Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-26

number of residents Of Hawaii and several
Americans who were present on the islands
at the time Of the revolution and soon after
IL occurred. The testimony bears not only
upon the events of the revolution but upon
the history of the islands, its natural his
Tory, It's geography, the character and
napits Oh It's people, its products. CONNER
clal. Importance, educational and religious
institutions Its relation to the United States
ana the policy of this country toward it.
"A large majority of those examined. say
there was no conspiracy and that Minister
stevens position with reference to annexa-
tlon was not known to them prior to the
revolution. The committee of safety con-
sisting OF twelve persons make oath to a
statement in which they say that they had
no understanding with Minister Stevens or
capt Wiltse that they would assist in
oVerthrowlng the monarchy and the estab-
t,sninent or a provisional government. Mr.
stevens testimony covers sixty-six pages
he dwells at considerable length upon the
lottery and opium bills as leading up to the
revolution, in one place says that through
enese pilis poth the queen and the ring of
auNehturers who surrounded her expected
10 get the money to carry on the govern
ment by making Honolulu a fortress of
gamblers and semi-pirates amid the ocean,
from which they could by every mail
steamer to the United States send on, the
poisoned billets of chance" The queen il
referred to in this connection as ssemi-
earnaic' and he speaks of her in her eff
as maddened and misguided"
MI. stevens explained that his reasons for
ecia-ms protectcrate were that the
Japanese and British We're both prepared,
ana the latter making overtures for an al
nance with the native population Sum-
ming up his reasons for hoisting the flag he
SAID they were: The fear of anarchy fear
OF the japanese. and the fear that wode-
mouse and the japanese commissioner would
insist upon the same right in dealing with
the affairs that he had, which he knew his
government was opposed to. After the pro-
tectorate was declared he did not under
take In any way to control the affairs or
the islands.
Mr.. Stevens said that when Mr. Blount
arrived he did not communicate to him his
special instructions. He said he treated
Blount courteously. and had not manifested
any chagrin he might have felt. He gave
him no ground for antagonism
Mr.. BlOunt's Explanations.
Mr.. Blount said that at the time Of his
appointment as commissioner he had no
prepossessions regarding the situation In
the islands. and continuing, said:
Two years ago, when 1 was chairman of
the committee on foreign relations of the
House OF Representatives. Mr.. Thurston
with Mr.. Mott Smith. came to the commit
tee room and wanted to know IL the demo-
cratic party would consent to the annexa-
ton Of the Hawaiian Islands 1 said to
him, without telling him my reasons Won
mad better see the Secretary of State about
1t, He said to me: L am a member of the
legislature, and l mean to endeavor to bring
about the annexation of the islands 1
said nothing at all: had no authority from,
anybody on the subject, and did not think
i ought to be talking, especially to a gem
tleman who came in there talking about a
movement OF that sort. / thought he was a
pretty uppish sort Of person, and thought
no more about IL. ] was never more de-
termined to be careful and hear the truth
than 1 was when I arrived at Honolulu
Inc situation was In was rather painful
10 me- L met those people on one side and
the other with a great deal of freedom 1t
was important for me not to take any posi-
ton one way or the other, because the
most most simple thing 1 might say would be
likely to be construed as significant He
had no conversation with the President
about the objects OF his mission. He was
impressed with the belief that the President
wanted Informal ton.
The chairman-Did he intimate or indicate
In any way whether he was in favor OF or
opposed to the annexation Of the islands?
MI Biount-Not in the slightest. On the
II understand from Mr.. Springer that the
democrats in the House Of Representatives
are inclined to favor annexation" Seemed
to be an inquiry. I said: Il think Mr..
Springer Is In error about that; my impress
sion Is that the feeling in the House is that
the members are not satisfactorily in
formed. He seemed. then, as though he
had made a mistake, and said: II ought NOT
anything more. The impression made on
my mind was that he was afraid he, might
give me some impression Of his opinion
MI. biount said he received his instruc-
tons from the Secretary Of State and they
were entirely in writing.
might perhaps. say" he added, that
the Secretary Of State expressed the opinion
that there was no principle of interna-
tional law that he thought justified boistin1
the American flag: the establishment of an
american protectorate there, and his idea
was that it ought not to be continued.
was your Judgment" he was asked ..in
any wise influenced by your desire either to
promote or to prevent or retard the annexa-
ton OF Hawaii to the United States?"
MI biount-I am not conscious Of any
such feeling. On the contrary. I was i'm
pressed when I came to make the inyestiya
ton with the conviction that 1 had very
much at stake l felt that any other than
truthIul, an exhaustive and impartial ex-
animation would bring about the conte;npt
OF the American people. / was therefore.
INTERPRETATIONS. perhaps. In all NY con-
duct in reference to it. l kept from their
Mr.. Blount could not he said. pursue tbe
usual methods in taking testimony. There
was an intense amount of feeling and he
mad to proceed secretly. He never allowed
1t to be known that he had examined a man
The chairman-Before you left Hawaii. did
you receive any communication statement
or information from the government of the
United States of any purpose to reinstate
Lilluokaianl on any terms or conditions
wha tever?
Mr.. Blount-I never dreamed of such a
thing as the reinstatement Of Iiliuokalani
never heard IT suggested until INV return
10 the United States. / had talk with the
Secretary of State. and the inclination OF his
mind was that the circumstances created a
moral obliga ton on the part of the United
states to reinstate her. 1 gathered from the
Secretary OF State that the President had
not any opinion-was thinking the matter
over.
The people were so quiet that there was
nothing to indicate that there had ever been
a revolution, and the taking down of the
flag created no excitement
Asked why he had not made the nature of
his mission known to Mr. Steyenss Mr
Blount said bis instructions were secrst al