Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-12-01

tween herself and the provisional govern
ment. and the Queen piled that she did not
intend to enter into any negotiations until
the Washington Government had taken ac-
tion en- Mr.. B.ount's report.
On May 4 Mr.. Blount wrote: "At this time
the indications are unmistakeable tnat
large majority OF the people OF tho is ands
are utterly opposed to annexation. DO not
look or any change from this si;uat.oL
through future information. There ia O
strong disposition on the part Of the annex
alton element to suppress expressions against
annexation by social and business hostility" !"
In the third part OF the correspondence is
printed statement OF Mr.. Yolney V.Ashford,
dated March 8, 1893, in which he says he has
put il writing certain information in regard
to Hawaiian affairs at Mr.. B.ount's request.
This statement refers to Queen Liiuokaani
as "a reignng sovereign who had at least
twice str.ven to supplant her brother, even at
the expense, II necessary, of walking over
his strangled corpse to the throne woman
notorlously loaded with the grossest social
vices, such as had contributed so largely to
he late Kings downfall in 1897 but still
strongly upheld by the majority OF the native
people, who believed her professions and
promises to restore them to an equal fran
chise.
In another part OF his extraordinary COM
munication Mr. Ashford says: "Wilson's
pull on tn Quoen consisted In tho fact that
for many years be has boen her favorlta par
amour (she has s.veral) The Queen had a
private gateway cut through tho palace wall
Immediately contiguous to her apartm ents In
the bungalow that he might alone enter by
near I'd more convenient way--a scandal
at which even tho most obtuse OF the native
people drew the lne The pair openly Lived
together in the Queens cottage at Waikiki Ca
suburb OF HonoluIu) during and succeeding
the 'san1bag' episode at the palace, just pre-
ceding the descent upon the league. This
place was formerly an designation house,
built by the Queen and openly used for that
purpose, under the pesonal charge of her
business manager, formerly her native coach
man. All these and many other equally
scandalous acts are matter of public motor
iety at the capital and have been aired and
commented upon in scathing terms by the
native press of Honolulu but the English
press were either gagged by the palace party
or kept silent to avoid the effects Of the
scandal abroad"
These statements against the deposed
Queen are discredlted by Mr.. Blount.
Mr.. Blount's conclusions of fact are en-
bodied in his report to Secretary Gresham
dated July II. 1t is a very long document,
filing 81 large printed pages, and indicates
very closely that he understood that he was
to conhne himself to a plain statement OF
facts, for nowhere does he make the slightes
suggestion or recommendation. Refusing
all proffers of hospitality on his arrival on
the islands he says he took up his quarters
at the Hawaiian Hotel, where he passed
several days in receiving calls, and soon be-
came aware that all minis were quietly and
anxiously looking to the action of the United
States Government.
The troops of the Boston were doing mill
tary duty for the provisional government
with the American flag floating over the
government building, AMI, says the Minister,
'within it the provisional government con-
Quoted its business under an American pre-
tectorate. to be cont nued, according to the
avoweI purpose OF the American Minister,
during negotiations with the United States
for annexation"
This brin gs the story down to tho inclden
which created such q stir, OF hauling down
the American flag, watch Mr. BlouDt de-
scribes as follows:
"My instructions directed me to make In
quiries which, in the interest OF can or and
truth, could not be done when the minds OF
thousands of Hawaiian citizens were full Of
uncertainty as to what the presence OF Amer
lean troops, the American flag and the Amer
ican protectorate implied. 1t seemed neces>
sary that all these influences must be with
drawn before those Inquiries could be prose-
cuted in manner bentting the dignity and
power OF the United States.
"Inspired with such feelings and confident
no disorder would ensue, l directed the re-
moval OF the flag of the United States from
the government building and the return Of
the American troops to their vessels. This
was accomplished without any demonstra-
ton OF Joy or grief on tho part OF the popu-
lace.
"The afternoon before in a& interview
with President Dole in response to my in
quiry, he said that the provisional govern
ment was now able to preserve order, although
1t could not have done so for several weeks
after the proclamation establishing it"
Mr.. Blount says that it seemed strange to
suppose that there was any necessity for
landing troops, "And," referring again to
Minister Stevens, "to consent to an applica-
ton for such purpose without any sugges-
ton dssuading the applicants from it on the
part Of the American Minister, with naval
forces at his command could not otherwise
be construed than as co implicitly with their
plans.
This was the first time that American
troops were ever landed on the islands at the
Instance OF a committee of safety without
notice to the existing government
Tho report reviews in detail the subsequent
events. making much Of te6timony to
show that Minister Stevens recognized
the provisional government before the Queen
had been called upon to yield, and quoting
Minister Stevens himself as saying that he
knew the barracks and station-house had