Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-03-18
A SECRET MISSION.
Ex-Representativo Blount Said tc
Havo Lett For Honolulu.
WILL INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION.
The President Not Yet Satisfied That
Hawaii hpuid Isc Annexed Cipher
Dispatches sent to Homo
lulu.

WASHINGTON, March lex Repre-
sentative Blount, of Georgia, has left
Washington for San Francisco, accom-
panied by Mr.. Ellis Mills, Il coniiden-
tial steDographer of the state depart
ment. He is, it is asserted, bound for
Honolulu on secret mission, an ap.
pointmcnt which required no contirma-
ton by the senate.
The selection of Mr. Blonnt for this
mission indicates that President Cleve-
land is not yet satisfied that Hawaii
should bc annexed to the United States,
but has not made up his mind TO oppose
il.
Mr.. Blount will make very thorough
investigation of the situation, and the
presidents future action On the subject
will probably be governed by his re-
port As chairman of the foreign affairs
committee when the matter first came
before the public, Mr.. Blount took u
very conservative position, refusing
to commit himself on the subject
of annexation without further infor-
nation. More than year before tho
overthrow of the queen, delegation
from the Hawaiian Legislature came to
this country without public announce
mcnt, seeking some indication from
this country of what support the revo-
lutionary party might rely on If they
overthrow the old government and es-
tablshcd provisional government as
has been done.
The ultimate object, Us they then dis
closed it, was to secure annexation to
this country, rs they did not hope Of
success in the permanent establishment
of ncw government Mr.. Blount was
among the few persons with whom
they talked, and he then refused to
commit himself to any plan of the sort.
There is no doubt that since the over
throw Of the queen he has had some
suspicion that this government may
have encouraged the revolution and
might possibly he accused of having
part in the establishment of the new
government of the islands with which
we were asked TO treat.
The question OF how the overthrow
and whether the provisional govern
rnent actually represents popular senti-
ment will, it is understood, be thor
investigated.
First Of all the fact will be established
that This government, pending the rat
itication of q treaty giving the right to
do so. will not interfere in any way
.,l o., g h.. tell
if need be, to defend them from foreign
encroachment, the idea being that
government claiming to represent the
people of the islands must be strong
enough to maintain itself if this coun-
try is to treat with it. The probability is
that the United States will do nothing to
maintain the provisional government
against any other government OF the
people of Hawaii themselves, that
might he, or seek to be, established.
But If it is found that the provisional
government is really the chosen govern
mcnt OF the islands, and is not depend.
.ent upon the support of the United
States for its existence, the proposition
for annexation may be favorably re-
garded and an amended treaty may be
sent to the senate at the next session.
However, apart from other considera-
tons, the desirability of anneXing the
islands will be investigated as a busi-
ness proposition. 1t is said that the
administration early received informa-
ton which was deemed to be reliable
that the overthrow of Queen Liliuoka-
lani and the establishment of pro-
visional government were the results
of plan formulated by the sugar-pro-
.ducing elements of the islands aud
which was furthered in San Francisco
Upon receiving this information the
withdrawal of the treaty was deter
mined upon.
Cipher dispatches went out last night
from both the state and navy depart
ments for Honolulu, which will go for
ward on the steamer Australia from
San Francisco to-day What these dis
patches contain none of the officials in
either department will say.
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