St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-12
BLoUNT WILL BE PAID.

IL 10 HSlu ny one OI lub -leaQiDg sen.
atOrs that Paramount Commissioner
Blount was not an officer of the govern
ment in any legal sense; that the Office
he held was not known 10 or recognized
by The law; and that even President
Cleveland did not recognize him Off
cially as representative of the govern
ment, but referred to him as my per-
sonal representative. Perhaps the
senator is right in a measure. if not
wholly so; but even if he is, the fact
that Blount held no official position does
not alter the status of the affair.
1t was the purpose. as it was the duty,
of President Cleveland to ascertain the
true condition of affairs in the Sand
wich islands. He saw. as all men of
intelligence perceived, that all the in
formation available in official quarters
was biased-filtered through those in
tereSted in the success of the provis-
ional government. Even the United
States minister was tainted-was an
active participant in the conspiracy, aud
could not he expected to make an i'm
partial. or even an honest, report of the
situation or of the circumstances at
tending the revolution. Being anxious
to act only in the light of full and i'm
partial testimony. and no official means
of obtaining such information being
attainable, Mr.. Cleveland chose to send
personal representatives to Homo
lulu. He had perfect right to do so.
Any private citizen has right to send
such representative to any part of the
world. And the president had perfect
right to act on the information received
through his representative, without re-
gard to the press reports, just as the
head of great mercantile house has
the right to act on the private informa-
ton received from his agent without
regard to the market reports sent to the
press by agents who might possibly be
prejudlced or interested in their course.
Criticism of President Cleveland for
pursuing the means that Is employed by
all sagaciouS business men is captious
and absurd.
Neither Mr.. Cleveland nor Mr.. Blount
will be alarmed at the threat of the SEN
ator that payment of the expenses of
the paramount commissioner" will be
refused by congress. Fortunately, such
petty course would fail to work hard
ship, as the appropriation to the contin-
gent fund OF the executive office, which
is placed in the absolute control of the
president. and for which he is obliged
to give no account, is ample for all such
expenses as the mission to Hawaii, and,
| indeed, is intended to cover such ex-
penses as may not be contemplated OF
provided for by law.
But it is not likely that congress will
refuse to pay the claim for Mr. Blount's
mission, if any shall be presented. The
purpose of the president was commend.
able, whatever its result, and all fair
minded men will agree that it was justi-
fable. 1t would have been foolish, il
| not criminal, IN him to act IN the Hawai-.
ian matter in the absence of such in
formation as he has received through
Mr.. Blount, and the information is as
| valuable to congress as it is to the execu
/ tive, although congress may reach diff
| ferent conclusion from that arrived al
| by the president. But, as stated, con-
gress cannot beat Mr.. Blount out of his
pay, for 1t can be disbursed from the
executive contingent fund.