The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-08-08
Ex-NIINISTER BLOUNT.
His Mission to Hawaii is Ended and
He is Coming Home

SAN FRANCISCO, August 1.-Authen
tic advices received here state that
Minister Blount has determined K
turn over matters in Hawaii, as far as
United States interests are concerned
| to Commodore Skerrett of the Boston,
and he will sail for the United States
on the 9Th instant, without waiting the
appointment of his successor. Mr..
Blount may therefore be expected to
arrive at San Francisco about August
IL. Meantime his report, which has
been mailed by the steamer Oceanic,
will have preceded him, and by the
time the special commission and the
minister arrives in the East, the Presi-
dent and Secretary Gresham will have
had full opportunity to carefully con-
sider it's contents.
The intimation that Mr.. Blount has
relinquished his mission because he
resented his appointment as successor
borne out by the facts. The appoint
ment followed Mr.. Blount's arrival in
Honolulu as natural and necessary
feature of the work placed in his
hands, and the minister's reason for
returning to the United States is his
desire to give attention to personal af-
fairs, which are much in need of care
full handling and the fact that he has
already completed the important part
OF the work confided to him justifies
him in returning to his home.
In this connection it may be stated
that the scope of this work was limited
to the collection and collation. OF the
existing political situation in Hawaii.
1t was not contemplated that he should
recommend annexation or protecto-
rate, or that he should cndeavor to re-
store monarchy. He was to learn all
the facts, to ascertain as nearly as he
could, in the absence of popular vote,
which was not in his power 10 secure,
the exact strength of the annexation
sentiment on the islands, for the ad-
ministratiOn has taken the position
that it would not accord with Republi-
can ideas that different form Of gov
ernment should be forced upon the
majority of the Hawaiian people
against their desires. But he was not
empowered to interfere in the affairs
of the provisional government further
than was necessary to protect Ameri {.
can interests, nor was he charged to
make any recommendation and to the
President and Secretary of State was
to be left the decision as to the future
relations of Hawaii to tho United
States, Mr.. Blount's report forming
the basis for that decision.
WASHINGTON, August 2.-The re-
port OF Minister Blount on Hawaiian
affairs is due in Washington, and is
likely to be delivered to Secretary
Gresham at any time. Mail sent from
Honolulu on the Steamer Australia
reached Washington Monday, and as
the Oceanic, which carried Mr. Blount's
report, arrived in San Francisco the
day after the Australia, the mysterious
document seems to be slightly overdue.
1t is not likely, however, that delay
rests in the United States dispatch
office at San Francisco, whence official
communications from Honolulu are
sent to Washington. So valuable q
package will necessarily be transmitted
with especial precaution for it's safe de-
livery.
While Secretary Gresham and other
officials of the State Department will
not consent to be quoted on the subject
of Mr.. Blount's reported homecoming,
it is positively stated that the minister
had decided to leave Honolulu on Au-
gust 6, with the intention of coming
direct to Washington. Careful investi-
cation indicates that the synopsis of
the instructions to Mr.. Blount contain
ed in the dispatch from San Francisco
is substantially correct.