Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-11-23
BLOUNT AND STEVENS.
More Hawaiian Correspondence
Made Public.
How the Queen Was Deposed-The Provis-
ional Government Can Only Be Main
tanned by Force-Steyens
VIII Reply.
Commissioner Biount's Statement.

Commissioner Biounts Statement.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 81. s. cretary
Gresham has made public all the cor
respondence between the secretary of
state and James III. Blount, commits
sioner, and later minister, to the Ha-
waiian islands.
Mr.. Gresham, in giving this volumin-
Gus printed matter to the press, ex-
planned that it included everything
connected with Mr.. Blount's mission to
Hawaii, with the exception of some
statistical tables relating to the ISL
ands- The matter consists of three
parts, the first beginning with copy
of the instructions given Mr.. Blount
on March II, 1893, prior to his depart
ure from Washington for Honolulu,
and the last pirt ending with brief
letter under date of July 81, 1898. in
which he takes his congo as follows:
''The condition of parties in the
islands is one of quiescence. The ac-
tion of the United States is awaited by
all as matter of necessity. This con-
dition, it can be assumed, will remain
until the proposition to annex is ac-
cepted or rejected. In the latter con-
tingency no sudden movement is likely
to occur. The present government can
only rest on basis of military force,
possessed of most of the arms in the
islands, with small white population
to draw from to strengthen it. Ulti-
1nately it will fall without fail. 1t
may preserve its existence for a year
or two, but no longer"
Then he adds that he has done his
duty as we'll as he could, considering
was surrounded by persons interested
in misleading" and his private affairs
necessitated his return home.
Secretary Gresham's letter of instruc-
tion to Mr. Blount, dated March II,
defines clearly how far, in the opinion
of the president, the use of armed
force is permissible by the United
States to pull down or set up govern
ments. Mr. Gresham says:
''In the judgment of the president,
your authority as we'll as that of the
commander of the naval forces in Ha-
waiian waters should be, and is limited
in the use of force to such measures as
are necessary to protect the persons
and property of our citizens; and while
abstaining from any manner of inter-
ference with the domestic concerns of
the islands, you should indicate your
willingness to intervene with your
peaceful settlement of troubles within
the limit of sound discretion.
should it be necessary 20 land an
armed force upon Hawaiian territory
on occasions of popular disturbance,
when the authority may be unable to
give adequate protection to the life and
property of citizens of the United
States, the assent of such authority
should first be obtained, if it can be
done without prejudice to the interests
involved"
Mr.. Blount takes the position through
out in his report that the overthrow of
the queen was accomplished by con-
spiracy between the foreigners opposed
to her and Minister Stevens, who, he
claims. agreed to and did land the
United States troops to support the
movements of the conspirators.
Mr.. Blount says the native race feel
great wrong has been done them and
their queen, and he adds:
Indeed, who would have supposed
that the circumstances surrounding her
could have been foreseen and sane
toned deliberately by the president of
the United States? Her uniform con-
duct and the prevailing sentiment
amongst the natives point to her belief
as well as theirs that the spirit of JUS
tice on the part of the president would
restore her crown"
That is the only thing in the nature
of recommendation made.
The commissioner closes with de-
scription of the industries of the ISL
ands, statistics, comparison of the
races, changes in the conditions of the
natives, and information tending to
show that they have been badly
treated.