Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-11
PARAMOUNT BlOUNT.
He is a Witness Before the Senate
Investigating Committee.
QUESTIONS As TO A CONSPIRACY.
Also as to the Things Not Included
in His Report.
REV. DIR. HYDE's STATEMENT.


1t was a few minutes after 10 o'clock
this morning when Mr.. Blount, who was
to be the witness for today's session of the
Senate committee investigating Hawaiian
affairs. appeared at the door Of the COM
mittee room and was ushered in. All Of
the democratic members Of the subcom-
mittee were present, but Mr.. Sherman,
who has been rather irregular in his at
tendance, was absent. There were two re-
publican Senators present, however, for, In
addition to Mr.. Frye. there was Mr.. Dolph.
who Is not a member of the subcommittee.
Why he came was subsequently apparent.
for a Few minutes after IL o'clock Mr.. Frye
left the committee room and went to the
rooms OF the committee on commerce.
which was in session and before which Mr..
Frye has a number Of important bills pend
ing. leaving Mr.. Dolph to represent him.
The statement has been sent out that the
republican members of the committee in
tended submitting Mr.. Blount to very
rigid cross-examination concerning AFFAIRS
In Hawaii and that Mr.. Frye especially
would be very severe on account Of the
structures of Mr.. Blount In his report on
the actions of Minister Stevens. who Is
citizen of Mr.. Frye's state. This appears
to be erroneous, II Mr.. Frye Is correctly
quoted. 1t is understood that Mr.. Frye
with Indifference and that he has IN COM
mittee characterized II as the mere col
laboration of a man who took hearsay tes-
timony and arranged 1t in the shape OF
evidence upon which to arraign the acts
of Mr. Stevens and the Subsequent con-
duct of the provisional government
This mass of alleged testimony Mr.. Frye
Is said to have condemned as unworthy Of
eOn Qtd dar1 account OF Its hearSaY
character. During the morning Mr.. Blount
then was simply subjected to such ques-
tions as Mr.. Dolph saw mt to ask, and, In
general. II may be said, occupied the time
in the reiteratior and elaboration NJ the
staten ,nts made in his report, which ne
stood by from first to last
What They Want to Bring Out.
There are several things, however. the re-
publican members Of the committee and
Senator Morgan also endeavored to bring
out by Mr.. Blount. and among them was
the matter referred to by Prof. Alexander
In his evidence last week, when he said to
the committee that Mr.. Blount appeared to
be afraid to meet friends Of the provisional
government. held all his intercourse with
the royalists. and refused to consult with
those who represented the provisional gov
ernment and were friendly to 1t.
Mr.. Blount. before he left the stand, was
the statements heretofore made are true,
that he declined to incorporate in his re-
Port statements concerning anairS at the
island which he asked to be compiled by
friends of the provisional government He
was also given an opportunity to refute the
evidence Of Prof. Alexander and others
that friends Of the provisional government
were noe asked to give their testimony,
and that IL such matters as were supplied
HIM upon which to base his report these
witnesses have testified, suppressed such
portions as pleased him and made no ref
erence to them ip his report as to the causes
tnat led to the acts Of the provisional gov
ernment.
1t was the things that did not appear In
his report upon which the committee CROSS
examined Mr.. Blount most closely. As one
member expressed II. the committee was
anxious to know. In view Of what has been
told them since the investigation began,
what Mr.. Blount knows that he did not
tell the State Department. and II he did
know them at the time he made his report,
why he did not make use Of them. 1t 3
also very. probable that an effort will be
made by at least one member of the COM
mittee to examine Mr.. Blount as to certain
Conferences he Is said to have had with the
President and Secretary Gresham. both be-
fore his visit to Hawaii and after his re-
turn In other words, the committee wants
TO know II there was any instructions given
him other than appear as matters Of record,
and. IL so, what they were.
Up to this time much of the testimony
adduced before the committee has been in
the direction OF proving or disproving the
existence OF conspiracy between Mr..
stevens, the American minister, and the
gentlemen who afterward formed the pro-
visional government. The naval officers and
Mr.. j. c. Jones. Mr.. Spalding, Mr.. Finer
son and Prof. Alexander have all given tes-
timony upon this proposition, and it is said
that Mr.. Blount will be requested to go
tato this matter at length. 1t is also said
that this witness Is possessed of informa-
ton which he will give the committee on
TINS point; which. for manifest reasons.
could not be put in a report which would
De given to the general public. The question
To be determined Is whether there was a
conspiracy.
Rev. DR.. Hyde's Statement.
There Is one witness who may be called,
or who may speak to the committee by
means Of deposition, who had a CONVEX
sation with Commander Wiltse on this very
subject. That witness is Rev. DIR. C. NJ
Hyde of Honolulu, formerly Of Massachu-
setts, where he is well known The COM
mittee is already cognizant Of this state
ment. made some time ago by Dr. HYDE
I'm talking over the affair with Command
or Wiltse, I said this fact of ease and thor
oughness with which the revolution was
accomplished would give a false impress
sion, as If it had been a scheme long in
contemplation and preparation. whereas
the contrary was the fact-it was sudden
and unanticipated. I remarked that a sim
:lar false impression might obtain cur
rency. as though the affair was carried
through by the collusion with the United
States forces. He acknowledged the prob
ability of such false impressions, but said
with great positiveness: I have not done
all that might have been asked or expected
or me; but / have been extremely careful
not to take one step beyond the limit of
fairness and rightfulness. 1 challenge the
fullest and closest scrutiny Of my actions
In the whole affair. Whatever the impress
e1or made, there was absolutely no collu-
sion; but Hawaiian royalty went to ruin
because OF its own inherent rottenness'"
Such Is the statement DR.. Hyde makes
or talk he had with Commander Wiltse
on the subject of conspiracy, and Mr.
Blounts evidence today was turned in that
direction to see what he knew himself con-
cerning the conspiracy which has been al
legged to have existed