The herald., 1893-11-30
An Answer to the Charges in
BlOunt's Report.
The Commissioner Accused of,
Misrepresentation.
He COnsOrted Entirely With British
and ROyalists.
American Citizens snubbed and Only
Such Evidence Taken as Best
Suited tho Ex-Qusen's
Cause.

By the Associated Press.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Nov. 29.-Ex. Minister
Stevens tonight gave to the Associated
Press the following answer to the
charges made against him by Commits
sioner Blount in the latter'a report on
the Hawaiian revolution:
"a deep sense OF obligation to my
country and minister's duty to defend
an insult threatened against a strug-
Cling American colony, planted as
righteously and firmly on North Pacific
isles as our pilgrim fathers established
themselves on Plymouth rock, demand
that shall make an answer to the as
founding Misrepresentation and uns
truths OF Commissioner Blount's report
on Hawaiian affairs. Not wishing to
be severe on neophyte in diplomacy,
with little knowledge of the worlds
affairs outside of his own country, sent
on very peculiar errand, amid cur
rents ana quicksands entirely unknown
to him, l say he has been partly the
victim of circumstances, having been
caught in the meshes and snares
adroitly prepared for him by the cum
ming advisors of the fallen Liliuokalani,
and by ashrewd, sharp, long-experienced
British diplomatic agent, whose aims
and hopes Blount has served go well and
without the least suspicion he was aid
ing the ultra-British interests even
more than he was helping the Hawaiian
monarchists and the just dethronement
of the queen. 1t is clear enough, from
Blount'H manner from the day of his
arrival at Houolulu, as we'll as by his
letter to tive department of state, writ
ten shortly after, that he designed, at
whatever cost, to repudiate the views
and acts of the recently terminated sd-
ministration, and that in order TO do 30
he must impugn the action of Minister
Stevens and the commander of the
United States steamship Boston.
Being total stranger it was impos-
sible for MI Blount to know how un-
fitting it was for him to take up his
quarters where he was certain to be
surrounded by royalists, and where the
supporters Of the provisional govern
ment would be reluctant to go. As q
precautionary safeguard against shut
ting out Americans from ready access to
Commissioner Blount, q wealthy and
highly respected widow lady of the
AutTlCAA COlOIy WAS Wlllnk W Ax04b
the use of her house to Mr.. and Mrs.
Blount, the commissioner to pay the
came amount it would cost him to live
at the Roya.ist hotel. This polite offer
of an American resident to the Ameri-
can commissioner did not originate with
the provisional government, nor did the
provisional government have any
thing whatever to do with the proposed
AZ
American citizens, born and educated iE
the United States, men who had not
taken part in the revolutionary pro-
ceedings of the previous weeks, went on
board the Rusn when that vessel came
into the harbor. At the request of the
three American gentlemen, introduced
ner of receiving their visit rec
me to state the reasons why it
would not be pleasant TO him. and
better for all concerned not to 60 to the
Royalst hotel, but take a residence on
neutral ground, where he would be mas
cately as 1 could, 1 stated the offer of
the committee of his countrymen,
pointing out to him that-by accepting
bl6lT pIOpOehl l0 WO4AA bO A00A b1o -
chiyas OF the legation, which he could
conveniently use, and which would be
pleased at once to place at his disposal.
Brusouely he refused the courteous and
honestly intended offer of his country
men, and at once placed himself among
Royalst and ultra British surround
ings.
"All the insinuations and implica-
IN DlonntJu thot
ayerse to his access to the legation rec
ords are shameless perversions of the
facts. | took TO him the printed dig
patches of Minister Merrill to Secretary
Bayard, the printed records of the re-
Gently adjourned legislature, containing
the recorded votes for and against che
lottery gang, the recorded votes ~ to
the recent change Of ministers and an
official copy OF the lottery charter-evi-
dencs OF decisive value. Ii he had
really come to Honolulu for any other
purpose than to convict Harrison's ad-
ministration and the senate foreign
affairs committee OF hasty and ill-ad.
vised action in January and February
last, his manner, while allowing me to
leave these important documents in his
room, showed that he cared not to re-
ceive them, and the general drift Of hen
reply indicates that he did not even
read them.
"Under date of April 2lst he says ne
disapproved OF the request OF the pro-
visional government that American
forces be landed for drill. l here affirm
that the provisional government never
made such request. The provisional
government followed the exact course
followed under the monarchy"
Referring to Blount's assertion that
he put an end to the Hawaiian anxiety
about Japanese encroachments, Stevens
recites in detail numerous interviews
with the Japanese minister prior to
Blount's arrival, aud says Blount's
claimis pure assumption.
In Blount's report, as given to the
press" continues Stevens, Il lind the
following: Two leading members OF
the committee, Messrs. Thurston and
Smith, growing uneasy as to the safety
of their persons, went to Minister
Stevens to know II he would protect