The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-11-21
SHEDDING A LIGHT
Blount's Report Made Public
by Secretary Gresham.
voLUMINous DOCUMENT
-eFes'sa @ .eoia
Mr.. Stephens Placed in a Question
able Act for His Part in
the Proceedings.
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Washington, Nov. 90 - Secretary
Gresham decided this afternoon to
make public all correspondence and the
report of j. H. Blount, special COM
missioner sent to Hawaii by Cleveland
to investigate the revolution which de-
throned Queen Lilioukalani and estab-
lished the provisional government. In
the report he calls attention to the
reception by Minister Stevens, who "ac-
companied by a committee from the
annexation club came on board the
vessel which brought me. He informed
me this club rented an elegant house,
we'll furnished and provided with serv-
ants, carriage and horses for my use;
ton just what l chose, from nothing
up. lie urged me very earnestly to
accept the offer l declined it and in
formed him l should go to a hotel"
He also received offers of favor from
the ex-queen. Concerning the position
of the United States, he says: "The
troops from the Boston were doing mil
itary duty for the provisional gorern-
ment. The American flag was floating
over the government building. Within
it the provisional government conduct
ed business under the American pro-
tectorate to be continued according to
n hn A
minister during the negotiations with
the United States for annexation. My
instructions directed me to make in
quiries, 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 American flag, and the
American protectOrate implied. 1t
seemed necessary that all these influ-
ences should pe withdrawn before in
quiries could be prosecuted in a man.
ner befitting the dignity and power of
the United States. Inspired with such
a feeling, and confident that no disorder
would ensue, l directed the removal of
the flag Of the United States from the
government buildings and the return
of the American troops to the vessel"
Commissioner Blount says the causes
of the dethronement of the queen and
the establishment of the provisional
government were both remote and prox-
innate. He then reviews the history of
the Islands, beginning with the consti-
tuition of 1852, and the changes made in
the system of government down to the
revolution in 1887, which resulted in the
constitution of that year, and which to
n, axrf0r t. erfxy hxr
the cause of the revolution of 1898. The
voting out of the Wilcox cabinet pro-
duced discomfort amongst reformers
verging very closely towards crisis,
and had more to do with the revolution
than the queens proclamation. The
disconlent with the constitution of 1887,
and the eagerness to escape from it,
controlled the elections against the par
ty which established it, Divisions on
the mode of changes in the constitution
prevented relief. Such was the situa-
tion at the prorogation of the legisla-
ture of 1892. Blount says the cabinet
could not be removed for two years,
and it being against the new constitu-
tion, there was no possibility of 1t being
proclaimed. His description of the rev.
Olution is as follows;
Nearly all the arms on the island of
Ouha, in Which Honolulu is situated,
were in possession of the queens gov
ernment. A military force, organized
and drilled, occupied the station house.
The barracks and palace were the only
points of strategy of significance in the
event of a conflict The great body of
people moved on their usual course,
and yet there were secret conferences
had by a small body of men, some
Germans, some Americans, and some
native-born subjects of foreign origin.
Saturday evening, the 18th of Janu-
ary they took up the subject of de-
throning the queen and proclaiming a
new government with a view of annex
alton to the United States.
"The first and most momentous ques-
ton was to devise some plan to have
the United States troops landed. The
committee of safety, consisting of thir-
teen members, was formed from the
little body of men assembled in w. o.
Smiths Office. A deputation from these
informed Stevens of their plans and
arranged with him to land troops If
they would ask it, for the purpose of
protecting life and property
"It was agreed that in the event they
should occupy the government build
ing and proclaim a new government he
would recognize it. Two leading MEM
bers of the committee Thurston and
of their persons. went to Stevens to
know If he would protect them in the
event of their arrest by the authorities, |
to which he gave assent. At mass
meeting called by the committee of
safety on the 10Th of January. no COM
munication was made to the crowd of
any purpose to dethrone the queen or
change the form of government, but |
only to authorize the committee to take
the queens purposes. and have guaran
tees of the public safety. The commit
tee Of public safety kept their purpose
from the public view at the mass meet
ing, and at small gatherings, for fear
Of proceedings against them BY the
government Of the queen. After the
mass meeting was closed call on the
American minister for troops was made,
and signed indiscriminately b. Ger
mans, by Americans, and by Hawaiian
subjects OF foreign extraction.