654-655
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That is your belief, is it?
Mr. Alexander. Yes; that is unfortunately true.
The Chairman. I think it would be well enough for you to sit down and prepare the paper to which Senator Frye has referred, stating your own personal observations, your own knowledge in regard to the events which succeeded the prorogation of the Legislature, commencing with that date, so that we can get the benefit of your own personal knowledge and observation of what occurred there. You are not to take up public opinion or hearsay evidence, what other people say about it, but we want to get a knowledge of exactly what you saw.
Mr. Alexander. Do you prefer it in writing?
The Chairman. I would prefer you to make it up deliberately, and the committee would not like to sit longer today.
Senator Gray. I understand the time has not arrived at which the professor could give a clear judicial history of the matter after the point at which he had arrived in his statement. Is that so?
Mr. Alexander. I could state what I saw and my means of knowing it, which is only a small part of it.
The Chairman. That is what we want. I do not care to have you write a judicial history upon the whole evidence.
Senator Gray. We want your evidence as a witness so far as it goes. If you do not know, do not say.
Mr. Alexander. I was not behind the scenes; I was not a member of the committee of safety.
Senator Gray. But you were in Honolulu?
Mr. Alexander. Yes. I saw a great deal of it.
Senator Frye. You were at both meetings?
Mr. Alexander. Not of the committee of safety.
Senator Frye. But both the mass meetings?
Mr. Alexander. Mass meetings; yes.
Senator Frye. So that you can say what you saw and heard?
Mr. Alexander. Yes.
Senator Frye. You saw the troops, where they were located, and the difficulties they had of obtaining a location, and you know whether they were visible on the streets or not?
Senator Gray. Mr. Alexander will be here after he makes his statement?
The Chairman. We propose to meet tomorrow, so that he can complete his statement. The points to which I wish particularly to direct your attention are the facts—within your knowledge, of course—which show whether or not, prior to this prorogation of the Legislature and this attempted proclamation of the abrogation of the constitution of 1887 and of different constitutions, there was any understanding or agreement, any conspiracy for the purpose of overthrowing the Queen, or for the purpose of annexing Hawaii to the United States—getting rid of the monarchy as an established form of government. These are the points to which I would like you to direct your attention.
Adjourned until to-morrow, the 4th inst., at 10 o'clock, a. in.
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FOURTH DAY.
Thursday, January 4, 1894.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: The Chairman (Senator Morgan) and Senators Butler, Gray, and Frye.
Absent: Senator Sherman.
SWORN STATEMENT OF WILLIAM DE WITT ALEXANDER—Cont'd.
The Chairman. I have a paper here prepared by Prof. Alexander. Suppose I read it to the committee, and the professor can make any corrections he may desire. It is as follows:
"PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE REVOLUTION OF 1893.
"In continuation of my former narrative of recent Hawaiian politics, I will begin with the morning of Saturday, the 14th of January, 1893.
"That morning the Legislature held a brief session (none of the white members being present), in which it was announced that the Queen had signed both the lottery and opium license bills."
I will ask you right there whether that was before or after the vote of want of confidence in the cabinet?
Mr. Alexander. The second day after.
The Chairman. What do you call that cabinet?
Mr. Alexander. The Wilcox cabinet. That was Thursday; I think this was Saturday; and it was after the formation of the succeeding cabinet.
The Chairman. The succeeding cabinet came in on Friday, and this was Saturday. What do you call the succeeding cabinet?
Mr. Alexander. The Parker cabinet.
The Chairman. "The prorogation ceremonies at noon were generally boycotted by the white people, except a few tourists, and most of the diplomatic corps were absent. A few U. S. naval officers were present, the "U.S.S. Boston" having arrived that forenoon from Lahaina. I attended the ceremony as a Government officer, and because I regarded it as an interesting historical occasion."
What office were you holding?
Mr. Alexander. Surveyor-general, and I was privy councillor.
The Chairman. "A native political society, the 'Hui Kalaiaina,' some forty in number, attended wearing black broadcloth suits and tall silk hats. I did not, however, suspect the object of their attendance."
What was the purpose of that political organization?
Mr. Alexander. It had been arranged by the Queen that they should abrogate that constitution and go through the form of asking her to proclaim it.
The Chairman. What was the nature of that political organization? Was it secret or open?
Mr. Alexander. I should say it was open.
Senator Gray. Is that a matter of your own personal knowledge?
Senator Frye. The professor said he was there.
Senator Gray. No, he was not.
Mr. Alexander. No; I was at the palace.
The Chairman. What is the name of that political society?
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