr. Pierce, "I had better land the force now." He said: "No; wait a little while." Finally, Mr. Bishop, who was prime minister, minister of foreign affairs under the King-elect, said to Mr. Pierce: "We would like to have the force landed now." So that I immediately sent a messenger down to the wharf where D. C. Murray lived, and had a signal run up. In about ten minutes our men were landed---- 180 men, seamen, officers, and
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marines, and they marched up to the court-house, formed a column in front of it, and sent one company up into the hall to clear it out.
Senator FRYE: The legislative hall?
Mr. BELKNAP: The legislative hall---- to clear it out. I think that in less than ten minutes after arriving on the scene of action everything was quiet there.
Senator BUTLER: Did that company meet with any resistance?
Mr. BELKNAP: No. The rioters had nothing but clubs to resist with, and they attempted no resistance. But the police of the Government had torn off their badges and some of them had joined the rioters, so that there was nothing to do but to land the troops to preserve order.
The CHAIRMAN: Was any force landed from any other ship?
Mr. BELKNAP: Capt. Ray, who was commanding Her Majesty's ship Tenedos, instead of staying in town that morning, went out horse riding, and his executive officer did not act at first upon the request of the British minister. They had no signals to send off to the ship to call the men on shore. But within half an hour after our men got on shore and the riot was quelled, the detachment from the Tenedos came marching up to the court-house.
Senator BUTLER: A detachment from the British ship?
Mr. BELKNAP: British ship. Mr. Pierce turned to Mr. Wodehouse and said, "You had better withdraw this force and send it up to Queen Emma's."
Senator BUTLER: Which force?
Mr. BELKNAP: The American minister said, " You had better advise your officers to go up to Queen Emma's house and disperse the crowd there." Capt. Ray did not get back into town until late in the afternoon. Some few months after he was relieved of the command of that ship, ordered home, and never had an hour's duty from that time forward.
Senator FRYE: They did not like it that the Americans should get ahead of them?
Mr. BELKNAP: No, they did not. The Englishmen resident there in the islands were very much chagrined, particularly Mr. Wodehouse.
The CHAIRMAN: The riot was quelled?
Mr. BELKNAP: Yes.
The CHAIRMAN: Peace restored?
Mr. BELKNAP: Yes.
The CHAIRMAN: Order established?
Mr. BELKNAP: Yes.
Senator FRYE: And Kalakaua was preserved on the throne?
Mr. BELKNAP: Yes.
Senator FRYE: Did you go there to establish him on the throne?
Mr. BELKNAP: No, but to preserve order.
Senator FRYE: And his establishment on the throne was a mere incident.
Mr. BELKNAP: Yes.
Senator FRYE: If you had not gone on shore, would not Queen Emma's troops have routed them?
Mr. BELKNAP: I think they would; I think there is no question about it.
Senator FRYE: What did you go on shore for?
Mr. BELKNAP: To preserve order and protect the American minister; preserve life and property of American residents. In my judgment it was necessary to land the force for such purpose; it was also in the interest of the United States that Kalakaua would rule in those islands,
S. Doc 231, pt 6----68