Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-12
COMMISSIONER BLOUNT
Appears beforc the senate Voreign
An'irs Committee and Gives His Ev,-

Appears Beforc the senate Voreicn
Anhirs Committee and Gives His Evi-
dence.
WA~ruSGroN, u. c., January Ill
contrary 20 previous announcement
tN-t Commissioner Biount, this morning,
was before the Senate Cummittes which
was INVESTIGATING the relations OF the
country with Hawaii under the resolu.
uon OF Senator Morgan. Senator Frye,
who Is regarded a. tue special cham
pipn on tho cummltte OF eX-Nlnlster
stevens. and who Il has been supposed
would be pleased 10 have an opportunity
20 examine MIR. Biouut, appeared soon
alter 10 o'clock, the hour OF meeting,
but excused himself for the time to at
tend meeting OF the Senate Committee
on Commerce. senator Dolph sat with
the subcommittee. The efforts OF
the committee were directed more 10
securing an explanation from Mr.
B.ount ot his various acts while
boo Honolulu than 20 obtaining from
him an &C urate account OF his mission,
OF which tho committee was already
sufficiently informed through his OIL
ciai report. The explanation uecessar-
lly, however, involved direct allusion To
aud Ia some instances, o full account OF
his proceedings. lie told briefly Of his
appointment on the llth OF March,
1898. by the President as special com
missioner 10 inyestiRate the condition
OF affairs on the Hawaiian Islands.
which bad bsen developed by the rcyo-
luton Of last January.
Mr.. BIouut said that he considered
that appointment as within the bounds
Of propriety and precedent. The trip
20 the Island on the Rush. the landing
la Honolulu on the 2JJh Of March and
Mr.. BIOunts reception by tho people on
both sides OF tho question we're
passed over almost without men
ton, as was the fact that both
the auueXatiOuists aud tho
rOyalists were apparently exceed-
ingly anxious 90 make bis stay as pleas
aut as possible. The decision 10 have
the American ensign taken down and
the American soldiers returned 20 the
man-Of-war was next revived Mr..
Blouut said that he had found the
Islands and government entirely under
the control or protection ~ the United
States troops. The American nag
noated over the government build.
ing in which the officers of
tho provisional government conducted
their business Everywhere was mo-
tIced the influence of this country upon
the people OF the islands. 10 was owl
dent, Mr. BlOunt said. that 90 would be-
dI1cuIt 20 secure an impartial account.
or opinions uniunuenced by the sur
TOundinRs, as long az this state of
affairs continued. Consequently be do.
clded on the 31-t OF March, two DAYS
after his arrival, that in accordance
with the spirit Of hi. Instruction. and ir
the Interest Of fair play, that tho Gag
should be taken down and tho Amer.
can troops removed. on this decision
he Informed President Dole, and on She
following day, the 1st day
OF April ended tho temporary
protectorate and had the nag low
cred. This proceeding he defended AZ
within the scope of bis mission and a.
an entirely proper proceeding under the
circumstances The subsequent evauts.
he said, proved that the presence of the
American troops was not necessary 10
preserve order or protect the life and
property of either Americans or natives.
The examination Of Mr.. B.ount also
went into the various questions con
cerninR the landing Of the American
troops during the revolution and HE
reasons for concluding that there had
been a conspiracy 20 dsthrons the
Queen and annex the islands % the
United states.
lie was reminded ~ tho charge that
his investigation had been partial and
that bic report showed upon Its face
that he had been preJudiced against tho
annexation from the beginning. This.
Mr.. Biount said was untrue and he
contended that the report was impartial
and the investigation was without pre-
judice or favor.
Mr. BIOunt was examined In regard
90 statements made by the Hawailsns
70 the effect that his examination bad
been partial and that his method Of
conducting 10 had been apparently la