Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-16

WAsHrvGroN, D. c., March 15.-Ex-
Representative BlOunt, OF Georgia, leIt
Washington last night for san fran
cisco accompanied by Mr.. Ellis MIL q
confidential stenOgrapher OF the State
Department. He is, it is confidently
asserted, bound for Honolulu on secret
mission, an appointment which required
no confirmation by the Senate.
The selection OF Mr.. Blount Tor tnls
mission indicates that Mr.. Cleveland Is
not vet satisfied that Hawaii should be
annexed TO the United States, but mas
no. made up his mind 70 oppose II. Mr..
Blount will make very thorough IN
vestigation of the situation, and the
Presidents future action on the subject
will probably be governed by his report.
As chairman Of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, when the matter hrSt came
before the public, Mr.. BlOunt took
very conservative position refusing 10
commit himself on the subject OF an
nexatlOn without further Information.
More than year before the over
throw OF the Queen q delegation from
the Hawaiian Legislature came 10 THIS
country without public announcement
seeking some indication from thiscoun-
try of what support the revolutionary
party might rely on II they should over
throw the old government aud establish
a provisional government as has been
done. Their ultimate object, as they
then disclosed 10 was 70 secure annexa-
tion 10 this country, as they did not
hope OF success In the permanent estao-
lshment Of new government. Mr..
Blount was among the few persons
with whom they talked, and he then re-
fused TO commit himself 70 any plan OF
the sort.
There is no doubt that since the
overthrow OF the queen he has had
some suspicion that this government
may have encouraged the revolution
and might possibly be accused OF having
a part In the establishment Of the new
government Of the islands with which
we were asked to treat. The question
of how the overthrow Of the old gov
ernment was brought about and
whether the provisional government
actually represents popular Sentl-
ment will, it is understood, be
thoroughly investigated. First Of
all the fact will be esta6-
lishsd that this government pend
ing the ratification OF a treaty giving
the right TO do so, will not interfere in
apy way with the affairs OF the islands
except. n need be, TO defend them from
foreign encroachment, the idea being
that a government claiming 10 repre-
sent the people Of the islands must be
strong enough to maintain itself if we
are to treat with it. The probability is
that we will do nothing to main
tain the provisional government
against any other government OF
the people that might 0e or seek TO be
established. But il il is found that the
provisional government is really the
chosen government of the islands, and
IS not dependent upon the support Of
the United States for its existence, the
proposition for annexation may be IA
yorably regarded and an amended treaty
may be sent TO the Senate at the next
session
However, apart from other cOnsidera-
tions, the 1esira0ilitY Of annexing the
islands will be investigated as a buSi-
ness proposition. II is said that the
administration early received infOrma-
tlon which was deemed TO be reliable
that the overthrow Of Queen Liliouka-
lani and the establishment Of pro-
visiOnal government was the result Of
a plan formulated 0y the sugar
producing elements OF the ISL
ands, and which was furthered
i'm San Francisco. Upon receiving this
information the withdrawal Of the
s.o,t,, mas dnfornofnpd on CiDhnr a 4
patches went out last night from both
the State and Navy departments for
Honolulu, which will so forward on the
steamer Australia from san Francisco
to-day. What these dispatches contain
none Of the officials in either depart
ment will say.