Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-11-24
Everybody Talks about Hawaii,

4
/ Minister Willis had produced no change in
the situation up to the time the steamer
sailed from Honolulu. The remarks ad-
dressed by Mr. Willis to President Dole of
the provisional government, in presenting
to him his official papers, accrediting him
as the minister of the United States, were
of the most amicable nature. "In doing
this he said,
81 am directed by the President to give
renewed assurance of friendship, interest
and hearty goodwill Tmch our govern
ment entertains for you and for the people
of this island realm. Invoking that spirit
of peace. friendship and hospitality which
has ever been the shield and sword of this
country, | now, upon behalf of the United
States of America tender to your people
the right hand Of goodwill, which, trust,
may be as lasting as | know it to be sin
cere, expressing the hope that every year
will promote and perpetuate that goodwill
to the honor, happiness and prosperity of
both governments
Such an expression was not only re-
newed recognition of the provisional gov
ernment, but a tender of friendship and
goodwill which seemed in no way compat-
ible with the idea that Mr.. Wllis's ulti-
mate purpose was to overthrow this gov
ernment and restore the monarchy in its
place. Universal disappointment was felt
that the purpose of the Cleveland admin
istration was no further disclosed.
So much excitement had been caused by
the supposed intention of the admnistra-
tion to put the queen back on her throne
-peaceably if possible, but forcibly if need
be-and the Indignation was so great, that
Secretary Gresham gave out Monday a
synopsis of Commissioner Blount's report,
after his return to this country as Mr..
Cleveland's special, or paramount com
missioner to investigate the Hawaiian sit
uation. In general way Mr.. Blount's re-
port simply contradicts outright the state
ments of Mr. Stevens, United States min
lister at the time of the revolution, as to the
order of the events which led up to the
dethronement of the queen, the landing of
the United States marines, and the estab-
lishment of the provisional government.
His report reads like that of a man who
went to Honolulu TO find certain facts and
a certain state of things, and found them.
He makes little of the queens attempt to
overthrow the existing constitution and
/ set up new one, and of her general course
stress on the alleged fact that the leaders
/ of the revolutionary movement, in making
| their plans, first cast about to devise way
| to have the United States troops landed to
| terrorize the queen. \ deputaton of them
| conferred with Mr. Stevens and got an
agreement from him to land the troops if
! it was asked for "for the purpose Of pro-
| tecting life and property Mr.. Blount
also says that Mr.. Stevens promised to
| protect those leaders from arrest if neces-
sary. The queen yielded because it was
| pressed upon her that it was useless to
contest with the United States, and she
/ could file her protest and be entitled to a
hearing in Washington. All this was ac-
/ complished without the firing of a gun,
without a demand for surrender on the
part of the insurrectionary forces until
they had been converted into de facto
government by the recognition of the
American minister with American troops,
then ready to interfere in the event of an
attack.
The report reviews in detail the subse-
quent events, making much of testimony
tending to show that Minister Stevens
recognized the provisional government be-
fore the queen had been called upon to
act, and quoting Minister Stevens himself
as saying that he knew the barracks and
stationhouse had not been delivered up AT
the time; that he did not care for that, for
% men, well armed, could have run the
whole crowd. "The leaders of the revolu-
tionary movement" Mr.. Blount continues,
"would not have undertaken it but for Mr.
Stevens's promise to protect them against
any danger from the government. But fol
this their mass-meetings would not have
been held. But for this no request to land
the troops would have been made. Had
the troops not been landed no measure.
for the organization of new government
would have been taken. The American
minister and the revolutionary leaders haC
determined on annexation to the United
States, and had agreed on the part eacl
was to act to the very end"
In conclusion he says; "That deel
wrong has been done the queen and tn
native race by the American officials per
vades the native mind and that of tn
queen, as well as a hope for redress fron
the United States, there can be no doubt
The prevailing sentiment amongst the ma
tives points to her belief, as well as their:
that the spirit of justice on the part of tn
} President would restore her crown"
Tuesday night Mr. Thurston, the Hs
waian minister at Washington, represent
ing the provisional government, gave out
: statement in reply to Mr.. Blount's report
= In substance he says:
1 Although Mr.. Blount states that wa
the leader of the revolutionary movement