No. 44.
Interview with Wm. Hyde Rice, of
Lihue, Kauai, April 28, 1893.
Q. You riled on April 20, 1893, four petitions?
A. Yes.
The petitions are as follows:
To the honorable W. H. Rice:
We, the undersigned, residents of the islands of Kauai and Niihau, Hawaiian Islands, do hereby nominate and depute you as delegate to represent us at Honolulu before the United States commissioners in matters concerning the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States to endeavor to procure for us equal rights and privileges accruing to citizens of the United States.
(Signed by 137 names.)
To the honorable W. H. Rice:
We, the undersigned, residents of the islands of Kauai and Niihau, Hawaiian Islands, do hereby nominate and depute you as delegate to represent us at Honolulu before the United States commissioners in matters concerning the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States to endeavor to procure for us equal rights and privileges accruing to citizens of the United States.
(Signed by 18 names.)
To the honorable W. H. Rice:
We, the undersigned, residents of the islands of Kauai and Niihau, Hawaiian Islands, do hereby nominate and depute you as delegate to represent us at Honolulu before the United States commissioners in matters concerning the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States to endeavor to procure for us equal rights and privileges accruing to citizens of the United States.
(Signed by 43 names.)
To the honorable W. H. Rice:
We, the undersigned residents of the islands of Kauai and Niihau, Hawaiian Islands, do hereby nominate and depute you as delegate to represent us at Honolulu, before the United States Commissioners in matters concerning the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States to endeavor to procure for us equal rights and privileges accruing to citizens of the United States;
(Signed by 81 names.)
Q. How did you come by these?
A. I was telephoned from the Waimeau natives asking me if I would represent them here before Commissioner Blount. I said that I had no wish to come, but if it was their wish I would be willing to represent them.
Q. How far from where you are?
A. About 25 or 30 miles from my residence.
Q. Then what?
A. They said they would draw up papers and send them around to be signed at the precincts in that place.
Q. Here is the fifth petition similar in form presented this morning, the 28th. How did you come by this?
A. It was sent up from the island of Nuphau last Sunday. They wished to circulate them all around the islands, but hadn’t time.
Q. And you were not near when these papers were gotten up?
A. No; I was not. I have not been near any of their meetings.
Q. Were you governor, at any time, of the island?
A. Yes.
Q. When?
A. I was governor for about one year of the islands of Kauai and Niihau.
[Page 938]Q. What year?
A. From the 14th of February, 1892, to the abolition of the office by the existing Government.
Q. Where were you on the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th of January, 1893?
A. I was on the the island of Kauai?
Q. When did you learn of the dethronement of the Queen and the substitution of the Provisional Government?
A. On the 23d of January.
Q. Was there anything known of any movement of this sort in the island prior to its happening?
A. No. We had some rumor that there would be trouble on that Saturday morning—that there might be some trouble, as the Wilcox ministry had been voted out Thursday afternoon. I heard on Friday morning.
Q. That there might be trouble?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. On account of the going out of the ministry?
A. Yes.
Q. What sort of trouble was indicated?
A. We had no idea.
Q. You did not know whether it would take the form of force or what?
A. We had no idea.
Q. Was there any suspicion of the dethronement of the Queen?
A. I think not.
Q. Have you anything you wish to add, Mr. Rice?
A. I had been with the Queen when she told me of the appointment of the Nawahi ministry: as they called it, the Nancy Hanks ministry. She told me who the appointees were. I said: “That won’t hold; you had better have another ministry ready.”
Q. Are you interested in sugar-planting?
A. I am not a sugar-planter. I own stock in a plantation. My business is running a cattle and horse ranch.
Q. You superintend that, but you have some investments in sugar?
A. Yes; I have stock in one sugar plantation. I inherited the stock. I am not what is called a sugar-planter.
Q. What is your idea about annexation?
A. I think if we are not annexed to the United States I do not know what will become of us, because we are incapable of ruling ourselves.
Q. Why?
A. There are so many different factions and interests that it will produce pandemonium if we tried to rule ourselves.
Q. Do you mean by that that the native element is not qualified for self-government?
A. I mean that.
Q. Why?
A. Because no native is capable of carrying on business for himself, and much less of carrying on government.
I have carefully read the foregoing and pronounce it a correct report of my interview with Col. Blount.