The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-22

An Interesting Letter.
WASHINGTON, b. c., Nov. 2l.-L. A.
Thurston, the Hawaiian minister, gave
out the following tonight:
am urged to make a statement for
publication, setting forth the position
and claims of tho Hawaiian government
and making reply to the charges con-
tanned in Mr.. Blounts report.
AsI have received no official intorma-
ton that Mr.. Blount has made report;
have not seen q copy Of it, and don't
know what it cantains, except from
reading the newspaper abstracts there
from, and am unaware OF the present
contentious OF tho United States govern
mcnt concerning Hawaii, l am unable
Mt present in the absence Of such knowl-
edge to intelligently state what the
position and claims OF the Hawaiian
government are. 1t would morever be
contrary to diplomatic courtesy for me
to publish statement on such a SUBJ
jGct prior to informing the United States
government Of the same. A large por-
lion OF the published extracts from Mr..
BIount's reports consist, however, OF
personal attacks upon mo and those as
Eociated with me in the provisional
government, impugning our veracity,
good faith and courage, charging us with
fraud and duplicity.
DEpeoNAF DppTv
deem it proper. therefore, to make
personal reply to such charges, con.
fning myself to statements OF fact, OF
which as principal actor, and which l
am prepared to testify TO before any
impartial tribunal,
First, before stating these facts, l de-
sire to call attention to Mr.. Blounts
method Of constructing his report.
Although he in several places states
that was the leader of the revolution
ary movement, he has never asked me a
question concerning the same, nor
given me an opportunity to make any
statement, although have at all times
been ready and willing to do so: Ihe
same is true OF large number oil other
men who took n leading part IN the
movement Of January.
In the second place, his evidence con-
sists exclusively Of prepared athdavits,
or Of answers to leading questions put
by himself at private interviews, no one
else being present but the stenographer.
In no instance has there been any cross.
examination of witnesses. opportunity
to give contradiction, or explain tho
evidence given, or present evidence:
A briet examination OF the published
portions OF the report show numerous
incorrect statements. shall endeayor
for the present, however, to answer the
more salient points only.
First, Mr.. Biount charges that the
American troops were landed under d
prearranged agreement with the COM
mittee OF safety, that they should so
lend assistance in the overthrow OF the
queen. In reply thereto, l hereby state
that at no time did Mr.. Stevens or Cap
tain Wiltse assure me or the committee
or any subcommittee thereof that the
United States troops would assist IN
oyerthrowing the queen or establishing
n provisional government, and as
matter of fact they did not so assist.
can produce witnesses in support OF
the statement OF the highest respousi.
biity in overwhelming numbers, but
Mr.. Blount has rendered it unnecessary
for me to do so. The statements OF Mr.
Wundenburg and Mr.. Damon have been
put forward in the strongest evidence
in support Mr.. Blounts contention. In
Mr.. Wundenburg's statement ne says
that when the committee OF safety told
Mr.. Stevens they were not ready to act,
he replied: "Gentlemen, the troops OF
tho boston will land at 5 o'clock
whether you are ready or not"
WHY THE TROOPS WERE LANDED.
The reason for this reply and the sub
sequent landing of the troops is mani
fest. Tho troops were landed to protect
American citizens and property in the
event OF the impending and inevitable
conflict between the queen and the citi'
zens, and not to cooperate with the
committee in carrying out its plans. In
fact, tho troops did not cooperate with
the committee, aud the committee had
no more knowledge thar did the queens
government where the troops were GO
4lEt IOE WuHt blAGy WSAC BSAhb w w.
Tho whole gist of Mr.. Damon's long ex'
animation is likewise contained in his
statement that when, after the organi-
cation and proclamation Of the new gov
ernment, q request was made for the
support Of the United States troops, 1t
was refused by the commander, SWIM
burne, the commanding officer, sending
back word, Captain Wiltse'a orders
are: Remain passive
Second, Mr.. Blount charges that the
queen had ample military force with
which to have met the command; that
but ior the support Of the United States
representatives and the troops, the es.
tablishment of tho provisional govern.
ment would have been impossible In
reply thereto, l hereby state that, al
though the presence Of the American
troops had quieting effect on the
rough element in the city, aud may
have prevented some bloodshed, they
we're not essential thereto and did not
assist in the overthrow of the queen.
The result OF the movement would have
been eventually the same if there had
NOT been q marine within thousand
miles OF Honolulu. In support OF this
statement cite the following facts:
!. The troops did not land till Mon