The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-16
NIB. BLOUNT'S MISSION
He Leaves the Capital for the
Hawaiian Islands.
TO INVESTIGATE AFFAIRS THERE.
Annexation to Be Considered From .
Business standpoint-Ths Emis-
sary's Orders Are Secret.

WASHINGTON CrrY. March l5-Ex-Repre-
ington City last night Tor San Francisco,
accompanied by Mr.. Ellis Mills, contiden-
tial stenographer for the state department.
He is. it is contdentialiy asserted. bound
for Honolulu on a secret mission, the APP
pointment to which required no confirma-
ton by the senate. The selection of Blount
for the mission indicates that Cleveland is
not satisfied that Hawaii should be an
nexed to the United States, but has not
made up his mind to oppose it. Blount
will make thorough investigation of the
situation, and the presidents future &C.
ton on the subject will probably be gov
erned by the report. As chairman of the
foreign affairs committee. when the mat
ter first came before the public, Blount
took a conservative position. refusing to
commit himself without further informa-
ton.
More than year before the overthrow
of the queen a delegation from the Ha-
waiian legislature came to this country
without public announcement seeking
some indication from this country of what
support the revolutionary party might
rely on if they should overthrow the old
government and establish a provisional
government, as has been done. The ulti-
mate object, as they then disclosed it, was
to secure annexation to this country, ~
they did not hope for success in the per.
manent establishment of a new govern
ment. Blount was among the few per-
sons with whom they talked, and
he then refused to commit himself
to any such plan. There is no doubt that
since the overthrow of the queen he had
some suspicion that this government may
have encouraged the revolution and might
possibly be accused OF having taken part
in the establishment of new government
in the islands. with which this country is
asked to treat. The question as to how
the overthrow of the government came
about, aid whether the provisional gov
eminent actually represented the popular
sentiment, will. it is understood, be
thoroughly investigated. First of all the
fact will be established that this govern
ment, pending a ratification of treaty
giving them the right to do so. will not in
terfere in any way with the affairs of the
islands. except, if need be, to defend them
from foreign encroachment, the idea being
that government claiming to represent
the people Of the islands must be strong
enough to maintain itself if this country
is to treat with it.
The probability is that this country will
do nothing to maintain the provisional
government against any other government
the people of Hawaii themselves might
seek to establish, but ii it is found that
the provisional government has been
really chosen for the government of the
islands, and not dependent on the sup
port of the United States for existence,
the proposition for annexation may be
favorably regarded and an amended treaty
may be sent to the senate at the next ses-
sion. However, apart from other consid-
erstiops, the desirability of annexing the
islands will be Investigated as business
proposition. 1t is said the administration
early received information, which is
deemed reliable, that the overthrow of
Queen Liliuokalani and the establishment
of the provisional government is the re-
suit of a plan formulated by the sugar-pro-
ducing elements of the island and which
later on San Francisco, upon receiving
the information of the withdrawal of the
treaty. determine ON. Cipher dispatches
went out last night from both the state
and navy departments for Honolulu.
which will 60 forward on the steamer
Australia from San Francisco today. What
these dispatches contain none Of the off,
Gals in either department will say.