The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-01
STEVENS VERSUS BLOUNT.

Ex-Mtnister Stevens's reply to Paramount
Blount's report does not add materially to
the ascertained facts in the Hawaiian case,
but it throws a searchlight on some that
were previously known. One of these, al
ready established beyond a reasonable
doubt, is that Mr.. Blount had secret In
structions before going to Honolulu to
make a case against the minister and the
provisional government, and that every
step he took while there was with a view
Of obtaining evidence in support Of an
opinion already formed. He did not go
there to ascertain the truth and make a
fair and impartial report, but to collect
testimony that would justify him in max
ing a report censuring the action of the
Harrison administration and justifying the
predetermined course of this one. 1t was
in pursuance of this course that, as Mr..
Stevens shows, Mr.. Blount, from the mo-
ment OF his arrival at Honolulu, turned a
cold shoulder to American residents and all
the opponents of the monarchy and placed
himself completely in the hands of the roy
alists. The truth is, Blount's own report
shows that he was there to make out a
case. He reached Honolulu on March %.
In his first letter to Secretary Gresham,
dated April 6. he said:
Since my arrival visitors are continually
calling upon me and Mrs. Blount Most of
my time has been occupied In this way.
l shall soon to make inquiry in
regard to the various questions naturally
arising in connection with the relations of
the United States with the Hawaiian ISL
ands, from persons whose opinions / shall
have decided are of any valuable signifi-
canoe.
He had not commenced taking testimony
yet. He was looking for persons whose
opinions he should decide were "of any
valuable Significance viz: tending to sup
port his secret Instructions. Two days
later, on April s, he wrote: MY present
impression is that the existing government
owes its being and maintenance to this
perverted misunderstanding the per
verted influence" OF United States troops.
1t took him but two days, surrounded as
he was with royalists, to obtain evidence
enough to. confirm his original impression.
on April 26. in transmitting Wundenburg's
testimony against the provisional govern
ment, he said: II think in my next COM
m~unication L may be able to give you in
formation strongly corroborating all thai
Mr.. Wundenburg has said" Note the lam
guage; 81 think L may be able" He was
on the search for testimony Of a certain
kind and was carefully rejecting all other.
IL any additional evidence were needed
on that point, Mr.. Stevens shows conclu-
siyely that the landing of the troops from
the Boston had nothing to do with pre-
cipitating the revolution and did not con-
the provisional government The Queen
herself precipitated the revolution. Her
government virtually ended on Saturday,
Jan. Ia The troops did not land till Mon
remain passive" and did refuse to ex-
tend protection or aid to either side. The
provisional government was declared on
Tuesday, Jan. IL, and was recognized on
the same day by the representatives of
several European powers, as we'll as by
Minister Stevens.
The truth is, our minister would have
failed in his duty, knowing the situation
as he did and the possibility of destruc-
ton of American life and property, if he
had not requested troops to be landed
from the RoSton If iS i'm evidence that
when. on Monday. the 18th. members of
the provisional government sent word to
him asking him to defer the landing of
the troops he replied: The troops will
land this afternoon whether you are ready
or not" This meant that the minister
was going to do his duty whether it suited
the provisional government or not. He
was acting in the interest of the lives and
property of American citizens. and not of
either party to the pending controversy.
All this. however, does not touch the
vital point that, no matter how the pro-
visional government was established, it
was established and recognized by this
government and all European govern
ments, and if it has been overturned by
an act of war and should be impeached.
We shall know in a few days whether it
has complied with the demand of Minister
Willis to abdicate it's functions.
Is MacmOnnics "a PIaginrist?
The Chicago Times tells a story which