Morris tribune., 1893-11-22
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.

Secretary Gresham Gives Out the Blount
Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 81. = Secretary
Gresham decided during the afternoon
to make public all the correspondence
and the report of James II. Blount, the
special commissioner sent to Hawaii by
President Cleveland to investigate the
revolution which dethroned Queen Lii
iuokalani and the establishment OF the
provisional government. Mr.. Blount
arrived at Honolulu March %, 1898. In
his report he calls attention to his recep-
ton by Minister Stevens, who, ''accom-
panied by a committee from the annexa-
ton club. came on board the vessel
which had brought me. He informed
me that this club had rented an elegant
house, we'll furnished and provided with
servants, q carriage and horses for my
use; that could pay for this accommo-
dation just when chose, from nothing
up. He urged me very earnestly to ac-
cept the offer. I declined it and in
formed him that I should go to hotel"
The committee renewed the offer, which
was declined He also refused to accept
profered favors from the ex-queen.
Position of the United States.
Concerning the position of the United
States in the islands he says: 1.-THE troops
from the Boston were doing military
duty for the provisional government.
The American flag was floating over the
government building. Within it the
provisional government conducted its
business under an American protector
ate, to be continued, according to the
avowed purpose of the American minis
ter, during negotiations with the United
States for annexation. My instructions
directed me to make inquiries which, in
the interest of candor and truth, could
not be done when the minds Of thou
sands of Hawaiian citizens were full of
uncertainty as to what the presence of
American troops, the American flag and
the American protectorate implied. 1t
seemed necessary that all these influences
must be withdrawn before those inquir
les could be prosecuted i'll manner beft-
ting the dignity and power of the United
States. Inspired with such feelings, and
confident no disorder would ensue, l di-
reoted the removal of the flag of the
United States from the government
building and the return of the American
troops to their vessels. This was &C
complished without any demonstration
of joy or grief on the part Of the popu-
lace"
History of the Revolution.
He then reviews the history of the
islands at some length, beginning with
the constitution of 1852, and the changes
made in the system of government down
to the revolution of 1887, which resulted
in the constitution of that year, and
which is to great extent given-by Mr..
Blount as the cause of the revolution of
1898. Mr.. Blount then gives a detailed
account of the events leading up to the
revolution; the issuance of new con-
stitution by the queen; the refusal of
the cabinet to sign it; various meetings
of the leaders of the movement with
Minister Stevens; the reading of the
proclamation, declaring provisional
government; landing of United States
troops from the Boston, etc., and says:
1.-THE leaders of the revolutionary
movement would not have undertaken
it but for Mr.. Stevens promise to pro-
tect them against any danger from the
government. But for this their mass
meeting would not have been held. But
for this no request to land troops would
have been made. Had the troops not
been landed no measures for the organi-
zation of new government would have
been taken. The American minister
and the revolutionary leaders had deter
mined ON annexation to the United
States and had agreed on the part each
was to act to the very end. y
Feel They Have Been Wronged.
Mr.. Blount says that the native race
feel that great wrong has been done
them and their queens When the queen
resigned under protest they did not be-.
ieve the action of Stevens would be en-
dorsed, and he adds: Indeed, who
would have supposed that the circum-
stances surrounding her could have been
forseen and sanctioned deliberately by
the president of the United States. Her
uniform conduct and the prevailing SEN