The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-05-04
THURSDAY, MAY a, 1898.
IT WAS HIS MISSION.
BLOUNT'S WITHDRAWAL OF
THE PROTECTORATE.
Cleveland and the Cabinet Discuss the
Action in an Animated
Way

WASHINGTON, April I4.-Ihe start !
ling from news Honolulu via San Fran |
cisco 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 Secretary Greshem said
to a reporter that he had received no
information whatever aside from that
printed in the papers When question
ed further as to the truth of the state
ments contained in the special dis
patches to the Western newspapers, that
Blount was connlving at the restoration
of Queen Liliuokalani and would sup
port her return to the throne, if need
be, by the forces of the United States
steamer Boston, he 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 isl
called to these passages in the in
structions issued under the previous
administration by Secretary Foster to
Minister Stevens, under date Of Feb
ruary II, 1898; "The phraseolOgy of
your proclamation in announcing yourI
action in the assumption Of the pro-
lection Of the Hawaiian islands in the
name Of the United States would APP
pear to be tantamount to the as
sumption of a protectorate over those
islands, in behalf of the United States,
with all the rights and obligations
which the term implies.
''To this extent 1t goes beyond the
necessities of the situation and the
instructions heretofore given you. So
far as your action amounts to accord
ing, at the request Of the de taCtO
sovereign Government Of the Ha-
waian Islands, the cooperation of the
moral and material forces of the United
States for the protection of life and
property from apprehended disorders,
your action is commended; but 50 far
as it may appear to Overstep that limit
by setting the authority and power Of
the United States above that Of the
government of the Hawaiian Islands
in the capacity Of protector or to i'm
pair in any way the independent
sovereignty Of the Hawaiian Govern
ment, by substituting the flag and
power of the United States as symbol
and manifestation ofparamount author
ity, it is dIsavowed. y
There was diplomatic reticence
around the White House concerning
the nature Of the instructions given
Commissioner Blount in his mission to
Hawaii, but it is stated with some posi-
tiveness that he was given authority
for hauling down the Stars and Stripes
at Honolulu prior to his departure
from Washington. 1t is understood
that Blount was given definite instruC-
tons to withdraw the proteCtorate of
the United States over Hawaii in order
that this Government might find Itself
freer in dealing with the main question
of annexation; but on the day of his
departure for San Francisco he was
cautioned to C0nfide this information to
no person whatsoever, in order that
the motives and intentions Of the adj
ministration might not be construed SC
as to cause trouble among the Ha
waiians.
On the afternoon Of his departure
from Washington for San Francisco
Blount spent some time at the White
House. The Cabinet was in session
and Blount was called in, and discuss
ed with the President 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 a
thousand miles from Washington, and
the news as telegraphed to San Fran
cisco, where Bush, Queen Liliuokalanp'
agent, learned 1t and started immedi
ately for Honolulu So that wher
Blount arrived at his destination the
knowledge of his business had preceded
him.
1t was not the intention to keeT
secret what that business was, with the
exception Of the fact that the Commits
sioner had authority to declare the pro
tectorate at an end. The exception
was guarded carefully by BIount for the
reason given, it is said, by the President
that if the fact that the American flag
would be hauled down became known
it might create trouble and bloodshed
and also offer temptation to foreign
nations to step in and secure the prizt
before the Uuited States could offer al
adequate explanation for its course.
Blount followed his instructions tc
the letter He waited until the excite
ment incident to his arrival had com
pletely died out and affairs were in Z
tranquil state before making known
that the protectOrate was at an end
He also made it known at a safe time
that the United States would still con.
slider Hawaii and the Hawaiians under
its guardianship as far as outside inter
ference was concerned, and in this also
showed the caution which Cleveland
and Gresham had impressed on him,