Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-04-21

WdSHln9tOn,AprH Little news IrOm
Honolulu this morning has caused a
decided sensation. To everybody OK
cept the president and his cabinet it
was a profound and complete surprise.
1t is doubtful even if it was not a sur
prise to every member of the cabinet
save Secretary Gresham. Otherwise,
1t is believed, Blounts action would
not have been kept secret so long. The
state department has received no con-
firmation of the report that Blount
hauled down the stars and stripes, but
there is no doubt that Blount acted
according to the strict letter Of his IN
structions
Secretary Gresham declined to talk
about the matter. He said he could
not, for he he'd no official information
to talk about. He has read the papers,
but that was all he knew. He didn't
seem to be much interested in the
news, not half so much as he did about
the storms damage to the worlds fair
buildings.
The Honolulu news caused a great
deal Of talk in the navy department,
and it is no eXaggeration to say that
this talk plainly indicated the existence
of much disgust. The officers of the
seemed TO regard Commissioner
navy attached to the department
Blount's action as something in the line
Of a reflection upon them. They saw
in the Hawaiian incident possibilities Of
little glory.
The landing of the Boston's men was
very gratifying to them and they all
lOnged for an assignment to the HaW-
allan islands. 1t gave the honor to the
navy, and they basked in the sunshine
Of reflected glory, faint though it was.
now they believe that not only is that
sunshine gone, but that it will not re-
turn.
1t is possible, however, that they are
undAIay discOurtaed It is not al
together unlikely that Commissioner
Blounts action may contain greater
possibilities for glory than anything
that has yet been done 1T will depend,
however, upon whether some other
nation attempts to gain the advantage
which this country had and has volun-
tarily relinquiShcd. In other words,
whatever the outcome of this act so
far rs annexation itself is concerned,
this much is certain. No other country
will be permitted to annex the islands.
Whether this country anneXes them
is now purely Il matter for conjecture.
As 4 correspondent was Informed to-
day by one qualified to speak, one
might rs we'll decide according to the
toss Of Il penny us to base II prediction
on the present information. There is
good reason to believe however, that
the islands will not he annexed That
ule islands will not be annexed appears
today to be almost certain, if the desire
of til" Cleveland administration is ac-
QuicSced in by other governments
The idea of this government is that
the Hawaiian people should be allowed
TO govern themselves as they see fit,
with the understanding that no other
government is to take any step toward
anneXing them or toward exercising
a grttectorate over them except in
conjunction with the United States.
Should it be discovered however,
that it would be unsafe to leave the
islands to possible annexation by me
other power this country may annex
then 20 Ir-aSi-
deaf Cleveland's wish. He does not
want the islands. He believes that
their acquisition would keep this country
IN hot water all the time.
He is aware of the advantages of an
nexation, but he does not believe that
the advantages would offset the obi
CATIONS which this country would incur
in ameXing them.
The Next Move
New York, April 14.-A Boston special
says: Hawaiian Minister s. Mott Smith,
who is in Boston, says the provisional
government of Hawaii will now appeal
to England or Germany for support
and each Of these nations stands ready
to respond to any overtures.