Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-22
The Hawaiian Minister Contradicts
Mr.. Blount.
Mr.. STEVENS OFFICIAL ACTS,
No Encouragement to Assist the
RevoIutionists.
THE OTHER SIDE HEARD

out to the press last night statement
answering the published reports of Mr..
Blount, as to matters Of fact directly con-
tradicting. in many instances the state
ments and differences Of Mr.. Blount Mr.
Thurston says:
First. Before stating such facts, I desire
to call attention to Mr. Blount's method Of
constructing his report. Although he in
several places states that 1 was the leader
Of the revolutionary movement, he has
never asked me a question concerning the
same, nor given me opportunity 10 make
any statement, although have at all times
been ready and willing to 40 So The same
Is true Of a large number of other men who
January last.
In the second place. his evidence consists
exclusively Of prepared affidavits ~ an
swers to leading questions put by himself,
at private interviews, no one else being
present but the stenographer In nc in
stance has there been any cross-examina-
ton OF witnesses. opportunity given 20
contradict or explain evidence given, or
present other evidence.
Numerous Incorrect Statements.
A brief examination of the published por-
lions OF the report shows numerous incor-
rect statements. l shall endeavor for the
present, however. to answer the more sa-
lient points only.
First. Mr.. Blount charges that the Amer
lean troops were landed under prear-
ranged agreement with the committee Of
safety that they sh,u,l 50 land and assist
in the overthrow of the Queen In reply
thereto. 1 hereby state tina, at no time did
Mr. stevens Or Capt. WiltSe assure me or
the committee os safety, o. any subcom-
mittee thereof. that The United STATES troops
would assist IN overthrowiag the queer or
establishing the provisional government
assist.
can produce witnesses In support of
this statement. of the highest responsibility,
IN overwhelming numbers; but Mr.. blount
statements of Mr.. Wurdenberg end Mr.
Damon have been put forward as the
strongest evidence in support Of Mr.. Blount's
contention. In Mr.. Wurdenberg's state
ment ne says that when the committee Of
safety told Mr.. Stevens they were not ready
to act he replied: Gentlemen, the troops
OF the Boston will land at o'clock wheth-
er you are ready or not" The reason for
this reply and the subsequent landing of
the troops is manifest. The troops were
landed to protect American citizens and
property In the event of the impending and
inevitable conflict between the queen and
the citlzens, and not to cooperate with the
committee in carrying out it's plans In
fact, the troops did not cooperate with the
committee, and the committee had no more
khowIedge than the queens government
Wnere the troops were going, nor what
they were going to do. The whole gist of
Mr. Damon's long examination Is likewise
contained in his statement that when, after
.ne ORGANIZATION and proclamation of the
new government, a request was made for
the support OF the United States troops it
was refused, Lieut.. Commander Swfnburne
the commanding officer. sending back word
Capt. Wiltses orders are, Remain pas,
sive.'"
The Troops Did Not Assist.
Second. Mr.. Blount charges that the queen
had ample military force with which to
nave met the committee, and that but for
the support OF the United States represent
atives and troops the establishment of the
provisional government would have been
impossible.
In reply thereto. / hereby state that, al
though the presence of the American troops
had quieting effect on the rough charac-
ters IN the city, and may have prevented
some bioodshed, they were not essential to
and did not assist in the overthrow of the
queen. The result of the movement would
nave been eventually the same If there
hao not peen a marine within a thousand
miles Of Honolulu.
In support Of this statement 1 cite the
following facts:
az Inc troops did not land till Monday
night. the 10th Of January, after the revo
luton had been in ruII progress since the
afternoon Of Saturday. the l4th, during
which time the committee of safety was
openly organizing for the avowed purpose
OF oVerthrowing the queen.
CD There was absolutely no attempt at
concealment from the government or the
objects and intentions of the committee
to) Inc queen. her cabinet and their sup
porters were utterly demoraiized, suspicious
or one another. and devoid of leadership.
90 The committee of safety and their
supporters We're united; had ample rorce to
they wanted, and proceeded with intelli-
gent elaboration, tnoroughness and con-
ndence to do IL.
There is no conflict concerning the facts
OF the nrSt proposition. 1t Is admitted by
all that the queen began the revolution at
noon on Saturday, the i4th, by attempting
TO promulgate a constitution; that such
attempt was Immediately followed by pre-
paratlon on the part of the citizens for
armed resistance; and that the United
States troops landed at o'clock Monday.
the 10th.
The Revolution Not Secret.
In support of the second proposition,
that there was no concealment from the
government of the intentions of the COM
mittee, submit the following:
l. On the afternoon of Saturday, the 18th,
IN reply to the request Of the queens cab
met for advice as to what they had better
do, the queen then still insisting upon the
PRONUNCIATION Of the constitution and sup
porting 1t by force. l advised them TO de-
clare the queen in revolution and the hrone
vacant, and at their request and with the
express approval of two of them and the
tacit assent of the other two. then and there
drew up form of proclamation to that
effect.
= At 4:3O on the afternoon of Saturday,
the lith, at a meeting Of about 2OU citizens
a. tne once Of W. o. Smith the queen was
denounced In the strongest terms; armed
resistance and a counter revolution was
openly advocated, and the queens minister
Oh the interior. John Colburn, addressed the
meeting asking their armed support against
the queen. Inc queens attorney general
MI. peterson, and her attorney, Paul Neu-
man, were both present, taking part in the
meeting. The committee of saIety was pub
ncly then and there named. and proceeded
forthwith to organize
s. AT o'clock on Sunday morning the 18th,
told MT. peterson and Mr. Colpurn two
members OF the queens cabinet that the
committee intended to depose the queen
ana ESTABLISH provisional government:
that II they would take charge of the move
ment, well and good: otherwise the COM
mittee intended to take action on it's own
account. They asked for twenty-four hours
In which to consider the matter. L declined
to wait, stating to them that the commit
tee intended to proceed forthwith
t. The committee met openly that morn
ing at ~ o'clock. with the full knowledge of
the government Of the place Of it's meeting.
1t remained in session during the greater