The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-30

AUGUSTA, Me-, Nov. 29.-John l..
Stevens former United States minister
to Hawaii has made public statement
in reply to the report of Com III issioner
Blount. Stevens says:
A deep sense OF obligation to my
country and an American duty to defe nd
N iusulted, threatened and struggling
American colony, planted as righteously
and firmly on the North Pacific Isles as
our pilgrim fathers established them
selves or Plymouth Rock, demand that
| shall make an answer to the astound-
ing misrepresentation and untruths of
Commissioner Blount's report on Ha-
waiian affairs, copy of which I first
obtained with difficulty, Saturdap evea-
ing, November IS.
1t is proper for me to preface my
answer by briefly abiding to the last
that those familiar with international
rules and proceedings and have mad
diplomatic experience must DO as
tonished that Secretary Gresham and
his commissioner should make, before
the world, such persistent effort TO
discredit the recent agents of the De-
partment they now represent, and
which was once represented by Thomas
jefferson, VIM. l.. Marcy, Wm. II.
Seward and James &. Blaine.
Stevens says Blount on his arrival
took up his quarters among royalists
and British partisans and repealed with
discourtesy all attentions offered by
Stevens himself and by members OF the
American colony and adds, "How much
of his singular course in these regards
was due TO want OF Knowledge, and
how r11nch m bic a lra I'D q
pose to make out case againSs the
United States ministers, the naval
commander and the provisional gov
eminent, tho American public must
guess"
Stevens says the charges, implications
and insinuations of Commissioners
Blount against President Dole, Minister
Thurston and other chief men of the
provisional government are baseless
and unjust as those against himself and
Captain Wiltse. lie then becomes
specific and quotes in detail nearly
every statement in Blount's report and
disputes them all.
For example, under the date OF April
81, Blount says he iisapproved of a
request OF the provisional government
that the American forces be landed for
drill. Stevens afli rms that the pro-
visional government never made such q
request, and further what Blount saws
about the Japanese man-of-war is
officially eN parte absurd and egotisric.
For weeks after his arrival in Honolulu
he had not even met or spoken with the
Japanese minister"
-Jt is enough to say that there is not
ESmblance of truth in tho assertion OF
Blount, made by him without his ever
having limited it TO mo or made am in
qniry of me on the subject He thu
gives tho signature of his endorsement
to charge never even heard OF unit.
found it in Blount's printed report.
He says the response to the call o. the
committee of safety to land the uen of
the Boston docs not appear in tho files
of the legation The meaning OF this
insinuation is obvious. Enough to say
there never was any such document.
Blount squarely asserts that promised
to aid the committee OF safety by force.
This is omphaticaliy and categorically
untrue.
Stevens defends nearly everybody
whom Blount attacks and discredits
everybody of whom Blount speaks
favorably
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