The Indianapolis journal., 1894-01-12
And Also Informs the Senate Committee
that He Acted on His Own Judg-
ment in Gathering Testimony.
SPEECH BY SENATOR DAVIS
He Turns Light OH the Opera
BOuffe Queen and Her Court,
And Hurls Sarcasm at Cleveland and
Gresham-Willis's Dispatches and
Dole's Reply Ready for Congress.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Contrary to
previous announcement, ex-Commissioner
Blount this morning was before the Senate
committee which is investigating the rela-
tions of this country with Hawaii, under
the resolution of Senator Morgan. Senator
Frye, who is regarded as the special cham
pion on the committee of ex-Minister Ste
vens, and who, it has been supposed, would
be pleased to have an opportunity to exam
inc Mr.. Blount, appeared soon after 10
o'clock, the hour OF meeting, but excused
himself for the time to attend a meeting
OF the Senate committee on commerce.
Senator Dolph sat with the subcommittee
The efforts of the committee were directed
more to securing an explanation from Mr.
Blount of his various acts while in Homo
lulu than to obtaining from him an ac-
curate account Of his mission, Of which the
committee was already sufficiently Informed
through his official report The explanation
necessary, however, involved direct allusion
to and, In some instances, full account
Of his proceedings He told briefly of his
appointment on the 11th of March, 1893 by
the President, as a special commissioner to
investigate the condition of affairs on the
Hawaiian islands, which had been devel-
oped by the revolution of last January.
Mr.. Blount said that he considered his ap-
pointment within the bounds of proprie-
ty and precedent The trip to the islands
on the Rush. the landing I'm Honolulu on
the 29th of March, and Mr.. Blount's recep-
ton by the people on both sides of the
question were passed over almost without
mention, as was the fact that the annexa-
tionists and the royalists were apparently
exceedingly anxious to make his stay as
pleasant possible.
The decision to have the American en-
sign taken down, and the American soldiers
returned to the man-of-war was reviewed.
Mr.. Blount said that he had found the
islands and the government entirely under
the control or protection of the United
States troops. The American flag f1oated
over the government building in which the
officers of the provisional government con-
Quoted their business. Everywhere was
noticed the influence of this country upon
the people of the islands 1t was evident
AIr. Biount said, that it would be difficult
to secure an impartial account, or opinions
uninfiuenced by the surroundings, as long
quently he decided, on the 31st of March,
two days after his arrival, that, in accord
ance with the spirit of his instructions and
in the interest of fair play that the flag
should be taken down and the American
troops removed OF this decision he in
formed PRESIDENT Dole, ana on the follow
ing day, the 1st OF April, he ended the tenn
porary protectorate and had thes flag low
cred. This proceeding he defended as with
in the scope Of his mission, and as an en-
tirely proper proceeding under the circum-
stances. The subsequent events, he said
proved that the presence of the American
troops was not necessary to preserve order
or protect the life or property of either
Americans or natives.
The examination of Mr.. Blount also went
into the various questions concerning the
landing of the American troops during the
revolution and his reasons for concluding
that there had been conspiracy to de-
throne the Queen and annex the islands
TO the United States. He was reminded of
the charge that his investigation had bean
partial and that his report showed upon
it's face that he had been prejudiced against
Mr.. Blount said, was untrue, and he con-
tended that the report was impartial and
the investigation was without prejudice or
favor. Mr.. Blount was examined in regard
to q statement by the Hawaiians to the
effect that his examination had been par
tial and that his method of conducting II
had been, apparently, in the direction of OBJ
tanning information against the provisional
government and in favor of the royaliStS
To this he replied that he took the testi-
mony In his own way and acted on his own
Judgment He had been selected to make
this examination and had been given en-
tire authority to conduct 1t in any manner
he saw fit and to obtain the most accurate
luton. At the conclusion of the examina-
ton of Mr. Blount he had a long confer
ence in the committee room with Senator
Morgan.