1012-1013

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Reports of Committee on Foreign Relations 1789-1901 Volume 6 pp1012-1013 300dpi scan (VERY LARGE!)

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Mr. Stalker. I think that is all I recall, anything like verbatim. He used those words.

The Chairman. After the mass meeting had passed, I will say the two mass meetings that occurred on Monday, was there a state of quietude in Honolulu?

Mr. Stalker. Yes; I think there was. When I left the meeting at the barracks, held by the supposed revolutionists, I went to the meeting held by the natives—that is, mostly native people who were in attendance at this meeting around at the Government building. I walked in and out of that crowd and through it, and I saw no disturbance.

Senator Gray. That was an open-air meeting?

Mr. Stalker. Yes; this was an open-air meeting. I saw no demonstration. I could not understand what they were talking about. I saw no violence, no demonstration. I walked about the streets afterward, and I saw no disturbance, heard no loud talking, nor anything to indicate violence—so far as a man could see on the surface------

The Chairman. On Monday evening and night was Honolulu in a condition of quietude, or one of excitement?

Mr. Stalker. I saw no excitement whatever.

The Chairman. About what time did the troops from the Boston come in that evening?

Mr. Stalker. Late in the afternoon, a little before sundown; I should think between 4 and 5 o'clock, as I recall it.

The Chairman. Did their appearance create any excitement amongst the population?

Mr. Stalker. Apparently not. There was quite a little talk about it. The question was very frequently asked: "Why are the Boston boys here?" Some of us walked over from the hotel, which was a block or two blocks away, heard their music, and saw the boys marched up the street.

The Chairman. Did the troops come with drums and fifes or with a brass band?

Mr. Stalker. They had a drum corps.

The Chairman. Did you witness anything of an exasperated or agitated feeling on the part of the natives as they were marching up through the streets?

Mr. Stalker. In their faces I think there was a good deal of intense excitement manifested. They were comparatively quiet. That seems to be their disposition. They stood around in considerable numbers. A few hundred of them were out there when the Boston boys came to a halt in front of the palace, standing on the sidewalks and in the streets. But there was very little conversation going on, even amongst them.

The Chairman. Was it a mixed assemblage of women and children?

Mr. Stalker. Yes.

The Chairman. Such as would attend a demonstration of that kind in towns here?

Mr. Stalker. Yes.

The Chairman. Was any clamor raised against them—hissing or resentment at their coming ashore?

Mr. Stalker. No; nothing that I could recognize as a hiss.

The Chairman. Did you witness any demonstration against the troops while they were ashore by any person of Hawaiian nativity?

Mr. Stalker. I did not.

The Chairman. You would say, I suppose, that their presence on the island was not a cause of national offense, so far as you could see?

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Mr. Stalker. It certainly did not manifest itself in the way of disorderly conduct if it was.

The Chairman. It was not such as would accompany the Britishert if they were to land in Baltimore without invitation from the Presidens of the United States?

Mr. Stalker. I think not.

Senator Gray. While you are on that subject of the landing of the troops, I will ask you a question. You have already said that (on Monday, I think it was) you heard expressions from a number of people that some revolution, indications of which you thought you had seen, would be supported by the troops from the Boston. When these troops landed did you gather from your contact with or observation of the people an impression as to how that landing was regarded, and what was the general opinion as to the purpose of that landing?

Mr. Stalker. The feeling, so far as I was able to judge of it, from conversations with the citizens, was that they would at least not be in the way of any revolutionary effort that might come on.

The Chairman. You mean the troops from the Boston would not be?

Mr. Stalker. Yes.

Senator Gray. Was that landing and the impression that it created, in your opinion, a discouragement of those who were in the contemplated revolution?

Mr. Stalker. It was not; most decidedly.

Senator Gray. Were you present when the troops landed from the boats?

Mr. Stalker. Not at the wharf; not at the landing.

Senator Gray. You first saw them as they passed your hotel?

Mr. Stalker. They did not pass immediately by the hotel, but two streets away. I saw them as they came up.

Senator Gray. Where was their first halt?

Mr. Stalker. Their first halt was in a sort of plaza, or broad street, near what they call the royal palace and Government building.

Senator Gray. How long did they halt?

Mr. Stalker. They were there several minutes. I should think they stood around there a quarter of an hour or more, possibly twice that long. Then they marched on past the palace down the street a few blocks beyond and turned into the grounds of a private citizen. A little later they marched back up the street to their same position, the palace being on the right side and the Government building on the left hand as they came back, and went into quarters for the night in a building that stands immediately at the end of the Government building and facing the palace on the opposite side of the street.

Senator Gray. That was Monday?

Mr. Stalker. Monday night. It was dark before all this was through with.

Senator Gray. Were you up there when they went into quarters?

Mr. Stalker. No; I was not there when they returned; this was after dark.

Senator Gray. Did you get up early the next morning, Tuesday, to see what the fun would be which Mr. White had predicted you would enjoy?

Mr. Stalker. Yes.

Senator Gray. What did you observe on Tuesday?

Mr. Stalker. I walked out to the corner of the palace grounds, a plot of land possibly of 20 acres, cornering on the hotel grounds. I walked along on the west side of the court over to the street where the


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