The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-01

lists, to tho ritter Exclusion of American
Citizens ard American Interests.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Dec. John l.. stevens,
,x-minister to Hawaii, in replying to the
recently published report of ex-Commis-
Homer Blonnt, says he deems titan Amer
cams duty to defend an insulted, threat
sned and struggling colony, planted as
ighteously and firmly on the North
Pacific isles as our Pilgrim fathers estab
hshed themselves on Plymouth rock lie
then dwells at length on the extremely
un-Amerlcan course Of Secretary Gresham
and Minister Blount" as playing into
British hands, goes on to explain lhat
Mr. Blount was untitled for diplomatic
duties and unfortunate in having sur
rounded himself by royalists and palace
adventures on his arrival in Hawaii. MIR.
Btevens proceeds:
AS precautionary safeguard against
shutting out the Americans from ready
access to Commissioning Blount wealthy
and highly respectable widow lady of
the American colony was ready to grant
the use of her house to Mr., and Mrs.
Biount, the commissioner to pay the same
amount it would cost him to live at the
royalists' hotel. A committee of three
American citizens. the superiors of Mr..
Blount in education and manner, men
who had not taken part in the revolution
ary proceedings OF the previous weeks,
went on board the Rush when that ves-
sci came into the harbor, while | was
cOurteously meeting Mr. and Mrs Blount
on their arrival.
AT the request Of these three American
gentlemen, ] introduced them to MIR.
Blount His manner of receiving their
visit repelled them. As deliCatcly AS /
could do so | stated the offer of the COM
mittee of his countrymell, pointing out to
= him that, by accepting their proposition,
he would be near the archives of the lega-
tion which he could conveniently use, and
which would he pleased at once to place
al his disposal. lirusquely, not TO say in
suitingly, lie refused the courteous aud
honestly intended offer of his countrymen,
and at once placed himself amid roynlists
and ultra British surroundings.
MIR. Blount's Discourteous Manner.
commissioner Blount's manner toward
me in the following weeks would not ul-
iude to here were IL not absolute. neGcs-
sary TO do so, He coldly repealed my
kindly intended offers. did NOT allow mo
to show him the customary forms of in
Producing him to the foreign diplomatic
officials and to the chief public men of
Honolulu How much OF his singular
course in these regards was due to the
want Of knowledge and how much to his
p air,ndy mntured purpose to make out u
ease against the United States minister
the naval commander aud the provisional
government the American public must
judge. ...-.
"All insinuutlons and implications In
Bluunt's report that | was aNrrsc to his
access to the legation records ARE shame
e f.,
piications and insinuations of Commits
siOner Blount against President Dole.
Minister Thurston and the other chief
men of the provisional government are rs
ba1eless and unjust rs those against my
self and Captain Witsc. now sleeping In
his honored grave.
Under he date Of April q he says he
disappruved Of II request of tue provisional
government. that the American forces he
landed for drill l here affirm. that the
provisional government never made such
al request The United States minister
made the request of the Hawaiian gov
srnmcnt through the minister Of for
eign affairs To my knowledge, at the
period Of which I}lount speaks. the provi
ai0ual government preferred that the
An ,rican soldiers and marines should not
laRd for drill, because Of the possibilities
of ill feeling and broil between ulen of
other naval vessels then in the hurbor, but
they granted these requests only as
friendly md customary courtesy
1T was feared by the supporters of tn c
provisional government that the fallen
queen, the lottery ring and palace gang
would not hesit ate to promise to grant TO
the Japanese the right Of suffrage in thu
islands, provided they would aid in re-
storing liiliuokalani to the throne
Japan's sudden Activity.
THE sudden appearancenf the Tnpanese
irOncad ia the harbur of Honolulu could
mot fail to create anxiety and misiin-
derstanding. 1t was in these peculiar
circumstances that | felt il my inpera
tive duty TO have repeated interview $
with my Japanese colleague lie did not
attempt to conceal from me his wish that
the suffrage right should be granted to the
Japanese residents He was frank and
earnest on he subject | was equally frank
In informing him that had no authority
4 TO speak on that subject but | expressed
TO him the opinion that the United States
would resist any encrOachmcnt on the soil
or sovereignty Of Hawaii. and that would
maintain this position until otherwise in
stEuctcd by my government
In Blonntss report as given to the press
find the following language; The two
Leading members of the committee,
Messrs. rhurston ard Smith, growing uIl-
saey a. To the safety of their persons, went
TO Minister Stevens to know if he would
protect them in the event of their arrest
by the authorities, TO which he gave his
assent
ut Is enough TO sny that there Is not a
snmblauce of truth in this assertion of
! Blount made by him without his ever
= having limited 1t to me or made any in
i .1s1lry Of me ON he subject. He thus gives
tHe signature of his endorsement to u
charge which never even heard of until
found il i'll Blount's printed report.
"Ile says the response to the call of the
committee of safety to land the men of
the Boston does not appear in the files of
this legation The meaning Of this in
situation is obvious, Enough to say,
there never was any sucll document.
received tue invitation OF the committee
of safety for what il was worth as | re-
ceived other information on tho same sub
feet. l should have requested Captain
Wiltse to have landed his force, had not
the committee of safcty E1lucstel il. The
critical circumstances existing, the fear
OF incendarsm, tumult and robbery and
the danger of alarming panic in the night,
more than justified our carrying ont the
standing instructions of the state and
navy departments"
Mr.. Stevens then calls attention to the
!. fact that American forces had been re-
pestsdly landed in Hawaii, and that 1t
was on the owe of being on several other
sccasions, and that those who assert to
ihe contrary are not honest. else they do
rnot understand what they are writing
shout He proceeds.
Ricnnt Accused of Falsehood.
"Bount squarely asserts that | prom
ised to aid the committee of safety by
force. This Is emphatically and cate5or-
tcglly nntrne. In raplv To rival parties at
Highest of all in Leavening Po