1114-1115
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The Chairman. You say you were told that. What was your opinion?
Mr. Hoes. I was not there in 1887, and therefore have no opinion on that point.
The Chairman. What is your opinion about the enthusiasm and zeal and unanimity of feeling at the meeting you attended.
Mr. Hoes. I was told----
The Chairman. Not what you were told.
Mr. Hoes. The enthusiasm and zeal of the meeting were its most conspicuous characteristics, and there was absolute unanimity of word and action. The resolutions that were offered were unanimously passed. There was no unhealthful excitement displayed. The people were naturally somewhat excited, but they had great confidence in Mr. Thurston and others who composed the committee of safety. They placed discretionary power in the hands of that committee, and the meeting adjourned. If there had been any persons present at that meeting who desired to offer opinions adverse to those which had been expressed by the speakers, I believe they would have been allowed to do so. There were none such offered or suggested.
The Chairman. You believe that?
Mr. Hoes. I do; but of course I could not prove it. It would be only a matter of belief; but at all events no one offered to speak on the other side. The meeting adjourned and most of the crowd then poured down in front of the palace where they thought the meeting of natives in behalf of the Queen was in progress. I can not say what the feeling of that crowd was, or what their motive was in going around there, but I know what my own motive was—it was a feeling of curiosity and a desire to be present and see a row if there should be any, and I expected there would be one. I believe I had every reason to think so.
Senator Frye. When you got there what was going on?
Mr. Hoes. The meeting of natives had adjourned and the people had dispersed. I ought to go back and speak of something that occurred Monday morning. This meeting was held Monday afternoon, January 16. Monday morning a newspaper supplement appeared on the street, in the Hawaiian language, which was issued from the printing office of John E. Bush, and a copy of which you hold in your hand.
Senator Frye. Was that in the Hawaiian language?
Mr. Hoes. Yes.
Senator Gray. When was that posted?
Mr. Hoes. It was not posted, it was handed around to the crowd by carriers.
Senator Gray. What day?
Mr. Hoes. The morning of the day this meeting was held at the armory—Monday, January 16.
Senator Gray. Can you translate that poster?
Mr. Hoes. No.
The Chairman. Do you know what printing office it was printed at?
Mr. Hoes. At Ka Leo O Ka Lahui printing office, I suppose. I wanted to speak of another point. It is in connection with the landing of the troops. The troops landed Monday. Monday night I heard an alarm of fire and I went to the fire.
Senator Gray. Were you keeping house?
Mr. Hoes. No. I kept house until my family returned to the United States, shortly before the revolution. There was an alarm of fire Monday night, and I went to the fire. It was one of two fires that occurred that night. I was informed that the natives and those who
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led them had said that in case of the dethronement of the Queen the conduit pipes of the city would be tampered with, and that prominent houses would be burned.
Senator Gray. Who informed you?
Mr. Hoes. That was current rumor in Honolulu about that time. There are some things concerning which I cannot speak from positive knowledge, but which were matters of popular rumor. But there was a feeling of fear prevalent; no one could tell what might be done, or what might not be done, by natives led on by white adventurers, who were aiming to excite the passions of the natives.
Senator Frye. There was a pervading fear that there would be trouble?
Mr. Hoes. Yes. There were, as I have said, two fires that night, one on Beretania street and another at Emma Square.
Senator Frye. Did you think that night that life and property were in danger?
Mr. Hoes. Yes.
Senator Frye. Was there a feeling during Monday that the lives and property of Americans would be in danger?
Mr. Hoes. There was a pervading fear of uncertainty. I believe that a great many people felt that their lives and property were in danger. After that meeting at the armory was held there was a feeling of insecurity. The meeting having placed broad discretionary powers into the hands of the committee of safety, the people awaited with patience and confidence the result of their deliberations. The next afternoon, Tuesday, came the reading of the proclamation dethroning the Queen and proclaiming the Provisional Government by the committee of safety. I was present at the Government house when the first troops of the Provisional Government filed in.
Senator Gray. The Government house?
Mr. Hoes. The Government house. A sturdy, determined-looking set of men filed in there with muskets and rifles.
Senator Gray. How many in the first squad?
Mr. Hoes. In the first squad that went in there might have been 25 and there might have been 50.
Senator Frye. Were you there when the proclamation was read?
Mr. Hoes. I think I must have been there between five and ten minutes afterward, not longer than that.
Senator Frye. Were many people in front of the Government buildings?
Mr. Hoes. Not many.
Senator Frye. Did the Provisional Government take possession of the public buildings?
Mr. Hoes. They had absolute possession at that time of what is called the Government building, containing the offices of administration.
Senator Frye. They immediately after that issued an "order," January 17, on Tuesday, calling for arms?
Mr. Hoes. Yes; I have one here.
Senator Frye. Did they issue that?
Mr. Hoes. Yes. Shall I read it?
Senator Frye. Yes.
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