The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-22
MIR. II CUNTS REPORT.

No candid man, whether he be Repub-
Ican or Democrat can read Mr.. Blount's
report on the Hawaiian business and
the evidence which accompanies it with
out coming to the conclusion that Minis
ter Stevens has involved the United
States Government in filibusterer's at
tempt to overthrow a friendly govern
ment with which this nation was in
profoundly peaceful relations and to set
up another in its place that was desired
by only small fraction of the people
of the country.
1t is not possible to doubt that the So
called revolution was the action Of
small band Of conspirators who would
have been powerless by themselves, and
unaided by the soldiers and seamen Of
this government, 10 make the slightest
move towards overthrowing the existing
government, and who. moreover would
not have dared to make the attempt. If
any fact Is clear in the case, the fact
that the conspirators We're in mortal ter
ror for themselves and that the Queens
government was amply able to take care
Of itself and suppress the conspiracy,
stands out in the boldest relief in every
part of it. Nor can the conclusion be
resisted that the United States Minister
knew every step that was taken In the
conspiracy as that step was taken, that
he sympathised with and approved Of
each step, and that he assured the con-
spirators beforehand that he would pro-
tect them with the United States ma
rines against interference from the armed
forces Of the Queen. 1t cannot be doubt
ed. therefore. that there would have been
no revolution at all If Minister Stevens
had not taken part in bringing It on, and
that he therefore made the United States
government part and parcel Of the con-
spiracy to overthrow the old govern
ment and set up the new one.
Infamous as this is, is 1t the whole
extent Of the infamy? Was not Mr.
Harrisons administration equally a part
Of the conspiracy?
Admiral Skerett testified TO Mr.. Blount
that before he was sent to take command
OF the Pacific fleet he had an interview
with Mr. Tracy, MIR. Harrison's Secre-
tary OF the Navy. and that on his telling
Tracy that when he was at the Sand
witch Islands twenty years ago the Amer
lean Minister there told him that 1t
was against the policy of this govern
ment to annex the islands. and on his
expressing the wish 10 know Of Tracy
If that was still the governments policy.
Tracy told him il was not; that the
policy of the government had charge.
and that 1t now desired TO annex the
islands Here, then, is indisputable proof
that Harrison's administration wished to
see events so shape themselves as to
bring about annexation Of the islands.
When we couple this desire with the sub
sequent actions of the United States
officers at Hawaii, and add TO that
the fact that on the moment when COM
missioners from the new government
that Harrison set up arrived in this
country, Harrison negotiated with them
a treaty whereby the islands were annex |
ed to this country. the conclusion is in
evitable that Stevens was carrying out.
in what ne did, what he had been in
structed TO do by HarTisons admins
tration.
This is a most humiliating confession |
to make, but the conclusion is inevta-
bic The conspiracy TO overthrow the !
Hawaiian government had its origin in |
Mr. Harrison's cabinet. was executed in |
Hawaii according TO his orders by armed
forces OF the United States. and the re-
suit is disgrace TO this government
which will stick to II while 1t remains
government.