The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-21
AND TALKS OF COLLISION.
Saws Minister Stevers Returned
False Reports.
RECENT REVOLUTIONS REVIEWED
Stevens Replies That BIount's State
ments Are a Shameless Per.
version of the True Facts.

W NONs Gu.-CtCICb6TY tITeS-
ham decided this afternoon to make pub
lie all correspondence and the report of
James 81. Blount. the special commits
sioner, sent to hawaii by Cleveland to in
vestigate the revolution which dethroned
Queen LiliuOkalani and established the
Provisional Government.
In his report BlOunt calls attention to
his reception by Minister Stevens, who.
accompanied by a committee from the
Annexation Club. came on board the ves-
sci which brought me. He informed me that
this club had rented an elegant house, we'll
furnished, and provided with servants,
carriage and horses for my use; that /
could pay for this accommodation lust
what l chose, from nothing up. He urged
me very earnestly to accept the offer.
declined it, and informed him / should go
to hotel"
He also refused to accept proffered
favors from the ex-Queen. Concerning
the position of the United States in the
islands, he says: Troops from the Bos-
ton were doing military duty for the Pro-
visiona1 Government, the American flag
was floating over the Government build
ing. and within it the Provisional Govern
ment conducted its business under an
American proteetorate, to be continued,
according to the ave wed purpose of the
American Minister, during the negotia-
tions with the United States for anDexa-
tion. My instructions directed me to
make inquiries, which, in the Interest of
candor and truth. could not be done when
the minds of thousands of Hawaiian citi-
Zens were full of uncertainty as to what
the presence Of the American troops, the
A merican flag and American protectorate
implied. 1t seemed necessary that all
these Influences must be Withdrawn be-
fore inquiries could be prosecuted
in manner beftting the dignity
and power, of the United States,
Inspired with such feelings, and con-
hdent That no disorder would ensue, /
directed the removal of the flag of the
6nlted States from the Government build
Ing and the return of the American troops
to their vessels. This was accomplished
without any demonstrations Of Joy or
grief on the part of the populace. On the
afternoon before. in an interview with
President Dole, in response to an inquiry.
be said the Provisional Government was
now able to preserve order. although this
could not be done for several weeks after
the proclamation establishing it,"
Blount then tells how Minister Stevens
called upon him with w. T. Smith, who
represented that the withdrawal Of the
United States marines meant the Japanese
would land troops from the man-of-war in
the harbor. The American Minister ex-
pressed belief in this statement. The
japanese Commissioner put a stop to
these rumors by having the vessel ordered
away. The Provision al Government, left to
its own preservation. left him free to pur-
sue his investig ations.
Commissioner Biount says: "The causes
of the dethronement OF the Queen and the
establishment of the Provisional Govern
ment were both remote and proximate."
He then reViewes the history of the islands,
beginning with the constitution of 1852,
and the changes made in the system of
government down to the revolution in 1887.
which resulted in new constitution that
year, and which, to great extent, is given
by Blount as the cause of the revolution of
1888. Among those mentioned in coercing
King Kalakaua is Thurston, now Minister
from Hawaii.
Blount describes at some length the re-
strictions placed upon the King by the con-
stitution of 1887, after the revolution was
accomplished. The history of Hawaiian
politics is followed by the commissioner.
OF the Queens acts. just previous to the
last Legislature, Blount says: LET
1t be borne in mind the time was
now near at hand when a Legislature
would probably be procured. Whatever
Cabinet was in power at the time. of
the prorogation had control of public
affairs until the new Legislature should
h fxun
longer unless expelled by vote of want
of confidence. An anti-reform Cabinet
was appointed by the Queen. Some faint
struggle was made toward organizing a
vote out of the Cabinet. but it was aban-
doned ana the Legislature prorogued
The reform members absented themselves
from the session that day in manifesto
ton Of their disappointment and loss OF
power through two years. Letters from
the American Minister and naval officers
stationed at Hon olulu in 1897 indicate any
failure to appoint Ministry for the
reform party would produce a political
crisis. The voting out of the Wilcox
Cabinet produced a discomfort among
the ref6rmers, verging very closely
toward one, and had more TO do with the
revolution than the Queens proclama-
ton. The first was the foundation and
the latter the opportunity.
In the Legislatures many petitions were
MED asking for a new constitution. The
dlscontent with the constitution Of 1887
ana TIE eagerness to escape from it con-
troiled the elections against the party
which established it. The divisions on
the mode of changing the constitution
prevented relief Such was the situation
at me prorogation of the Legislature of
lo9A This was followed by the usual
ceremonies at the palace. when the Queen
informed the Cabinet of her purpose 10
proclaim new constitution and requested
them TO sign it,
de then tells how the Cabinet refused
!. to sign the constitution and the d ispleasure
of the Queen. On January 16 the procla-
nation was issued by the Queen and the
members saying what she proposed to do
on the Saturday previous was compelled
by the stress Of her native subjects. This
proclamation was sent to Minister Stevens.
10 which there was no response. On the