The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-15
Cleveland Instructed Him to Lower the
Flag and Disavow the PrOtectorate.
he Was Given Full Authority to Act Before
He Left Washington. but Was Warned to
Say Nothing About His Instructions
Commissioner Charles Carter Still Hope
full that Hawaii Will b. Annexed.
He Does Not Think President Harrison's Policy
Has Been Reversed-Mr. Blount's Act
Strongly Condemned by Senator Cullom.
FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS.
Mr.. Blouns Carried Out the Orders Of Cleve
land i'm Hauling Down the Flag.

FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS.
Mr Bloun. Carried Out the Orders Of Cieve-
land in Hauling Down the Flag.
WASHINGTON. April 1.-The startling
news from Honolulu, via San Francisco, of
the hauling down of the United States
flag. it is said, was the subject of animated
discussion at the Cabinet meeting to-day.
Before going into the Cabinet room Secre-
tsry Gresham said to reporter that he
had received no information whatever.
aside from what the papers print. When
questioned further as to the truth of the
statements contained in special dispatches
to Western newspapers that Mr.. Blount
was conniving at the restoration of Queen
LiliuokalanI and would support her re-
turn to the throne. if need bo. by the forces
of the cruiser Boston. he said be knew
nothing about it, and declined to express
any OPINION upon the subject.
In regard to the hauling down of the
United States flag, attention is called to
these passages In the instructions issued
under the previous adminlstr alton by the
Secretary. j. w. Foster. to Minister Stev.
ems, under date of Feb. IL. 1893:
The phrsseology of your proclamation In an
nouncing your action In assumption of protec-
ton of the Hawaiian Islands in the name of the
United states would appear to be tantamount to
the ass umptiOn OF q protectOrate over those
islands In behalf of the United States, with all
the rights and obligations which the term i'm
plies. To this extent IT goes beyond the necessi-
ties of the situation and the instructions hereto
fore given YOU SO far your action
amounts to according, at the requests of the de
factO sovereign government OF the Hawaiian
Islands, the cooperation of the moral and ma
teria forces of the United states for the protec-
tion of life and property from apprehended dis
orders, your action is commended. But so far
ss it may appear to overstep that limit by set
ting the authority and power OF the United
States above that Of the government of the Ha-
waiian Islands. in the capacity of protector, or
10 impair in any way the independent sover-
eighty OF the Hawaiian government By substi-
tuting the flag and the power of the United
States as the symbol and manifestation of para
mount authority. il is disavowed.
It is contended, in view of the state
ments from resident Dole. that the provis-
iODal government could maintain and pro-
tect itself against assault from within, that
the necessity for the presence of United
States marines on shore and the flying of
the United States flag Is passed. There
fore, it is argued. Mr.. Blount was correct in
ordering the marines to their boats and the
flag to be hauld down. especially If the
presence of the flag over the government
building in Honolulu, as stated, tended to
impede diplomatic relations between the
two countries and to embarrass negotia-
t0ns
VIEWS OF MR.. CARTER.
Mr.. Charles T. Carter, one of the Ha-
waiian annexation commissioners. was seen
and asked if he had any news. He replied
in the negative, but stated that he fully
expected to hear something in the course
of the day. Speaking Of the low.
ering of the United States flag
by Mr.. Blount's order. Mr.. Carter
said: "I do not think it was q reversal of the
policy of the government, expressed by the
late administration. Secretary Fosters at
titade was sati tisfactory to the annexation
lists. and he promptly disavOwed the pro-
tectorate. The force of marines was posted
on duty in response TO the request of the
provisional government. to protect persons
and property against assaults and danger
from the natives The necessity for this
has passed; the annexation movement has
gained strength and members, and Presl-
dent Dole has announced that It was able
to maintain itself IL not assalled from with
out. Therefore, the forces Of the United
States were no longer essential, and with
their removal. of course. the flag came
down. What We all regret is that events
have made il u necessity to pursue that
course. We had hoped. when it once was
boisted. that annexation would be accom-
piished. and that 1t might never again be
hauled down.
There is a diplomatic silence around the
instructions given Commissioners Bloupt
in his mission to Hawaii. but it is stated,
with some positiveness. that he was gwen
authority for hauling down the stars and
stripes at Honolulu, prlor to his departure
from Washington. 1t is understood that
Mr. Blount was given definite instructions
to withdraw the protectorate of the United
States over Hawaii, In order that this gov
ernment mi ght find itself freer in dealing
with the main question:; but. on the day Of
his departure for San Francisco, he was
cautioned to confde this information to
no person whatsoever. in order that the
motives and inten tions of the administra-
tion might not be construed so as to cause
trouble among the natives.
NATURE OF BLoUNT's MISSION WAS KNOWN.
On tho afternoon of his departure from
Washington for San Francisco Mr.. Blount
spent some time at the White House. The
Cabinet was In session, and Mr.. Blount
was called in and discussed with the Pres.
ident and his official family the manner of
his course to be pursued In Hawaii. He
left for San Francisco that night. but the
nature of his mission leaked out before he
was thousand miles from Washington.
and the news was telegraphed to San Fran
cisco. where Mr.. Burk. Queen Liliuokala-
mis- agent. learned 1t aud started lmmedi-
ately for Honolulu. So when Mr.. Blount
arrived at his destination the knowledge
a
not the Intention to keep secret what that
business was, with the exception of the
fact that the commissioner had authority
to declare the pr0tectorate at an end. The
exception was guarded carefully by Mr..
Blount for the reason given. it is said, by the
President that if the fact that the Amer
ican flag W as to be hauled down became
known il might create trouble and blood
she'd and also offer temptation to foreign
nations to step in and secure the prize be-
fore the United States could offer adequate
explanation for its course. Mr.. Blount
followed his instructions TO the letter. He
waited until theexcitement incident to his
arrival had completely died ont and affairs
were In q tranquil state before making
known that the protectorate was at an end.
He also made it known AT the same time
that tho United States would still consider
Hawaii and the Hew aiIans under It's guard
ianship go far as outside interference was
concerned. and In this also showed the
caution which Mr.. Cleveland and Score
tary Gresham had imposed on him to de-
prive the announcement OF any tinge of
sensationalism. These are said TO be the
facts in the matter with reference 20 the
instructions of Dir. Blount.
Up to the hour of closing the Departments
of State no information had been received
there regarding the action of Commissioner
BlouDt. In the course of the afternoon Mr..
Carter. the annexation commissioner from
Hawail. had ali interview with Secretary
Gresb am. " hicb. he said. was quite salts
factory" He reiterated his former state.
ment that the removal of the flag was due
to the condition of affairs in Honolulu,
which no longer warranted it's floating