The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-07
BLouNr AT HAWAII.
Great Demonstration Upon the Arrival
of the Com missIoner.

of the Com NJ issIuner,
HONOLULU, March 29.-The United
States revenue cutter Rush arrived here
this morning, nine days from San Fran.
cisco, having on board ex. Congressman
Blount, of Georgia, who was appointed
commissioner 10 investigate the exist.
ing condition in Hawaii, and report as
to the expediency Of the annexation of
the islands to the United States. AS
soon as the cutter was sighted of Koko
Heao at a. m business men went to
work, and in short time the streets
ana buildings were covered with flags
and bunting. The townspeople turned
out en- masse, and by IL o'clock. when
the Rush anchored In Naval Row, the
docks and streets were crowded.
The mail steamer Australia, which
was scheduled to leave at noon, was held
back, end from her deck the band OF the
provisional government welcomed the
new arrivals with tho strains of the
Star Spangled Banner"
a. delegation from the Annexation
Club was hastily formed and welcomed
the commissioner at the boat landing.
"A party OF about seventY-fve Hawaiian
women from the woman's branch OF the
Hawaiian Patriotic League, bearing the
American and Hawaiian flags, also pro.
ceeded to the dock. DR.. j. S McGrow,
chairman, and Professor Scott and Gen.
Hartwell, as committee from the An
nexation Club, United States Minister
Stevens, f. P. Hastings, secretary of
foreign affairs and aid to President
Dole; Major Robertson, the queens
cham herlain, and the newspaper cor.
respondents put off to the Rush to pay
their respects to the commissioners.
The news that only one person had
been sent in that capacity to the islands
soon spread to the shore and occasioned
much surprise.
Commissioner Blount declined to be
interviewed, but from casual converse
ton 1t would seem that his labors here
may cover period OF several weeks.
The Rush will probably return to San
francisco in the meantime. Comma.
sioner Rlount did not leave the steamer
for several hours, and consequently n
reception by the Hawaiian League and
the Annexation Club did not take place.
The Rush brought dispatches from
Washington to Admiral Sxerrett, and
also the provisional government but
the nature OF them could not be learned.
After the first feeling of surprise had
passed away, expressions OF satisfac ton
at the arrival of tho commissioner pre-.
vailed among the annex ationists.
Inc provisional government is in re-
ceipt OF dispatches stating that presi-
dent Cleveland is favorable to the
principle of annexation and that Secre-
tary Gresham favors IL and prompt
ratification of tho treaty. On March 81
meeting of white residents number.
ing fully 1900 was hold at the large
drill shed, at which an annexation club
was formed which now has 1900 mem.
bers, and speeches wero made bv some
OF the most prominent men in Homo.
lulu.
The laying over OF tho treaty has
caused certain white agitators here to
convey to the native mind the idea that
the administration does not favor
annexation and will not consider it
unless the natives themselves ask for It,
Consequently the natives gratefully
look to the new administration as one
which will assist to rid them of "mis.
sionary" rule, which they fear more
than annexation to some foreign power.
MINISTER SMITHS RUMoRED RECALL.
SAN FRANCISCO, April GA letter re.
ceived here to day from Honolulu saws
Minister Smith at Washington and
Consul General Pratt at San Francisco
have been recalled by the provisional
government.