The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-11-24
HAS REPLIED.
Thurston says Mr.. BIount Made
Numerous Incorrect and
False Statements.
ALL MOVES MADE OPENLY.
twas Admitted by All that the Queen
Began the Revolution.
THE QUEEN AND CABINET QUARRELED
The Presence of Troops had a OUieting
Effect on the Rough Element--The
Result the Same.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Lorrin A.
Thurston, tfS, Hawaiian minister, gave
out the following statement:
am urged to make a statement fo1
publication, setting forth the position
and claims of the Hawaiian governm emit
and making reply to charges contained
In Mr.. Blount's report:
Would Only Answer Personal Attacks.
AS / have received no information that
Mr.. Blount. has made report; have not
seen copy of it, and do not know what
itcontains, except from reading the news
paper abstracts therefrom, and am una
ware Of the present intentions of the
United States government concerning
Hawaii, am unable at present, in the
absence of such knowledge, to intelli-
gently state what the position and claims
Of the Hawaiian government are. It
would, moreover, be contrary to diplo-
matte courtesy for me to publish state
ment on such a subject prior to inform
ing the United States government of the
case. A large part of the published ex-
tracts from Mr.. Blount's report con-
sisted, however, of personal attacks upon
me and those associated with me in the
provisional government, impugning our
veracity, good faith and courage, charg-
ing US with fraud and duplicity.
deem it proper, therefore, to make
personal reply to such charges, confin-
ing myself to statements of fact, of
which, as principal actor, I am pre-
pared to testify to before any impartial
tribunal.
Shows Numerous Incorrect Statements.
First-Before stating such facts, 1
desire to call attention to Mr. Blount's
method of constructing his report. AL
though he in several places states I was
the leader of the revolution, he has
never asked me question concerning
the same nor given me an opportunity
to make any statement, although have
at all times been ready to do so. The
same is true of large number of other
men who took leading part in the
movement of January. In the second
place, his evidence consists exclusively
of prepared affidavits or of answers to
leading questions put by himself at
private interviews, no one else being
present but the stenographer. In no in
stance has there been any cross 'examina-
ton of witnesses, opportunity to give
contradiction or explanation of evidence
given or presented as evidence. A brief
examination of the published portions
of the report shows numerous incorrect
statements. I shall try for the present.
however, to answer the more salient
points only.
Had no Promise of Support From Stevens.
First-Mr. Blount charges that the
American troops were landed under a
prearranged agreement with the COM
mittee of safety; that they should so
land as assistance in the overthrow of
the queen. In reply thereto 1 hereby
state that at no time did Mr.. Stevens or
Captain Wiltze assure US these troops
would assist in overthrowing the queen
or establish a provisional government,
and as a matter of fact they did not so
assist.
can procure witnesses in support of
the statement of the highest res ponsi-
bility in overwhelming numbers, but
Mr.. Blount has rendered it unnecessary
to do so. The statements of Mr.. Wund-
enburg and Mr.. Damon have been put
forward as the strongest evidence in
support of Mr.. Blount's contention. In
Mr.. Wundenburg's statement he says
when the committee of safety told Mr..
Stevens they were not really to act, he
replied: "Gentlemen, the troops of the
Boston will land at 8 o'clock whether
you are ready or not
Landed to Protect American Citizens.
The reason for this reply and the SUBJ
seQuent landing of the troops is mani
ock no. 40 III ~
American citizens and property in the
event of the impending inevitable con-
dict between the queen and citizens and
not to cooperate with the committee,
and the committee had no more knowl-
edge than did the queens government
where the troops were going or what
they were going to do. The whole gist
OF Mr.. Damon's long examination is like
wise contained in his staten mt that
when after the organization an / procla-
nation of the new government :: request
was made for the support Of the United
States troops, it was refused by the. COM
mander, Swinbourne, the commanding
officer, who sent back wocd. Captain
Wiltze's orders are: Remain passive
Second-Mr. Blount charges that the
which to have met the committee, and
but for the suppors of the United States
representative and The troops The eStab-
lishment of the provisional government
would have been impossible. In reply
thereto I hereby state t lat although the
presence of the American .rJ3ps sad a
quiettng effect on the rou.sn element of
the city and may have preveated some
bloodshed, they we're not essential to
and did not assist-in the overthrow of
the queen. The result Of tna IN we ent
would have been eventually the same if
there had been no marines present. In
support of this statement, cite the fol-
lowing facts:
First The troops did not land until
Monday night the 10th of January, after
Abe revolution had been in full progress