The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-02-18
Blount Favors the Royalists.

DiOunt E6NOtS tuc MY ohtStSs
Arrived at Honolulu, Mr.. Blouni
rigidly adhered to the policy OF bis
superiors. The first and only infor-
nation which the Hawaiian Govern
ment received concerning Mr.. Blount's
instructions was CLEANED from the col
umns OF 8 royalist paper in which
they were published 10 full over Mr.
Blount's signature, under the heading
of can Address to the Hawaiian
People"
The manner i'm which Mr.. Blount
constructed the report is familiar his
tory. The secret and TX psri- ex-
animation of witnesses; To. compil
ing Of affi1avits hostile TO the r pub
lie, without cross-examina ion or
verificatiou of the reliability of the
affisnts The Ignoring OF nearly all OF
the leaving participators in the over
throw OF the monarchy, AMI OF the
causes leading up thereto; sil these
characteristics of the report have been
made familiar 10 the public, but some
of the incidents leading up to its final
publication have not.
l was appointed minister ia Jun-,
1898. On June II, 1898. addressed
the following letter 10 Mr.. Gresham
''Iu confirmation of my verbal state
ment to you upon the 18th inst. | am
directei by my Government to re-
present to you that, while the Hawai-
ian Government has full confidence
in the good faith of the United States
toward Hawaii ia and concerning its
treatment of the relations between
the two countries, it seems proper
that it should be informed as to the
effect which the present uncertainty
as TO the ultimate course to be pur-
sued has upon the situation in Hawaii.
Implores Speedy Action.
1.-THE long continued delay aud I'M
certainty keeps the entire community
in a feverish state of mind, by reason
of which business is seriously affected /;
capital is rendered timid, thereby
hampering all enterprises which are
conducting their business on credit
the Government credit and ability to
borrow Is prejudiced; the expenses of
the Government are largely increased
by the necessity of maintaining con-
siderable armed force for the pro-
lection of public order, and the euemies
of the Government are encouraged to
conspire against law and order; all of
which is highly prejudicial and in
furious not only to the Hawaiiaus,
out to the very large amount of Amer
lean capital invested in Hawaii, and
the mutual trade now being conduct
ed between the two countries.
''It is important for the Hawaiian
Government TO know the intention of
the United States government con.
corning annexation at as early a date
as possible, as if annexation is not to
take place the methods of treating
local conditions in Hawaii must be
radically different from those to be
pursued if annexation is to take place
1T is also important that, whatever
the intentions of the United States
government may be concerning the
subject matter, the Hawaiian Gov
meut be informed what such inten-
tions are before the same are made
public, in order that it may consider
the situation with full knowledge of
all its aspects aud decide upon such
course of action as may be necessary
to preserve order and protect the in.
terests of the people of Hawaii.
For the reasons above stated, res
pectfully request that decision may
be arrived at and communicated rs
speedily as il consistent with the IN
terests of the United 5tate'"
Mr.. Gresham ciI not reply to this
nor even acknowledge its receipt.
Secrecy as to Blount's Report.
After Mr.. Blouut's return, some
months later, L vainly Inquired of Mr..
Gresham what the result was. He
would not even admit that any report
had been made, stating that such
report, if made, was confidential
one, aud that it was unfair for me
to ask any questions concerning it. |
verbally reiterated to him that, owing
to the long delay and uncertainty,
affairs were unsettled and in critical
at the islands, and il would
be in the interests of order and peace
to first communicate his intentions
when decided upon to the Hawaiian
before making them
public This he said would he doue.
On the evening of November Z, 1898,
being temporarily in Chicago, l saw
in an evening paper statement that
Mr.. Gresham had recommended to
the President 10 restore the queen aud
overthrow the Dole Government.
l Immediately telegraphed TO Mr..
Hastings, Hawaiian Charge d'Affairs,
TO see Mr.. Gresham and ask il it was
true. Mr.. Hastings did so, and Mr..
Gresham said to him: 81 assure you
there is no foundation for the state
ment. Do you think 1 would take 80
important q step without informing
your" Mr.. Hastings telegraphed me
the substance of the reply. That
same night at about midnight he was
informed by q newspaper man that
Mr.. Greshsm's letter to the President,
restoration, had been
given out TO the press associations and
was then going over the wires. The
letter was dated October Is, 1893,
nearly month prior to Mr..
assurance that there was
no such letter.
AS will be remembered, this letter
adopted Mr.. Blount's conclusions
and i'm substance de
the psrticipators in the over
throw of the monarchy as towards,
falsifiers and robbers, who should be
elected in favor of the wronged queen.
Shortly after the publication of the
letter compilation of extracts from
Mr. Blounts report, most injurious to