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Mr. Moore. The troops landed about half past 4 on Monday, the 16th, and the Provisional Government was not declared until Tuesday, the 17th, about 3 o'clock.
The Chairman. Do you know of any recall of the troops to the ship in that interval of time, or whether they had started to debark?
Mr. Moore. No; nothing of the kind. If there had been I would have heard of it, being the executive officer, the one who carries out the orders of the commanding officer.
The Chairman. Do you think you would have known if any organization had existed in Honolulu to overthrow the government of the Queen, or any organization for annexation to the United States up to, we will say, Monday, until you returned to the ship? Do you think you would have known it had it existed among the people of Honolulu?
Mr. Moore. Do you mean between Saturday and Monday?
The Chairman. Yes.
Mr. Moore. An organization undoubtedly did exist Saturday afternoon.
The Chairman. The committee of safety?
Mr. Moore. The committee of safety. And that organization was generally known. But what the object of that organization was I did not hear.
The Chairman. I speak more particularly of an organization to overthrow the Queen, or an organization for annexation to the United States. Did you hear of anything of that sort, while you were on shore, as being consummated or in process of consummation?
Mr. Moore. I heard annexation to the United States talked of that Saturday afternoon.
The Chairman. But you heard that twenty years ago?
Mr. Moore. I heard the same thing twenty years before.
The Chairman. I am speaking now of an actual, open organization to overthrow the Queen, or an open organization to annex Hawaii to the United States. If there had been such an organization on Sunday evening and Monday morning when you visited home, do you think you would have known it—I mean if it had existed in that form?. Perhaps I can make my question a little more distinct. You had heard of the organization of the committee of safety between Sunday evening when you went over to your house and Monday when you returned on board ship?
Mr. Moore. I had heard of the organization of the committee of safety on Saturday, the 14th.
The Chairman. The question is, whether you heard that it was an organization for overthrowing the Queen and the annexation of Hawaii to the United States.
Mr. Moore. My understanding was that it was in opposition to the Queen.
The Chairman. That was the beginning of it?
Mr. Moore. That was the beginning of it. I do not recollect hearing of any organization at that time for annexation to the United States, although annexation was spoken of quite freely, and a desire for it expressed on the streets by the business men.
The Chairman. Before the Boston went on that cruise to Hilo you did not hear of any such organization?
Mr. Moore. I did not.
The Chairman. Do you think if it had existed you would have known it?
Mr. Moore. I think if such an organization had existed before our
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departure for Hilo I would have known something of it; but not necessarily so.
The Chairman. No; but you had good opportunities?
Mr. Moore. I was quite intimate with several of the gentlemen who were afterward engaged in this movement, and I never heard such a thing intimated.
The Chairman. How did matters progress in Hawaii after the establishment of the Provisional Government, with regard to the preservation of law and order?
Mr. Moore. Exceedingly well, so far as I knew. For a little while at first there was considerable excitement, much anxiety. The fears that I heard expressed were of incendiarism by the natives; but I only heard a few cases where incendiarism was suspected. But I do not know whether the fire was caused by incendiarism or in the ordinary way—through carelessness.
The Chairman. After the Provisional Government had been inaugurated, taken possession of the barracks, etc., did you hear of any attempted organization on the part of the Queen's friends to have a conflict with the Provisional Government and overturn it?
Mr. Moore. I heard frequent rumors of organizations.
The Chairman. Did you see any evidence of their being real?
Mr. Moore. I did not.
The Chairman. How would you describe the situation there?
Mr. Moore. Almost doubted their existence.
The Chairman. I suppose that was because you found that everything was conducted peacefully and quietly?
Mr. Moore. Yes; I did not think that an organization of that kind could be successful.
The Chairman. Why not?
Mr. Moore. Because the Provisional Government, after it was once established, had the arms and munitions of war. They had control of the custom-house and of the other offices, not only over these islands but the other islands; and I saw no way in which arms could be gotten into the islands without the knowledge of the officers of the Provisional Government, and I did not think that Government was foolish enough to let arms go into the hands of the other people. What I did think of was incendiarism.
The Chairman. Now, take the condition that the Hawaiian Islands was in, and Honolulu particularly, after the establishment of this Provisional Government, and up to the time you left the island, do you think the Queen could have overcome that Provisional Government without the assistance of some foreign power?
Mr. Moore. I do not think so.
The Chairman. It would have been a rash endeavor on her part to have attempted it?
Mr. Moore. A very rash endeavor.
The Chairman. So that you regard the Provisional Government, with the resources that it had—men, arms, and money—as being able to sustain itself against any forces the Queen could have organized upon her own resources and without assistance from abroad?
Mr. Moore. I did—undoubtedly so.
The Chairman. I suppose the ladies of Honolulu have their social meetings and entertainments as they do in other parts of the world?
Mr. Moore. Yes; they are very sociable and agreeable. A charming society exists there; an educated and elegant society, as much so as you can find in any small community.
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