Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-12-01
THE REPORT ON Hawaii.
MINISTER BLOUNT'S CONCTT.
SIONS MADE PUBLIC.

a Synopsis of the Voluminous Docu.
ments-Why He Hauled Down the
United States FIag-1Iinister Stev.
ens's Alleged Haste in AekftotsI-
edgiHg the Professionals.
Secretary of State Gresham has made pub
lie all the correspondence between the Se,-ra-
tary of State apd James H. Bount. Conmis
sioner and later Minister to the Hawaiian
Islands: Mr.. Gresham in giving this volu-
minous pfinted matter to the press, explained
that it included everything connected
with Mr.. Blount's mission IN Ha-
waii, with the exception of some sta,
tistical tables relating to the islands. The
matter consists of thruo parts. the first be-
giIlnihg with a copy Ofthe instructions given
Mr.. BlGunt on March II, 1898, prior to his
departure from Washington for Honolulu
the second his report; and the last part end
ing with brief letter under date of July 21
1898.
Mr. Blount arrived at Honolulu March %,
1898. In his report he calls attention to his
rece option by Minister Stevens, who, ''aocom-
panied by committee from the Annexation
Club. came on board the vessel which had
brought me. He informed me that this
club had rented an elegant house, we'll fur
nisfied and provided with servants and a
carriage aid horses for my use that could
pay for this accommodation Just what Ichose.
from nothing up. He urged nfe very ear.
nestly to accept the offer. | declifted it and
informed him that I should go to hotel"
The committee renewed the offer which
was declined. He also refused to accept prof
fered fayors from the ex-Queen
Concerning the position of the United
States in the islands he says: THE troops
from the Boston were doing military duty for
the Provisional Government. The American
flag was floating over the Government Build
ihc. Within the Provisional Government
conducted its business under an American
protectorate to be continued according to
the avowed purpose of the American Minis
ter, during negotiations with the UnIt6u~
States for annexation.
"NIy instructions required me to mGke in
GurieS which in the interest of candOr and
truth could not be done when the minds Of
thousands Of Hawaiian citizens were full of
uncertainty as to what the presence of Ameri-
cali troops, the American flag and the Ameri-
can protectorate implied. 1t seemed neces-
sary that al these influences must be with
drawn before those inquiries could be prose
cuted in manner befitting the dignity and
power of the United States.
"Inspred with such feelings and confident
NO disorder would ensue [ directed the re
moyal of the flag of the United States from
the Government Building and the return of
the American troops to their vessels. This
was accomplished without any demOnstra-
ton OF Joy or grief on the part Of the pOpn-
lace "
Mr. BIount then tells how Minister Stevens
called upon him with W. c. Smith. who r"p-
resented that the withdrawal of the United
States marines meant that the japanese
would land troops from a man-of war in tho
harbor. The American Minister expressed
his belief in the statement
One bit of his testimony is certificate
from F. Wundenberg This witness was u
deputy clerk of the Hawaiian Supreme Court
and claimed that his information was de-
rived from personal attendance at all tho
conferences of the Committee of Safety with
which he claimed to have acted I'm good
faith" up to the time the Stars and Strips
were hOisted
vunderbers says that the Committee Of
Safety met al 4 p. n. January Is. 1893, and
decided that 1t was not ready for tn" landing
Of the American troops and sent com
mittee to tell Minister Stevens of their de
cisiOn He is said to have replied "Gentle-
men. the troops of tho Boston Will land at
o'clock this afternoon whether you ar" ready
or not.
The troops were landed after business
hours when all was quiet and Wundcrherg
testties that nobody appeared to know why
they were there.
The committee came together again that
evening and invited John H. Soper to act a5
Commander-in-C Chief of the forces to support
the new Government which was to y" de-
clared Soper declined the appointment
until after Mr.. Stevens had been commune
Gated with and had definitely promised re-
cOgnition of tho Provisional Government
and the support of the marines of the Bos-
ton.
The new Government was proclaimed ac-
rording to Wunderberg, at 2.40 p. IN. On
January 10. before dozen or more IoUnSerS
and thirty confederates, with American ma
rineS under arms in temporary barracks not
q hundred yards away.
Wunderberg declares that the basis OF ac-
ton throughout was the general understand
ing that Minister Stevens would keep ms
promise to support the movement with me
Boston's men otherwise. he testities. the
movement would not have been attempted,
or if attempted would have ended in miscra-
bic failure, followed by the Imprisonment or
death of those who participated.
A long interview with Mr.. 5. 4. Damon.
president of the Advisory Council OF the ITO
vsiOnal Government, also embodied IN the
report reveals the story in a different Ilgut'
He stated that the Committee of Safety SePd-
rated and traversed the streets with :+2ltIon
to avoid the Queens police.
J. o. Carter, one Ofthe leading revolution
lists, informed Commissioner BlOuDt that ne
was one of the delegates who went to inform
the Queen that she was depOsed. lie htd
been told that Minister Stevens had rerog-
nized the Provisional Government and coun-
seIed the Queen to avoid demonstration Dy
her forces that might cause a conflict with
the United States Government, and that hsr
case would be justly considered at Washing-
ton.
The report makes it appear that Minister
Stevens recognized the new Government
before it was installed, and that such recO.--
milton was f1ourished as a weapon to assist
in intimidating the Queen into abdication.
Saws Mr. BlOunt The leaders of the revo-
Iutionary movement would not have under
taken it but for Mr.. Stevens's promise
TO protect 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 the troops
would have been made. Had the troops not
been landed, no measures for the OrganiZ4-
tiOn of a new Government would have been
taken. The American Minister and ths
revolutionary leaders had determined on
annexation TO the United States. and hal
agreed on the part each was TO act to The
very end"
In conclusion of this report for the r.
mainder is made up entirely of statisticql
matter and disquisition upon the trade #
the island and the character of the popula-
tion. Mr.. BlOunt says THAT deep wrory
has been done the Queen and the native m 20,
by American officials prcvades the nat;,c
mind and that of the Queen. AS well ne .
hope for redress from the United STAR.
there can be no doubt.
In this connection it is important f.,
note the inability of the Hawaiian NO
pie to cope with any great power. anI
their recognition of it by never offari,,
resistance to their encroachments Ths
suddenuess of the landing of the Unitai
States troops. the reading of the pr;,oIa.
nation of the Provisional Goyernrnoo+
almost in their presence. and the quick re-
ognition by Mr.. Stevens, easily prepared her
for the suggestion that the President of the
United States had no knowledge of these o.
currences and must know of and ap2roye or
disapprovc of what bad occurred at n futr-,
time.
This. too, must have contributed To her
disposition TO accept the suggestions u
Judge Widemann and Mr.. Damon. IndaeI
who could have supposed that tho s.ircun.-
stances surrounding her could hayo hAen
foreseen and sanctioned deliberately by the
President of lie United States?
Her uniform conduct and the prevailing
sentiment among the natives point to Eerhe7
lief. as we'll as theirs. that the spirit of ins
tlee on the part of the President would re-
store her CROWN
The Cape Cod (Mass.1 cranberry crop this
year is the largest on record. 4 large part of