The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-22

WASHINGTON. Nov 20.-Secretary
Gresham decided this afternoon 10 make
public all the correspondence and the
report of James II. Blount. the special
commissioner sent TO Hawaii by Presi-
dent Cleveland to investigate the revo-
luton which dethrOned the queen and
led to the establishment OF the provi-
sional government.
Mr.. Blount arrived at Honolulu March
%. 1898. In his report he calls attention
10 his reception by Minister Stevens.
who. accompanied by a committee from
the Annexation club. came on board the
vessel which had brought me. He in
formed me that this club had rented
an elegant house. well furnished and
provided with servants and a carriage
and horses for my use: that could pay
for this accommodation just what I
chose, from nothing up. He urged me
very earnestly TO accept the offer. | de-
clined it. and informed him that 1 should
go 10 a hotel"
The committee renewed the offer
which was declined. He also refused to
accept proffered favors from the ex-
queen. Concerning the position OF the
United States in the islands ne says:
Troops from the Boston We're doing
military duty for the provisional govern
ment. The American flag was floating
over the government building. Within
IL the provisional government conducted
its business under an American protec-
torate, to be continued according 70 the
avowed purpose OF the American min
lister, during negotiations with the
United States for annexation.
MY Instructions directed me to make
Inquiries which In the interest Of candor
and truth could not be done when the
minds OF thousands OF Hawaiian citizens
were full Of uncertainty as TO what the
presence of American troops, the Amer
lean flag and the American protectorate
implied. IL seemed necessary that all
these influences must be withdrawn be-
fore those inquiries could be prosecuted
in a manner beftting he dignity and
power Of the United States
"ms1i cd with such feelings and conf
dent no disorder would ensue. | directed
the removal OF the nag Of the United
States from the government building
and the return Of the American troops
TO their vessels. This was accomplished
without demonstration Of joy or grief
HILeI-
noon before. in an interview with Presi-
dent Dole. I'm response 10 my inquiry.
he said that the provisional government
was now able to preserve order. although
It could not have done so for several
weeks after the proclamation establish
ing it,"
Minister Stevens's Call.
Mr.. Blount then tells how Minister
Stevens called upon him with w. G..
Smith. who represented that the with
drawal OF the United States marines
meant that the Japanese would land
troops from a man-of-war i'm the harbor.
The American minister expressed his be-
lief in the statement. The Japanese
commissioner put a stop to these rumors
by having the vessel ordered away. The
provisional government left to its own
preservation left him free to pursue his
negotiations.
Commissioner Blount says that "the
causes Of the dethronement Of the queen
and the establishment Of the provisional
government are both remote and proxi-
mate"
He then reviews the history of the
islands at some length, beginning with
the constitution of 1852. and the changes
made in the system Of government since
down TO the revolution Of 1887, which
resulted in the constitution Of that year
and which is 10 a great extent given by
Mr.. Blount as the cause Of the revolu-
ton of 1893 Under the constitution pre-
ceding 1887 there were abuses, especially
those resulting from the election Of 1886.
when the legislature passed a number
Of bad laws, including the lottery and
opium license laws, in which is was
charged that the king was very corrupt.
Mr.. Blount says this legislature would
not have cause a revolution in any OF
the United States. but the reforrners in
the Islands declared that the native is
unfit for government and his power
must be curtailed.
The Constitution of 'S7.
Mr. BIount then gives the version of
Chief Justice Judd and himself touch
ing the means adopted TO extort the
constitution Of 1887" Among those men,
toned forcing King Kalakaua is Mr..
Thurston. now minister from Hawaii
Mr.. Blount presents a portion of the
constitution OF 1887, IN which he notes
the changes which were especially un-
satisfactory to the monarch, such as re-
moving the power OF appointing the
mobiles. one branch Of the legislature,
restricting their membership to persons
with property amounting TO at least
az. 900. and establishing suffrage qualifi-
cations which gave the whites control