Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-21
MISLEADING IN THE MAIN.
EN-Consul General Severance's COM
ment ON Mr.. BIount's Report.

When asked yesterday what he thought
OF the report of Commissioner Blount. H.
W. severance, late consul general at Ha-
wan, who came up by the Australia Satur-
Gay last, said: In the main, the report as
punished seems to be entirely misleading
IN regard TO events OF January last which
resulted in the overthrow of the queen and
the establishment OF the provisional gov
eminent The uprising that occurred had
been brewing for years. Ii was not the re-
suit of conspiracy on the part of a few
men, but was genuine revolution like
that OF 1855. which forced King Kalakaua
to accept new constitution.
There is no just ground for the charge
or insinuation that Minister Stevens con-
spired with the organizers OF the provis-
ional government. His action under the
circumstances was entirely regular and in
strict accordance with his instructions and
diplomatic custom. The statement that
he caused troops to be landed from the
BOSTON when there was no need or excuse
Tor them Is unqualihedly false. Blount's
own report shows that there was reason
TO expect disturbance and bloodshed.
There was prospect of bloody conflict
In which the queens forces would proba-
bly, have been outdone and meanwhile
lives and property OF peaceful Americans
would have been endangered. The occa-
sion certainly warranted the landing OF
troops for the protection of American in
terests.
Much stress is laid in Blount's report
on placing marines in Arion Hall, which
is on the west side of the government
building. Admiral Skerrett is quoted as
/ saying that this position was badly chosen,
! III the object was to protect American
cltlzens but was a wise choice IL the in
tention was TO support the provisional gov
eminent The admiral must have been
unaware of the fact that Arion Hall was
not chosen until efforts to secure two other
locations had failed.
Il am satisfied that everything had been
surrendered to the provisional government
before Ii was recognized by Minister Ste
rens, though IL is the aim OF Blounts re-
port to make the contrary appear Nv first
notification of that recognition was on
Tuesday morning, January Ii, when Can't
Miltse OF the Boston drove over to the
consulate and so informed me- He said
that all had been surrendered. and that Mr.
Stevens had recognized the provisional gov
eminent
IF a conspiracy existed between the
revolutionists and Minister Stevens and il
the uprising could not have been success
full without United States troops how is
1t that none of the foreign powers repre-
sented at Hawaii by ministers or consuls
has made any protest or even a diplo-
matte note of such a serious matter. They
could not have been ignorant Of the facts.
The governments OF England. Japan.
France, and Portugal We're represented
there by ministers and by consuls. Ger
many, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands
Chile. and Mexico had also consuls there
An these governments, through their OF
nclal representatives, recognized the pro
Nisional government of Hawaii without tn
least objection. IL is a fact of importance
which seems to have been entirely owe,
looked at Washington, and yet il is not a.
sumed that England, for instance is at a
disposed to favor the annexation moyemeI
on the islands,"
Mr.. stevens Expresses Surprise.
A reporter called on ex-Minisrer John.
Stevens at Augusta, Me-. last evening"
his house and asked IL he had anythineo
say regarding Commissioner Blounts stse-
ment published yesterday. but which lid
not reach him until evening. Mr.. Stems
said he firmly adhered TO all OF his site
ments In his San Francisco and Austa
addresses. already published to the un-
Try, and in his open letter of last we< to
Secretary Gresham.
He expressed great surprise at th,lan-
guage OF Mr.. Blount as to his tSteensr
unWillingnesS to show him the recos OF
the legation. He now feels himself atiber-
" TO expose MIR. Blount's remarkabl con-
duct toward himself, commencing nma-
diately after Blount's arrival at Hoolulu
IL is record the publication of wth IL
Is believed, VIII astonish all ho,rable
minds, bringing to MIR. Stevens no ensure
unless IL be that he tolerated sucftreat-
ment without at once resenting itoy re-
1using all intercourse with the otndine
person.
Mr.. Stevens two weeks since n.ae an
imperative engagement out Of tn state
which Will occupy the next two o three
Gays, With reasonable promptnss he
will be heard. He deems il sufficnt Il
say now that Mr.. Blounts report, o far
as given to the public, is an ex pae and
shameless perversion Of facts.