Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-22
TWO COMMISSIONERS
Lack Of Judgment in Selecting En-
voys to Hawaii.
BLOUNT'S DIPLOMATIC INEXPERIENCE
His Report Has Practically Killed
Him Politically.
ADMIRAL WALKER FRANK

|
Az the politicians see 1t, the most in
| teresting and instructive phase of this
| whole Hawaiian business relates to the
| lack of judgment shown by the President
| in his choice of special commissioners to
| the islands, and to the fortunes that have
| befallen the two men since their return
! home.
Mr.. Blount, as is we'll remembered, had
| just concluded twenty years Of honora-
| BILE and useful service in the House of Rep
resentat ives and had retired to his home in
| Georgia for a rest. He was expected to
| appear in politics again. either as candi-
| date for governor or Senator. and it was
| conceded that when he did he would prove
| formidable candidate. An able, though
not a brilliant man, and but little turned
| of sixty, there was every reason indeed
| why his people should expect further pub
| lie service from him. Mr.. Cleveland's call
| found him setting his old house at Macon
| in order. He came to Washington at once,
heard Mr.. Cleveland through changed ell
Of his own plans and started for Honolulu.
1t was not generally understood then just
what the Hawaiian case was, or there
would have been suggestions made to the
President about Mr.. Blount and sugges-
| tons made to Mr.. Blount about where his
! errand would be likely to land him.
inexperienced in Diplomacy.
The President would have been told that
| the business called for a trained hand and
! that in matters Of diplomacy Mr.. Blount
was wholly without training OF any kind.
| His one term as chairman of the House
| committee on foreign affairs had not come
| to him in the line Of promotion, or for any
reason denoting especial fitness for the
| h,,f nlxyf for ha oSn1
| that colleague had drawn the speakership
| prize. Mr.. Blount's work in Congress had
| all related to domestic affairs-postal, ter
ritorial, claims. 1t had been Well done.
! But inasmuch as he had been a valuable
| factor in the speakership fight and was
now on the eve Of retiring from the House.
| the important appointment to the head OF
| the committee en- foreign affairs was be-
| slowed upon him. The preparation and the
| passage of two routine appropriation bills
| for the support of the diplomatic and con-
| sular service had comprised the whole Of
his directing participation in diplomatic
| business. And yet he was chosen to exc
cute a commission delicate and important
enough. as has since plainly been demon
strated, to have commanded the services
| of diplomat of the widest experience.
Ended His Career.
Mr. Blounts friends would have reminded
| him that the situation in Hawaii was a
most ticklish enc for any southern demo-
| crat to take up. His own record in Georgia
had been made and now confronted him.
He was proud of it. He was holding, with
his party associates in Georgia and else
where, that in any contest for political SUI
premacy and control, education, character,
capacity. property rights must and should
always triumph. And yet he was on the
eve of hurrying to a scene where triumph
of this same character was in dispute, aid
he would be expected to take sides with
ignorance and inexperience as against the
h Uhor IF 2rrf ~ wa r1-
ing reached Mr.. Blount, and he plunged in
to what well-informed southern men de-
clare has proved to be an abyss for him.
He carried out his instructions to the let
ter. advised in his report q course calcu-
lated to put the Kanakas over the whites,
and thus. in the eyes of many Of his old
friends and former supporters. in q few
months nullff1ed the meritorious record Of
twenty years at home. Nobody thinks Of
Mr. Blount in connection with public Office
now. 1t Is asserted upon good authority.
| indeed. that his blunder has even cost per-
sonal friendships OF long standing local
| sentiment in Macon on the subject of Ha-
wall and the right Of the best people en-
the islands to control their affairs being as
pronounced as it is here in Washington.
Admiral Walkers Plain Words.
The Presidents choice Of Admiral Wal
ker for the second investigation and report
is regarded as having been equally short
sighted. If he wanted anything comfort
ing, and calculated to warrant any fur
Their effort to carry out his views as to
Hawaii. he ought never to have selected a
naval officer who had achieved distinction
in the service. But one report In the cir
cumstances was reasonably to be expected,
1t is asserted, from man educated 10 give
the country and it's flag the benefit of every
ubt. He is taught to look upon this Is
his paramount duty. He gets his first les
| Sons in this line while youngster ON the
governments training ship, and he in turn
imparts these instructions to youngsters
| under him as long as he walks the deck
of vessel. The friends of Admiral Wal
| ker would have thought very little Of him
If, with the case as it stood, with the flag
and the action of Capt Wiltse both involved.
he had gone to. Hawaii, Invested himself
of all his training and prejudices as an
American sailor, and have tried it and
| made report upon it as bloodlessly and
unsympathetically as a lawyer or politi-
| clan, or compound of both. He could
| not, it is asserted, forget that the navy.
| through the action of the captain of the
| Boston, stood assailed by the administra
| tons friends almost as savagely as the
actions of Minister Stevens. and that
| American interests and reputation were at
stake all around The report he did
make has met with the enthusiastic ap-
prevail not only of his fellow officers OF the
navy, but of the whole country as we'll,
and has fixed his name securely. it Is
| thought, in the public esteem for I'LL time.
An Exception to the Rule.
| It is observed that the difference in the
execution of the two commissions makes
| a striking exception to a long established
| rule. The thoughtful, reflective civilian
has long been set up against the plain,
blunt, impetuous soldier or sailor for the
adjustment of difficulties. But In this case
| the civilian lest and the sailor won. Mr..
Blount, slavishly obeying orders. not only
misled himself, but the President as we'll
| Admiral Walker taking little liberty
with his orders. was able to see things so
clearly that he has not only increased his
reputation as an American sailor, but
made some reputation as prophet.
ArmOry Needs.