The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-11-22
THURSTON1S VERSION
He Accuses Mr.. Blount of Will
fully Peryerting Facts.
UNFAIR METHODS WE'RE USED
l1.tili
The Charge of CollusiOn between
Stevens and the Revolution
lists Flatly Denied.
METHODS WE'RE USED
Associated Press.

Washington, Nov. 21.-Lorrain A.
1hurston, Hawaiian minister, gave out
a statement tonight. He says: II am
urged to make statement for publica-
ton, setting forth the claims and pos
i'ion Of the Hawaiian government, and
J making reply to the charges contained
in Blounts report. AS l received no
official information that Blount had
made report, am unable intelligent
ly to state what the position and claims
of the government are A large pro-
portion of the published extracts from
Blount's reports consist of personal at
tacks upon me, and those associated
with me in the provisional government,
impugning our veracity, good faith and
courage, charging us with fraud and
duplicity. First, I desire to call atten-
ton to Blount's method of construct
ing his report. Although he in several
places states 1 was a leader of the
revolutionary movement he never ask
ed me a question concerning the same,
nor has he given me an opportunity
to make any statement. The same is
true of large number of other men
who have taken a leading part in the
movement of January. His evidence
consists exclusively of prepared alil
davits or answers TO leading questions
put by himself at private interviews,
no one else being present but stenog-
rapher In no instance was there anyl
cross-examination nor opportunity Civ
en- for contradiction or to explain the
evidence. A brief examination Of the
published portions of the report shows |
numerous incorrect statements Blount |
charges that the American troops enter |
ed under a pre-arranged agreement |
with the committee of safety. AT no
time did Stevens or Capt. Wiltz assure
me or the committee, or any sub-com-
mittee thereof, that the United States
troops would assist in overthrowing
the queen or establishing the provis-
ional government, and, as matter of
fact, they did not so assist. can pro-
duce witnesses in support of this state
ment. In Wundenburgs statement he
says when the committee of safety told
Stevens they were not ready to act, he
replied: Gentlemen, the troops from
the Boston will land at o'clock, wheth-
er you are ready or not
"The troops were landed to protect
American citizens and property, and
not to cooperate with the committee
in carrying out their plans. In support
of this statement, will cite. First
The troops did not land till Monday
night, the 10th of January, after the
revolution was in full progress since
the the afternoon Of Saturday, the 14th,
during which the committee of safety
was openly organized for the avowed
purpose of overthrowing the queen.
second-There was absolutely no at
tempt at concealment from the govern
ment of the objects and Intentions OF
the committee. Third-The queen, cab
met and supporters were utterly de-
and became suspicious Of
one another, and devoid of g.adershlp
committee and their sup
porters were united and had ample
force to execute their purpose. They
knew precisely what they wanted, and
with intelligent deliberatlon.
thoroughness, and confidence to do It.
It is admitted by all that.the queen
began the revolution at noon on Satur-
lay by attempting to promulgate the
constitution, such attempt being imme-
iiately followed by preparations for
lrmed resistance, and the United States
roops landed at O'Clock on Monday.
"He calls attention to the revolutions
# 1887 and 1889 in which about 20 per-
ons were killed and concludes: "such
$ the undisputed record of events upon
wo occasions when the royaIists and
he organizers OF the provisional gov
rnment came into armed conflict when {
here had been no suggestion Of sup {