Home: The Annexation Of Hawaii: A Collection Of Document
hawnpac@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-8264
[ Previous Page ] -- [ View PDF ] -- [ View in MS Word ] -- [ Next Page ]
588 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. Mr. C. Bolte is of German origin, but a regularly naturalized citizen of the Hawaiian Islands. Mr. A. Brown is a Scotchman and has never been naturalized. Mr. W. O. Smith is a native of foreign origin and a subject of the Islands. Mr. Henry Waterhouse, originally from Tasmania, is a naturalized citizen of the islands. Mr. Theo. F. Lansing is a citizen of the United States, owing and claiming allegiance thereto. He has never been naturalized in this country. Mr. Ed. Suhr is a German subject. Mr. L. A. Thurston is a native-born subject of the Hawaiian Islands, of foreign origin. Mr. John Emmeluth is an American citizen. Mr. W. E. Castle is a Hawaiian of foreign parentage. Mr. J. A. McCandless is a citizen of the United States - never having been naturalized here. Six are Hawaiians subjects; five are American citizens; one English, and one German. A majority are foreign subjects. if will be observed that they sign as "Citizens' committee of safety." This is the first time American troops were ever landed on these islands at the instance of a committee of safety without notice to the existing government. It is to be observed that they claim to be a citizens' committee of safety and that they are not simply applicants for the protection of the property and lives of American citizens. The chief actors in this movement were Messrs. L. A. Thurston and W. O. Smith. Alluding to the meeting of the committee of safety held at Mr. W. E. Castle's on Sunday afternoon, January 15, Mr. W. O. Smith says: After we adjourned Mr. Thurston and I called upon the American minister again and informed him of what was being done. Among other things we talked over with him what had better be done in case of our being arrested, or extreme or violent measures being taken by the monarchy in regard to us. We did not know what steps would be taken, and there was a feeling of great unrest and sense of danger in the community. Mr. Stevens gave assurance of his earnest purpose to afford all the protection that was in his power to protect life and property. He emphasized the fact that while he would call for the United States troops to protect life and property, he could not recognize any government until actually established. Mr. Damon, the vice-president of the Provisional Government, returning from the country on the evening of the 16th, and seeing the troops in the streets, .inquired of Mr. Henry Waterhouse, " Henry, what does all this mean?" To which he says, if he "remembers rightly," Mr. Waterhouse replied, "It is all up!" On being questioned by me as to his understanding of the expression, "It is all up," he said he understood from it that the American troops had taken possession of the island. Mr. C. L. Carter, at the government house, assured Mr. Damon that the United States troops would protect them. Mr. Damon was astonished when they were not immediately marched over from Arion Hall to the government building and became uneasy. He only saw protection in the bodily presence of the American troops in this building. The committee of safety, with its frequent interviews with Mr. Stevens, saw it in the significance of the position occupied by the United States troops and in the assurance of Mr. Stevens that he would interfere for the purpose of protecting life and property, and that when they should