Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-11-15
WEDNESDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER IS. 1893.

ready been torn Aowa when the United
States made 10 displAy Of force.
The aiministrAsion has seen ft 10 accept
the report Of Commissioner Hi0ant - con-
tanning The correct version Of the occurrence,
for no better reason apparently than thai il
accorded best with it vishes and ideas.
Certainly the opportunities Of Minister
Stevens for knowing the facts we're far su-
perior 10 these OF Mr.. Blouns Mr.. Stevens
was on the ground v hen the revolution oe-
CARED. Mr.. Bloant Wa not there until
many months afteyva,ds- Mr.. Stevens
kne~ The circumstances from close obsefvA-
ton Mr.. Bloant bad to git them second
hand from the testimony of men = long
time Afterwards This testimony he unicab,-
edly found conflicting. and his precon-
ceivsd opinions undoubtedly very much to
do with the determining What be would Ac-
eeps and what he would throw away. Mr..
Blcuns went to the island when the qusstio !,
had become somev hat party issue in this
country without any definite knowledge OF
the facts. With very little consideration
of the merits Of the question the Democrats
had condemned Minister Stevens acts SIM
ply because they were the acts of = Rspao-
Lcsn. Mr.. BIount Was Democrat and
he WAS sent OUT by a Democratic ad-
minis,rstion to ascertain the facts.
L Under these circumstances il was newt
able that Mr.. Bioan;'s mind should be
much more receptive to stories thst
tended to discredis the legality and
rightfulness of Mr.. Stevens conduct than
TO testimony that made the other way.
/. 10 nothing more than the uuth 10 say
Mr.. Blount went TO HAwan hoping to
fad material TO discrsdit Mr.. Stevens re-
port an the action of the Harrison admin
istrslion based upon il. OF course the roy
aiists were ready and anxious to furnish
him with what he was alter. To discredit
Commissioner Blouni's report it 10
only necessary to assume, what as
undoubtedly the fact, that be had
some preconcsived ideas on the question
before he beesn his Investigation and
gave more willing ear TO testimony that
tended TO support them than TO the oppo-
site kind But to di.credir Minister Stew
ems we must assume that he deliberately
falsifed He certainly knew whether the
revolution WAS one with which he had moth
ing to DO or one which be plotted and con-
,risea hims. If. He could make no mistake
on this poiut, he could not be deceived in
rcgard to it, and so if be represented il as
purely q ftfoiutlOu VI fhNhhdu It-iueNN4t
with which the nited States had nothing to
DO, he must have deliberately misrepresen-
ted il. Mr. Stevens is a gentleman of high
standing, of vide knowledge and long dip
lona,ic experience. Thst he would have de-
liberately misrepresented facts of great I'M
po,tance to the government of which he
vas the sccredi'ed representative is not to
b. believed unless il is established by
thorough AMI impartial investigation. So
far there has been no Investigation worthy
of the name. The public is asked to dis
credit him simply on the strength Of the de-
ductions of prejudiced secretary of state
from the report of prejudicsd commits
sioner. The public has too great liking
for fair play to do any such thing.
The case stands thus; On the strength
of purely partisan investigation the ad-
mini istration pronounees Minister Stevens a
liar, and the Hawaiian commissioners liars.
aud declares that American bay0nets must,
if necessary be used to restore to the throne
of Hawaii dissolute queen who Is detested
by all the respectable residents of the island.
Sooner or later the American people will
get an opportunity to express their opinion
of tlis performance.