The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-11-24
GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC
Mf,. BlOUNT'S REPORT ON THE
HAWAIIAN REVOLUTION.

Special Commissioners For Permitting
United States Troops to Land at Homo
lulu In the Interests of the Provisional
Government.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-Secretary
Gresham decided Monday afternoon to
make public all the correspondence and
the report of James III. Blount, the
special commissioner sent to Hawaii by
President Cleveland to investigate the
revolution which dethroned Queen Jill
iuokalani and the establishment of the
provisional government Mr.. Dlount
ARRIVED at Honolulu March 90, 1893. In
his report he calls attention to his re-
ception by Minister Stevens, who. sac.
companied by committee from the
annexation club, came on beard the
vessel which had brought me. he in
formed me that this club had rented an
elegant house, well furnished and pro-
vided with servants and carriage and
horses for my use; that could pay for
this accommodation Just what l chose,
from nothing up. He urged me very
earnestly to accept the offer. / de-
clined it and informed him that
should go to hotel"
favors from the eX-queen. Concerning
the position of the United States in the
islands he says: The troops from the
Boston were doing military duty for
the provisional government. The
American flag was floating over the
government building. Within it the
provisional government conducted it's
business under an American protecto-
rate. To he continued, according to the
avowed purpose of the American min
lister. during negotia tons viii the
United States for annexation.
My instructions directed me to
make inquiries. which in the interest of
candor and truth could not be done
hen the minds OF thousands of Ha-
ian citizens were full of uncertainty
Gs TO what the presence of American
troops, the American flag and the
American prOtectorate implied. 1t
seemed necessary that all these infu-
ences must be withdrawn before those
inquiries could be prosecuted in man
ner befitting the dignity and power of
the United States.
Removed the Flags.
\ "Inspired with such feelings and con-
fident no disorder would ensue, di-
rected the removal of the fal of the
United States from the government
building and the return of the Ameri
can troops to their vessels. This was
accomplished without any demonstra-
ton of Joy or grief on the part of the
populace..
''The afternoon before, in an inter
view with President Dole in response
to my inquiry, he said that the pro-
visional government was now able to
preserve order, although it could not
have done so for several weeks after
the reclamation establishing it,
Mr. Blount then tells how Minister
Stevens called upon him with G. w.
Smith, who represented that the with
drawal of the United States marines
meant that the Japanese would land
troops from man-ofwar in the har
Dor. The American minister expressed
his belief in the statement. The Japan
ese commissioner put stop to these
rumors by having the vessel ordered
away. The provisional government
left to its own preservation, left him
free to pursue his negotiations.
Commissioner Blount says that "the
causes of the dethronement of the queen
and the establishment of provisional
government are both remote and proxi.
mate"
He then reviews the history of the
islands at some length, beginning with
the constitution of 1852, and the changes
made in the system of government since
down to the revolution of 1893.
His description of the revolution is as
follows:
NEARLY all of the arms on the ISLAND
r of Oahu, in which Honolulu is situated,
were in the possession rs the queens
government. y military force organ.
lied and drilled. occupied the station
house, the barracks, and the palace
the. only points of strategic significance
in the event of a conflict.
"The great body of the people moved
on their usual course. Women and
children passed to and fro through the
streets, seemingly unconcerned of any
impending danger, and yet there Were
secret conferences held by small body
of men, some of whom were Germans,
some Americans and some native born
subjects of foreign origin. On Satur-
day evening. the 18th day of January,
they took up the subject of dethroning
the queen and proclaiming new gov
eminent with view to annexation to
the United States.
A Momentous Question.
"The first and most momentous
question with them was to devise some
plan to have the United States troops
landed. Mr.. Thurston, who appears to
have been the leading spirit, ON Sunday
sought two members of the queens
cabinet and urged them to head move
meht against the queen and to ask Mr.
Stevens to land the troops, assuring
them that in such an event Mr. Stevens
would do so. Failing to enlist any of
the queens cabinet in the cause it was
necessary to devise some other mode to
accomplish this purpose. A committee
of safety consisting of Is members, had
been formed from a little body of men
assembled in w. o. Smiths office
deputation of these, informing Mr..
!. Stevens Of their plans, arranged with
him to land the troops if they would
ask it for the purpose of protecting life
and property. IL was agreed between
him and them that in the event they
should occupy the government building
and proclaim new government he
would recognize 1t.
1.-The two reading members of the
committee, Messrs. Thurston and Smith,
growing uneasy as to the safety of
their persons, went to him to know if