The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-02-18

concerning Hawaii, while the Hawai-
ian Government and it, representa-
tives were kept in Ignorance thereof
The intention TO make an invrstIga
tion was soon announced in the press,
| but Mr.. Gresham refused To affirm or
deny it to the. Hawaiian commission
ers. Then the pa pers announced that
Mr.. Blount had been appointed and
| had started for San Francisco, whence
be was to go to Hawaii on a special
steamer Still Mr.. Gresham refused
to admit or deny anything, or to grant
our request to be allowed TO send a
| telegram by the special steamer to the
| Government in Hawaii. II was not
until months after that he would eve d
admit to us that Mr.. Blount had gone
to Hawaii, although Mr.. Cleveland
| finally claimed that the investigation
was basis for arbitration between
Liliuokalaui and the Dole Govern
| meut and that his decision to restore
the queen was that of an arbitrator we
were bound to accept.
BIount Favors the RoyaIfsts.
Arrived at Honolulu, Mr.. Blount
rigidly adhered to the policy of his
superiors. The first and only infor-
nation which the Hawaiian Govern
men5 received concerning Mr.. Blouuts
instructions was gle4ned from the col
umns of royalist paper in which
they were published ia full over Mr..
BlOunt's signature, under the heading
of can Address TO the Hawaiian
People,"
The manner in. which Mr.. Blount
constructed the report ia familiar his
tory. The sec ct and ex parte eX-
animation of witnesses; the compil
ing of affil rvita hostile 10 the Repub-
lie, wlthodf cross s-examination or
verifiratio of the reliability of the
aft tn's rhe ignoring of nearly all of
the ting participators ia the over
throw OF the monarchy, ami of the
causes leading up thereto; all these
characteristics of the report have been
made familiar to the public, but some
of the incidents leading up to its final
publication have not.
/ Was appointed minister in June,
1898. On June II, 1898, / addressed
the following letter to Mr.. Gresham
SIN confirmation or my verbal state
ment to you upon the 18th inst. l am
directed 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 in and concerning it's
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.
ImpIores Speedy Action.
"rhe long continueddeIaya and un-
certainty keeps the eutire 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 Govern ment credit and ability to
borrow is prejudiced; the expenses of
the Government are largely increased
by the necessity of maintaining a con-
siderable armed force for the pro-
lection of public order, and the enemies
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,
hut to the very large amount of Amer
lean capital invested ia Hawaii, and
the mutual trade now being conduct
ed between the two countries.
sit is important for the Hawaiian |
Government to know the intention OF
the United States government con.
cerning annexation at as early 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
''It is also im pOrtant that, whatever
the intentions of the United States
government may be concerning the
subject matter, the Hawaiian Gov
ment 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 and 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 state !, res
pectfully request that decision may
De arrived at and communicated as
speedily as is consistent with the in
terests of the United State,"
Mr. Gresham Cid not reply to this
nor even acknO wledge its receipt.
Secrecy as to BIount's Report.
After Mr. Blouut's return, some
months later, | valnly 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 IA confidential
0ne, aud that it was ''unfair'' for me
10 ask any QUESTIONS concerning it.
verbally reiterated to him that, owing
20 the long delay and uncertainty,
Affairs were unsettled aud in a critical
condition at the islands, aud il would
De in the interests Of order and peace
10 first communicate his intentions
when decided upOn to the Hawaiian
before making them