Home: The Annexation Of Hawaii: A Collection Of Document
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992 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. said, "Ladies about town are very nervous and. feared trouble" "Why," said I (Wodehouse speaking), "the town, Mr. Stevens, is perfectly quiet, as quiet as a Quaker's meeting." Continuing: "Were you asked by the Queen's Government to land the troops?" "No." "What is your object?" "Protect law and order." "Why," said Wodehouse, "there is no breach of law and order." No answer. The Frenchman, Vizzavona, said: "But why are the forces occupying an armed position on the principal square of the town commanding the palace and the Government building?" No answer. "We left" said Wodehouse "and are satisfied that Stevens means to assist a movement from the committee of safety." The five of us were standing on the sidewalk, corner of Beretania street and Alakea close to the club. All at once rides up an officer from the Boston and asks to speak to Mr. Giffard. After a short conversation with the officer, Giffard returned to us and said, "What do think they want?" Why the use of the Music Hall as quarters for the forces. I have refused." We went to the club. Within ten minutes the officer returned with a written request to Mr. Giffard for the use of the Music Hall. The request was from Mr. Stevens himself. Giffard answered "I can not grant the request. The Music Hall belongs to my principal, Mr. Irwin, who is away. And again the Music Hall commands the Government building and the palace. I do not feel justified in giving the United States forces such a commanding position, entrenched at that, as long as I am satisfied that the forces are landed against the expressed protest of the foreign representatives and of the Queen's Government." (We knew from the cabinet members that they had protested.) This ended the Music Hall business. Later on Mr. Stevens also in writing requested the use of Arion Hall, close by, and it was granted for one night only. Instead of leaving on the morning as agreed upon, notwithstanding a protest from Mr. Nacayama and Mr. Waller, the lessees of the premises, the troops held the premises until after the event of January 17. Is it not patent that Mr. Stevens and Capt. Wiltse meant them to support the movement which took place next day at 3 p. m.? That same evening, January 16, at about 8 o'clock, I met Charles Carter at the hospital, I am his family physician. He asked me to go and see his wife, who was pregnant-close to her confinement-and felt very nervous on account of the part he, Charles Carter, was taking in the movement. He had been to my house and heard that I was at the hospital. I said I would go at once. I asked, "What are you about anyhow?" He said that they had asked Stevens to land the troops; that he would support them; that they were going to depose the Queen, and never stop short of annexation at any cost. I represented to him that I doubted very much if the United States would sustain Stevens. He said, "It is all arranged beforehand, and we can carry our point with Foster and Harrison before the new administration comes in." Knowing poor Charley, as I do, from his boyhood (and a big over-fat boy he is still), I did not think it worth my while to argue with him. However, I said, "The Queen will do what is right if asked to do so." He said, "We will not give her the chance. We will depose her. Annexation is the word." The next morning, a patient of mine, P. Gardiner by name, an Englishman, called. He was under treatment. He said, "I am in a hurry to day" (the office being pretty full); " try not to keep me waiting." This was about 10 a. m. He added, " To-day (January 17th) we