The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-03-16
WAS 1T A PUT UP JOB
1 Statement lide That Sugar Planters
Upset The Queen.
BLOUNT WILL FIND OUT
Ho Has Gone to Investigate-If 1t
10 All Right Annexation
Will Probably
Follow.

WASHINGTON. March l5.-Ex.Reprc-
sentative Blount OF Georgia left Wsshing-
ton last night for San Francisco, accom-
panied by Ellis Mills, the confidential
stenoarapher Of the state department..
He is, It is confidentially asserted, bound
for Honolulu on n secret mission. the APP
pointment 10 which required no coniinna-
ton by the senate. The selection of
Blount for the mission indicates that
Clevela nd is not set satisfied that Hawaii
should be annexed to the United States,
but has not made up his mind TO oppose il.
Blount will mako o very thorough investi.
cation OF the situation, and the presi-
dents future action on the subject will
probably he governed by his report as
chairman ofthe foreign affairs committee.
When the matter first came before the
public, Blount took u very conservative
position. refusing TO commit himself with
out further information. Moro than
year before the overthrow of the queen .
delegation from the Hawaiian legislature
came to this country with public an
nouncement, seeking some indication
from this country OF what support tho
revolutionary party might rely on, IL they
should overthrow tho old government and
establish o provisional government, as
un8 bluC6 Oecu uOucs bo ultitLutc ob~
ject, as they then discldked it. was to ne
euro annexation to this country. rs they
did not hope for success In the permanent
establishment OF new government.
Blount was among the few persons with
commit himself to any such plan.
There is no doubt, since the overthrow
of the queen, that he has had some sus-
picon that this government may havo
encouraged the revolution, and might pos
sibly be accused of having n part in the
establishment OF the new government Of
tho islands, with which We are asked 10
treat. The question as TO how tho over
throw of tho government came about, and
whether the provisional government
actually represents the popular scnti-
ment, will. II is understood, be thoroughly
investigated. First of all, the fact will be
established that this government, pending
tho ratification of the treaty. giving il tho
right to do SO, will not interfere in any
7 way with the affairs OF tho islands. ex-
cept, II need be, to defend them from for
eiyn encroachrnents. the idea being that
n government, claiming TO represent the
people of the islands, must be strong
enough to maintain itself II we are 10
treat with II. In all probability
we will do nothing to maintain tho
provisional government against any other
government OF the people Of Hawaii
themselves, that might be or seek to be
established. But, if il is found that the
provisional government is really tho
chosen government of f'the islands, and is
not dependent on the support of tho
United States for existence, tho propo-
sition for annexation may be favorably
regarded, and an amended treaty may bo
sent to the senate ut the next session.
However, apart from other considera.
tions. the desirability Of annexing the
islands will be investigated as q business
proposition. II In said that tho administra-
tion carly received information which Is
deemed reliable, that the overthrow of
Queen Liliuokalani and the establishment
| of the provisional government was the 70.
suit of plan formulated by the sugar pro
ducinC element of the islands, and which
was furthered In San Francisco. Upon
| receiving this information, the withdrawal
| Of the treaty was determined upon.
Cipher dispatches went out last night
from both the state and navy depart.
ments. for Honolulu, which will 90
forward, on tho steamer Australia, from,
San Francisco to-day. What these dis
patches contain none Of tho officials in
either department will say.