University of Hawaii at Manoa Library

Home: The Annexation Of Hawaii: A Collection Of Document



hawnpac@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-8264

Blount Report: Affairs in Hawaii

[ Previous Page ] -- [ View PDF ] -- [ View in MS Word ] -- [ Next Page ]

               1002	                       HAWAIIAN   ISLANDS.                                      
Q. What offices have you held in that time?
A. I have held every office this country can give. Sheriff of the island of Kauai in 1854; circuit judge there in 
1863, and deputy governor of that island at the same time. I held, also, a great many smaller offices from 1854 to 
1865-tax collector, school inspector, road supervisor; chief clerk of the interior office in 1865; associate justice of 
the supreme court in 1869; minister of the interior in 1874. During those years 1 have been privy councilor; member 
of the board of health, and member of the board of education. I was a noble from 1881 to 1887, appointed by the 
King. I was elected noble in 1887 to 1892. February, 1892, I was taken ill and Mott Smith took my place, and when 
he went to Washington I got well and took the place back. That brings us up to date.
Q. On January 17, 1893, it is reported that the ministers of Liliuokalani, with the Hon. S. M. Damon, went to the 
palace and held a consultation with the Queen on the subject of her yielding to the movement for a provisional 
government. Were you there?
A. I was there at the Queen's request.
Q. Will you be kind enough to tell me in a general way what was said and done?
A. There were present besides the ministers, Samuel Damon, Judge Carter, Paul Neumann, and myself.
Q. What was the subject-matter of the interview?
A. It was a communication from the Provisional Government touching her being turned out of office, her 
deposition which had been sent her in the course of the day. I objected to reading the document; I didn't know but it 
might be insulting. The Queen's Government was then in possession of the barracks and the police station where the 
arms and ammunition were. The question was, whether she should make opposition to the Provisional Government. 
The advice given was that we were too weak to oppose the United States forces, and consequently that she should 
surrender. The police station was surrendered immediately after the consultation. We were there perhaps an hour in 
this consultation. Whilst we were, Mr. Stevens's letter to the Queen's ministers, saying he had recognized the 
Provisional Government, was read by Sam Parker, Her Majesty's minister of foreign affairs. Mr. Neumann and Joe 
Carter were appointed a committee of two to draw up a protest for Her Majesty. We waited until they had done so. 
We all approved of that protest, and then the Queen signed it.
Q. Was it dark then?
A. It was after dark; lamps were lighted.
Q. What was the condition of the city as to quiet when the troops were landed on the day before?
A. There were no people on the street. It was as quiet as things could be. I went to the palace to speak to the 
Queen. I told her that the soldiers had landed and were coming towards the palace. Fearing lest they should attack 
the palace, I advised Her Majesty to be ready to go with them if they should come to her and ask her to go with 
them. I said this in my consternation upon seeing foreign troops landed in a peaceful country when there was no 
show of any disturbance.
Q. Was that consternation pretty general?
A. Most decidedly it was.
Q. Did that state of mind continue until the dethronement of the Queen and the surrender of the barracks and 
station house?
A. Yes ; until we heard of the establishment of the Provisional Government and then we knew what was what. 

Return to Top

Terms of Use  |  UH Mānoa  |  UH System  |  Ask Us
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Library  |  2550 McCarthy Mall  |  Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 USA
808-956-7214 (Reference)  |  808-956-7203 (Circulation)  |  808-956-7205 (Administration)
808-956-5968 (fax)  |  library@hawaii.edu
Library Digital Collections Disclaimer and Copyright Information