No. 13.
Captain Hooper to Mr. Blount
.
Honolulu , April 2, 1893 .
Hon. J. H. Blount:
My Dear Sir: I witnessed the hauling down of the American flag and the raising of the Hawaiian flag over the Government building at this place yesterday, and was surprised not only at the absence of any indication of the violent and partisan feeling which I had been led to expect, but by the apparent apathy and indifference of the native portion of the assembled crowd, and also their politeness and evident good feeling towards Americans. As I passed freely around among them, accompanied by my son, we were kept busy returning their friendly salutes. The greatest good order prevailed throughout. There were no demonstrations of any kind as the American flag came down and not a single cheer greeted the Hawaiian flag as it was raised aloft.
The native men stood around in groups or singly, smoking and chatting, and nodding familiarly to passing friends, or leaning idly against the trees and fences, while the women and children which formed a large proportion of the assemblage were talking and laughing good naturedly. As the hour for hauling down the American flag approached, many people, men, and women, and children, could be seen approaching the Government square in a most leisurely manner, and showing more interest in the gala day appearance of the crowd than in the restoration of their national flag. The air of good-natured indifference and idle curiosity with which the native men regarded the proceedings, and the presence of the women and children in their white or bright colored dresses, was more suggestive of a county “fair” or horse race than the sequel to a “revolution.”
Even the presence of the “armed forces” of the Provisional Government, numbering perhaps two hundred, parading the corridors of the Government house failed to elicit any sign of a feeling of anger or resentment. In half an hour after the exchange of flags had been made the crowd had dispersed and only the “force” of the Provisional Government, which I was told was necessary to prevent mob violence, remained to indicate that a “revolution” had recently taken place. While among the crowd I looked carefully for indications of “arms” upon the person of the natives but saw none, although with the thin clothing worn by them the presence of a revolver or such an arm could easily have been detected.
[Page 1062]If any danger of mob violence on the part of the natives existed all outward signs of it were carefully concealed. Only evidences of the greatest good feeling were apparent.
Hoping that this short statement of the facts as they appeared to me may prove of interest to you,
I am, very truly yours,
Captain U. S. Revenue Marine.