The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-22

in three parts of the city, instead of be-
ing massed at one point as stated by Mr..
Blount. The reason the Queens govern
ment took no action against the commit
tee or it's supporters was that they were
overwhelmed by the unanimous display
of indignation and the determination
shown by the citizens"
AS to the sneer tina the leaders of
the revolution were aliens, Mr.. Thurston
says they were all legal voters and a
large proportion of them were born in
the country. They were the men who
built up the country commercially,
agriculturally, financially and politically
and created and made possible civilized
government therein"
BLoUNT MAKES THEM SMILE.
They Know the Facts Out on the Pacific
Coast-Ex-Consul General Severance Says
Stevens is Right.
San francisco, November 21.-The
scraps from Blount's Hawaiian report
have not caused the revulsion of feeling
which the administration evidently ex-
pected. Here, where every detail of
the late Hawaiian revolu ton has been
thoroughly discussed, the garbled report
of the commissioner was looked upon as
an insult to the general intelligence of
the people. After Minister Stevenss
clear and convincing statement, some
thing better was expected than this
synopsis, so mixed in the matter of dates
that their careful analysis is necessary
to bring it's allegations into
proper chronological train. One
Of the principal witnesses whose
testimony is given, F. Wundenburg, is
royalist who started in as member of
the committee of safety, but subsequent
ly withdrew. A portion of the testimony
of Mr.. Damon, president of tho advisory
council of the PROVISIONAL is
also given. 1t is fragmentary, and de-
signed, as far as possible, to corroborate
that O.. Mr.. Wundenburg. In fact even in
its garbled condition it virtually con-
tradicts him as to his charges against
Minister Stevens of anticipating the
action of the provisional government
Similar weak points occur elsewhere in
the alleged synopsis. No mention is
made Of Minister Stevens's clear and CO.
herent statements regarding the coup
d'etat, though his testimony is quite as
credible as Blount's ex parte and second
handed evidence. But Stevens's state
ment would not fit in with Cleveland's
design. sN
Leading Hawaiians who are now in
San Francisco, discussed the report and
pointed out it's errors of fact and its
| malicious twisting of evidence to bolster
up a theory. The best review of the
Il rIE IL 1,x, Nxrs
eral Severance, who was in Honolulu
when the revolution occurred and who
had the very best means of knowing all
that was said and done. He was found
reading carefully the printed synopsis of
Rlount's report and making notes of the
errors and misstatements. He said:
"The chief venom in this report appears
to be thrown on Stevens. and there is ap-
parent in Blount's cross-examination of
witnesses an eager desire to get facts
which will prove that Stevens landed
marines before the revolutionlsts really
had gained any foothold, and that there
was clear case of collusion between
them. Now this, is absurd, for the
marines were not landed until the day
after the government was seized, and
Stevens was not ns.Honoluluo when 1.-The
crisis came. He was at Hilo and when
messengers reached him in hot haste he
was the most surprised man on the
islands, because he hadn't been informed
of the plans of the revolutionists. The
way the Queen was overthrown by SO
small force was that every man was
true, and no inkling of the decision to
make the coup d'etat had got out.
1.-The uprising had been breeding for
years. 1t was not sthe result of a con-
spiracy on the part Of a few men, but was
genuine revolution like that of 1887,
which forced King Kalakaua to accept
naxu oOp sti tl1ti0n Ctavap Cd action nm,
der the circumstances was regular and in
accordance with his instructions and
diplomatic custom. The statement that
he caused troops to be landed from the
Boston when there was no need of Nexer-
else for them is unqualifedly false.
Blount's own report shows there was
reason to expect dlstur Dances and blood
| shed. There was prospect of bloody con-
fiict, in which the Queens forces would
probably have been overcome, but mean
while the lives and property of peaceful
Americans would have been endangered.
The occasion certainly warranted the
landing of the troops for the protection
of American interests.
"Blount's report gives prominence to
statement made by .Wundenberg, who
is described as acting in good faith
| with the committee of safety, and being
present at their meeting until the Ameri-
can flag was raised, when he ceased to
QdV0 COMMUNICATION Will Cu6Iu. L MS
Wundenberg is known in Honolulu as a
Royalist. 1t is alleged that he was offered
an office by the provisional government.
The truth is that he wanted to be collec-
tor of customs under the new regime,
but was refused the Office. The pro-
visional government had reason to doubt
his allegiance. But Commissioner Blount
appears to attach great weight to the
statement made by this disappointed
office-seeker, that Minister Stevens had
promised to support the revolutinists
with troops from the Boston.
"As to the nature of Blount's investi-
cation I have nothing to say except that
he did not appear to make any discrimi-
nation in regard to the credibility or
standing of the persons whom he ques-
toned. I made remark to him to that
effect, and he replied that it made no
difference what sort of position or stand
ing the witness had.
SIT had been posed that the police
force would be used to support the
Queen, as it was under the orders of
Marshal Wilson, whose relations to the
Queen have been the subject of much
scandal. But he surrende red to the pro-
visioual government on Monday evening,
before Minister Stevens had given it
recognition. AS to the scandal about