Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-20
Mr.. BLOUNT'SREPORT
Statements on Which Mr.. Gresham
Based His Action.
LARGELY A QUESTION OF TIME
When Minister Stevens Recognized
the Provisional Government.
THE JANUARY REVOLUTION.

What purport to be extracts from re-
ports made by Commissioner Blount to the
State Department on Hawaiian affairs have
been given to the public. Mr.. Blount, it is
said. mad several reports, which have been
printed by the State Department in differ
ent volumes, one making up what is known
as the final report, covering all his investi-
cations. One report contains his current
dispatches informing the State Department
of the condition of things in Hawaii. it
appeared to him. This volume of current
reports is relied upon by those who approve
Mr.. Gresham'S action as establishing the
fact that the revolution of January last
was accomplished by the interventi ton of
Minister Stevens. 1t is claimed that it
shows from the testimony of members of
the provisional government who took part
in the overthrow of the queen that this
revolution was accomplished a result
of conspiracy which they had formed.
with the assistance of Minister Stevens,
and in which he, as the representative of
the United States bore conspicuous part;
that it shows that but for what is claimed
to have been Minister Stevens abuse of his
power the revolution could not have been
accomplished, and that his position and the
presence of the marines and the machine
guns from the Boston overawed the queen
and her supporters. and that nothing else
but the Intervention of the United States
in this maneuver would have induced the
queen to yield, which she did with the ex-
press understanding. accepted by President
Dole of the provisional government that
the case was to be reviewed at Washing
ton and justice done her by the President
Of the United States.
II &c
tain the administration policy in Hawaii
That Commissioner Blounts report will
show that Minister Stevens landed the
troops from the Boston long before there
was any valid excuse for their presence on
Hawaiian soil; that he declined to remove
them when requested TO do so by the gov
eminent and when informed that the au-
thcrfties were willing and fully able to pre-
serve order and to protect American inter
ests; that these troops were stationed
across the street from the government
buildings in which Minister Stevens knew
the revolutionists were about to read their
proclamation, and that the revolutionist
committee relied upon the American troops
to protect them i'm this act of rebellion:
that Minister Stevens recognized the pro-
visional government according to pre-
conceived program, before that government
had obtained possession of the departments
and military power at Honolulu. and that
the military power was surrendered as the
queen surrendered, only through awe of the
Supeiioi lOtCt Vi tllt billtu
Mr. COrnwclrs Statement.
One OF the statements most relied upon by
Mr.. Blount, as to the part played by Min
lister Stevens in dispossessing the queen is
that attributed to Mr.. Cornwell, who was a
member of the queens cabinet. Mr. Corn
wells statement as reported by Mr.. Blount
goes on to say:
ION Sunday morning. January Il. Mr.
Thurston. the head of the revolutionary
party, called upon my colleagues Ministers
Colburn and Patterson. and asked them to
JOIN with himself and others in deposing the
queen, assuring them that such movement
would be perfectly safe, as Minister Stevens
had promised them the support of the United
states FORCES, and also that he would recog--
nlze ana support a provisional government
as soon as such step could be taken NV
colleagues naturally refused to entertain the
infamous proposition of Mr. Thurston and
Immediately, with myself and Minister
Parker. the cabinet held several consulta-
tions and knowing the strength of our
forces, We felt confident that We could easily
cope with any Instruction of the few mall
contents.
'On Monday, the 10th, the queen issued a
proclamation to the people in which she
explained her reasons for desiring to pro-
mulsate a new constitution and at the same
time assured them that she would not make
any further attempt TO gain that object
At III a m. the proclamation was printed
ana distributed all over town. Assurances
10 similar end were also sent to the for
eign representatives and accepted as salts
factory. We had stated to the members of
the corps diplomatic what we intended To do
and were told that it was considered a wise
step, which they believed would be satisfac-
tory. Present at the consultation were the
representatives of England, France. Japan
and Portugal. Minister Stevens declined To
be present. which did not surprise us, know
ing his sympathy for the revolutionists
Al about p. m. We were informed that
the United States forces were landing
Ministers Parker and Peterson immediateiy
called upon Minister Stevens and gave him
to understand that the government was
able TO take care of the situation, and re-
quested him to keep the troops on board
He answered that he had landed the troops
fo- the protection of American life and
property and proposed to keep them ashore
1t is noteworthy that the Arion Hall and
all the buildings in the immediate vicinity
are not American property that IL the
troops were landed solely for the protection
of American property, the placing of them
far away from the center of the property
of Americans and SO very close to the prop
erty of the Hawaiian government was re-
rlarkable and very suggestive.
'On Tuesday, January Ii, we were in
formed that the insurgents would proclaim
a provisional government in the afternoon
and the cabinet called upon Minister Ste
vens. asking him if he would afford any as
sistance TO the legal and lawful government
sistance should be required. He refused in
unmistakable terms and made us under
stand that he should acknowledge and sup
rort the revolutionary government as soon
as IL was established"
Mr. Cornwel says that the government
did not place forces in the government
building. because the presence of the United
States troops across the street would in
crease the danger of conflict, and the gov
eminent desired at ell hazards to avoid
-riN Minister Stevens
tense for his hostile action.
I'VE realized adds MIR. Cornwell tina
any steps from our side to dislodge and ar
into conflict with the United States forces.
understanding that such surrender was I'M
to decide if the action of their minister and
the use of their forces to destroy a friendly
government was Unsuitable and according
to American principles. 1t was after
o'clock p. m. when the arms and ammuni-
ton of the queens government Were turned
over to the provisional governmental or about
three hours after Minister Stevens had rec
ognized the revolutionary government"
MIR. stevens Accused of Haste.
The fact that Minister Stevens recognized
the new government before 1t was in
possession of the station house and before
abdication of the queen, that recognition
being used as a weapon with which to in
timidate the queen. is. it is claimed. estab-
lished by an affidavit of Charles l.. Hopkins.
who carried letter from Antoine Rosa to