New-York tribune., 1903-03-09
LANES II. BLOUNT DEAD.
Vas CleUeldnd's Paramount COM
missioner to H0zcalI.

Mecon Ga March S-James H. Blount ior
twenty years member Of Congress from "eot-
Gin and afterward Commissioner paramount "
the Hawaiian Islands in the second CleVeiand
term, died here to-day FROM congestion OF '"e
lungs.
1ar,cs u Rlourt was best known for his cohhec-
ton with Hawaiian affairs as President 1ievc'd'u
snociaI representative in the islands AZ ne D'
Ginning ~ Mr. Cevelands second term in ny" tue
Hawaiian Islands were under PI"'',"
rate established on February oi '""
,car hy Mr. Stevens. President Harrison $
minister 10 Ha wall and 4 treaty providing Tor
,boir annexation by this country was before the
Senate Mr. Cleveland at once withdrew inc tred,S
and a few days later appointed MT biouht' ""p
had retired from Congress March 4. and who hdn
taken great interest in the Hawaiian question: ms
paramount commissioner to the islands to learn
the sentiment of the people on the question or an
nexation to this country and to investigate the ad
yantages be derived by this country from t"e
acquisition the islands.
Mr. Blount left Washington on March H. ls%'
wearing an air of inscrutdble mystery when ne
did not discard until after his return to TINS Cou
try In the following August on Mdrch - "o
sailed from San Francisco for Honolulu on the
revenue cutter Rush. Arriving there he began at
once his nvcstigationS into the conditions put OIL
April l. according his report to the Secretary
of State he found that he could not prosecute MS
inouiries .1hcn the minds of thousands or Ia
waiian citizens were full of uncertainty as To
what the presence of American troops 'll'
Piled and 1T seemed necessary that all theSo
Influences must be withdrawn before those inquiries
could he prosecuted In manner hehttng the dle-
nitv and power of the United States H". there
fore ordered the flag hauled down. This was done
by Il marine guard from tho United States cruiser
Boston under command of Lieutenant Draper, ana
the United States sailors and marines returned 10
the ships in the harbor
1t is presumed that he found it easier then L"
pursue his Investigations. but he remained AS much
mystery those with whom he caIne IN
Nav Q. Mr.. Stevens having resigned IS
Minister to IlaWa Mr.. Blount appointed to
succeed him. Not long after receiving his com
mission he resigned owing to pressing private
business. and, before his resignation was received
in Washington. returned to this country HIS ar
rival in San Francisco was as mysterious as MS
departure had been and ne maintained his i'm
preSsive silence until Secretary Gresham made the
minister's report public in the following Nov"m-
bcr.
Mr. Blount was born in Georgia on September \.
1897 In the Civil War he fought the COnfcd-
side, when the ended, turned MS at
tentfon a closing the breach between the
sections of the country. In l>I2 HI" was elected
70 Congress from the With Georgia DStri't and
represented il continuously until ms voluntary rF
tirement in 1879.
His public, career ended with his mission Homo
lulu After returning from there he his attfn-
ton his private business. He ltHyPr by
profession, but had been in active practice for
many years. Hc Of tho largest land C~I-
ers in Middle Georgia lie leaves a widow and four
children Judge James H. RIOnt,. OF the Court Of
First instance. In tho Philippines: Joseph fl0uut.
Of Washington: Mrs Walter q. Lamar. OF Macon,
Ga, and Miss Fannie Rlouut.