Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-12-02
The Chronology Of Blounts Conclusions
New York SIM

tNtN ioih puh.}
The full text of Mr.. Biounts communi-
cations to Secretary Gresham is before US.
The letters which ihe paramount commits
sioner wrote from Honolulu to his prlnci-
pals in Washington, read continuously,
show most conclu.ively for what purpose
Mr. Blount went out TO the islands and in
what manner he conducted his pretended
investigation there.
Three characteristics mark the Blount
letters to Gresham throughout; Anxiety
to assure Mr.. Gresham and Mr.. Cleveland
that his report will embody the conclusions
desired and expected by the administra-
ton; petty jealousy of the functions of his
paramount commissionship; and an almost
comical impotence to get home again.
Mr.. Blount reached Honolulu on March
%, and hiI first letter to Gresham is dated
April 6. Up to that day his time had been
oc upied principally in social formalities;
Since mv arrival visitors are continual
Is ealing upon nue. and Mrs. Blount. Most
of my time has been occupied in this way.
I sbH commence soon to make inquiry in
regard to the various questions naturally
atising in connection with the relations of
the United States witt the Hawaiian -lsnd-,
from persons whose opinions | shall have
decided are of any valuable significance.
From persons wnose opinions were OPP
posed to annexation AMI to the provisional
government, Mr.. B!ount man. to say. Ter
tim1ny on that 81 lie of the ques,io' was
what he was after: ard no other seemed to
have any valuable significance.
Ii was on April c that the commissioner
announced his intention to begin his inquiry
soon. Ga April $, two days later, he had
reached the concins on that to the per
verted Influence of United States troop,
1.-The existing government owes its being
and its maintenance Substantially, that
WAS the whole question which Mr.. Blount
had ostensibly been sent out to investigate
and determine. Two DAYS after he had
announced his intention to begin the in
quiry soon" he was able to report my
present impression is that the existing
government owes its being and its main
tenance to this perverted influence. OF
course he added. ''time and further in
quiry may furnish different and better
opinion OF course. time and furthe in
quiry did no such thing. Mr. Bloun. hal
no reason for re rording thus prematnreiy
his conclusions except to inform the admin
istration that he understood what was ex
pected of him and was preparing to report
accordingly.
On April 90 Mr.. Blount sent to Mr..
Gresham the now discredited ami worth
less testimony of Wundenburg; adding. in
a phrase which in itself il confession a..
motive and animus, II think in my next
communication may be able to give you
information strongly corrnbtiing all that
Mr.. Wundenburg has sud- 81 think /
MAY BE- able r. He manifestly Understood
how welcome at Washington wouli be any
thing in the line of Wun leuburg'- stsle
meBt: and he tell. bis pr nripsls I'll tt he is
keen for such testimony. In the same l~t-
ter occars another passage which iilusrra -
Blounis mental attitude, early iii his in
ves,igri9n. toward a question which he
was supposed to be investigating impartial
iy. thoroughly. and without p ejndi,.;
II enclose you copy of a. mnnnics-
ton from the committee on public safety It.
Min ster Stey.n.}. To be iupluring pro-
lection fro n the lifted States government
on the 10Th, and establish z the provision
al government ard dethroning the Queen on
the next day. without sny refereo.e to the
presence of Uni ed States troops, is quite a
,j,eff on my rre,taitfg,"
In this letter of April &c, also, be lin Mr..
Blount's PERSISTENT app ais TO be allowed 10
close up his inquiry and e'me home. He
really did not see Why tie farce should be
p'otrscted when he was already prepsr
to write exactly such report as Mr.. cieve-
land and MIR. Gresham wanted There IS
something pathetic in his repeated requests
for PERMISSION to come nome
81 can see no advantage In my remsialna
here longer than the month OF May l trust
that you will consent to my return az such
time in the month OF June as may choose.
prefer TO write my report on my return 10