The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-30
STEVENS ANSWERS BLOUNT
The EX-MiniSter Denies the Commits.
SiOleT'S Assertions.

the Commissioner Was Caught in
Meshes and snares Set for Him by
the Advisers of the Queen-He De-
MES That He Promised the Revolu-
tionists Protection in the Event of
Their Arrest.
Augusta, Me, Nov 29.-Mr. Stevens.
the former United States minister to
Hawaii, has made public a statement in
reply to the report of Commissioner
Bount. Mr.. Stevens says:
a deep sense of obligation to my country.
and an Americans duty to defend an insulted,
threatened and struggling American colony
planted righteously and firmly on the
fathers established themselves on Plymouth
Rock, demand that / shall make an answer
to the astounding misrepresentation and un-
truths OF Commissioner Blount's reports on
Hawaiian affairs, a copy of which l first OBJ
tanned. with difficulty, Saturday evening,
Nov. 25,
1t is proper for me to preface my answer by
briefly alluding TO the fact that those familiar
with International rules and proceedings, and
who have had diplomatic experience. must be
astonlshed that Secretary Greshem and his
commissioner should make before the world
such persistent effort to discredit the recent
agents Of the department they now represent,
end which was once represented by Thomas
Jefferson William L. Marcy, William II.
Seward and James G. Blaine. The general
adoption of such policy by our department of
foreign Affairs could not fail to weaken
greatly our influence with foreign countries
in any future effort, and serve to make the
American diplomatic service contemplate in
the eyes OF the world.
DECLARED UNAMERICAN
Not only is the course of Secretary Gresham
and Commi ssioner BlOunt extremely un-
American in its torn and spirit, but it is also
in direct opposition to the converting and
chriStianiZtng influence on the Hawaiian
islands while it is playing into British hands
in direct opposition to the efforts Of the Amer
lean board of missions and to the American
government for more than sixty years in all
Of which period there has been a uniform,
continuous and patriotic American policy.
also nuke preliminary remark regard
ing the repeatedly asserted opinion of those
who have assailcd my official action. that 1
was prepared for, and stimulated to IL by the
accomplished and thoroughly American
statesman, who occupied the department of
state most Of the period of President Harri-
sons administration. ltiS sufficient to say
that this expressed surmIse is utterly without
foundation. What now state on this point.
accords with what eX-Secretary Tracy has
evidently asserted in that regard Still more,
may properly add. that the lines of official
duty as followed by myself and Capt WiltSe.
and the course of the administration and of
the Senate committee of foreign relations. in
the critical Hawaiian days Of January and
February last, were exactly on the lines
marked out by Secretary Marcy in 1854, and
by Secretary Bayard I'm his dispatch to Minis
ter Merrill, July - 1887. Secretary Marcy
instructions ana draft OF a treaty provided
for annexation. secretary Bayards instruc-
tiOns OF 1887 held the United States minister
and naval commander at Honolulu RESPONSE
bic for protection of American life and prop
erty and the preservation Of public order"
NEoPHYTE IN DIPLOMACY.
With this introduction MIR. Stevens
describes Commissioner Blount as a
neophNte in diplomacy, with but little
knowledge of the world S affairs outside
OF his own country, sent on a very
peculiar errand amid currents and quick
sands entirely unknown to him. partly the
victim OF circumstances, having been
caught in the meshes and snares adroitly
prepared for him by the cunning advisers
of the fallen Liluokalani and by the
shrewed, sharp, long-experienced British
diplomatic agent, whose aims and hopes
Commissioner BlOunt has served so we'll
and without the least suspicion that he
was aiding ultra-British interests, even
more than he was helping the Hawaiian
monarchists and the justly dethroned
queen.
MIR. Stevens says Commissioner Blount,
on his arrival, tool up his quarters among
pronounced rOyalists and British parti-
sans and repelled with discOurtcsy all
attentions offered him by Mr. Stevens
himself, and by members of the American
colony. and he adds: How much of his
oLllS bl1iI COIISC III bIIGSt IbRGIuS WAS que
to want of knowledge, and how much to
hls already matured purpose to make out
case against the United States minister,
the naval commander and the provisional
government, the American public must
Judge"
BLOUNT'S CHARGES DENIED.
MIR. Stevens says the charges, implica-
tons and iusinuatiOns of Commissioner
Blount against President Dole, Minister
IhurstOn and other chief men of the
provisional government are as baseless
and unjust as those against him and Capt.
Willis
He then becomes specific and quotes in
detail nearly every statement in Mr..
Blount's report, and disputes them all.
For example, under the date of April 81,
Mr.. Blount says he disapproved Of a re
quest OF. the provisional government that
tno American forces be landed for drill.
Mr.. Stevens affirms that the pro-
FIslOnaI government never made
such request, and further what
Mr. Blount says about the japanese man
Oh war Is officially eX parte, absurd and
egOtlstlcaL For weeks after his ar
rival in Honolulu he had not even met
ana spoken with the Japanese minister"
NOT APPEALED TO FOR PROTECTION.
Mr.. Stevens says:
IN Mr.. Blount's report as given to the press,
ma the following language. The two
11Sdolng members of the committee, MessrS.
Inurston and smith growing uneasy as TO
Sue satety OF their persons went to Minister
NleVens to know If he would prote I them ia
.ue event of tteir arrest by the authorities,
70 which he gave his assent"
IL Is enough to say that there is not
SemOlance OF truth in this assertion of Mr..
nlount, made Dy him without his ever having
!LuJed 1t to me or made any inquiry OF me on
lhe subject. He thus gives the signature Of
ms ms Endorsement TO charge which 1 never
t'ch heard of until found
~ IN Mr.. Blounts printed report.
ne says the response to the call of the com
HlJjee OF safety to land the men Of the Bos-
,uu. does not appear in the hlcs of the lega-
eoH. he meaning Of this lnsinuatiOn is
ouylous; Enough to say there never was
any such document.
M, Blaunt squarely asserts that promised
~ aII the committee Of safety by lOrce. This
" eHphatlcally and categorically untrue.
POINT BLANK DENIALs.
r, Such of Mr. Blount's statements as Mr.,
stevens does not in this manner contra
uIct he explains and gives a coloring
"hoIl y different from the way they APP
pear In Mr.. Blount's report, and he pre-
SsHls What he describes as conclusive ev-
IIence that Messrs. Spreckels, Neumann
ana Blount We're then. as now, rowing
lhe same boat and closely linked in the
Sohsplracy to damage the action of Presi-
ueuJ HarrlSOu'S administration and of