The morning call., 1893-03-16
A PRIVATE ENVOY.
Blount Goes on a Queer
Mission.
SENT OUT BY THE PRESIDENT
Harrison's Motives Are Suspected and
the Georgian Will Sail for the
Islands to Probe Them.
Special to THE MORNING CALI

WASHINGTON, March 15-Ex-R Representa-
tive Blount Of Georgia left Washington last
night for San Francisco, accompanied by
Mr.. Ellis Mills, confidential stenOErapher of
the State Department. BlOunt is, il is con-
fdentially asserted. bound for Honolulu on
a secret mission, the appointment to which
required no confirmation by the Senate.
The selection of Blount for the mission in
dicates that Cleveland is not yet satisfied
that Hawaii should be annexed 10 the
United States, but has not made up his
mind to oppose it. Bl1unt will make a very
thorough investigation OF the situation, and
the Presidents future action on the subject
will probably be governed by his report
As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee when the matter first came before
the public, Blount took very conservative
position, refusing to commit himself with
out further Information.
More than year before the overthrow Of
the Queen, a delegation from the Hawaiian
Legislature came to this country, without
public announcement, seeking indications
from the administration as to what support
a revolutionary party might rely on If it
should overthrow the old Government and
establish a Provisional Government, as has
been done. The ultimate object, as then
disclosed, was to secure annexation to this
country, as they did not hope for sue
cess in the permanent establishment of a
new government. Blount was among the
few persons with whom the delegates
talked, and he then refused to commit him
self to any such plan. There is no doubt
that since the overthrow of the Queen he
has had some suspicion that this Govern
ment may have encouraged the revolution,
and might sihIv ha Of
part in the establishment of the new Gov
ernment on the islands with which we have
been asked to treat.
The question of how the overthrow of the
Government came about and whether the
Provisional Government actually represents
the popular sentiment will. it is understood
be thoroughly Investigated. First OF all the
fact will be established that this Govern
ment. pending the ratification of a treaty
giving it the right TO do so. will not inter-
fere in any way with affairs on the islands
except, if need be, to defend them from
foreign encroachment, the Idea being that a
Government claiming 10 represent the peo-
PIE Of the Islands must be strong enough to
maintain itself if we are to treat with It,
The probability is that we would do moth
ing to maintain the Provisional Government
against any other Government the people Of
Hawaii themselves might seek to establish; !;
but II it was found that the Provisional Gov
ernment was really the chosen Government
Of the Islands, and was not dependent on the
support of the United States for its exist
ence, the proposition for annexation may be
fayOrably regarded and an amended treaty
may be sent to the Senate at the next ses-
sion.
However, apart from other considero-
tons the desirability Of auuexng the
Islands viii be Investigated as a business
proposition. 1t Is said thar the admiuiStra-
ton early received Information, which was
deemed reliable, that the overthrow of
Queen Ljliuokalani and the establishment
Of the Provisional Government was the re-
suit Of a plan formulated by the sugar
producing elements on the islands, and
which was furthered in San Francisco.
Upon receiving this Information the with
drawal Of the treaty was determined on.
Cipher dispatches went out last night
from both the State aud Navy departments
for Honolulu, which will 90 forward on the
steamer Australia from San Francisco to-
day. What these dispatches contain none
of the officials in either department will
say.
Vice-President Stevenson laid before the
Senate to-day the following resolution of
the Massachusetts legislature:
ResOlUed, Il is the sense Of the General
Court that it is expedIeut the Hawaiian
Islands be annexed 10 the United States
and that the interests of the United States,
commercially and strategcally. will be
promoted thereby.