No. 9.
Mr. Blount to Mr. Gresham.
No. 6.]
Honolulu, H, I., May 9, 1893.
Sir: There has appeared in annexation
papers on several occasions innuendoes of an offensive character
relating to myself. It has been my custom to give no attention
to them, because of the greatness of our own Government and the
weakness of the Provisional Government of the Hawaiian
Islands.
On my arrival here—the opinion obtaining through the newspapers,
especially of American origin, that I was to investigate,
amongst other things, the disposition of the people of the
Islands towards annexation—a campaign in the form of signatures
to petitions for and against annexation commenced, and has been
continuing until this hour.
Manifestation of the native element soon became very pronounced
against annexation, whereupon the papers of the annexationists
began to charge the ex-Queen with treason and to insist upon her
arrest and trial for treason or her deportation. With this I had
nothing to do.
This state of opinion of a majority of the people against
annexation has become so well denned as to renew the cry for her
arrestionmore ardent temper.
Yesterday afternoon the Hawaiian Star, the organ of the
annexation club, contained an article, a copy of which is
inclosed herewith. (Inclosure No. 1.)
I felt aggrieved at the dishonorable implication as to my own
conduct with the Queen contained therein. I immediately
addressed a letter to President Dole, a copy of which is
inclosed. (Inclosure No. 2.)
Four hours afterward I received a reply from Mr. Dole, a copy of
which I send. (Inclosure No. 3.)
The language used is not only objectionable in its offensive
reference to myself, but was designed to intimidate
antiannexationists in communicating their views to me, and so
prevent any successful acquisition of the true state of the
public mind in these Islands in its relation to the Provisional
Government.
This latter criticism I did not communicate to the Provisional
Government, regarding it as inconsistent with my instructions
not to interfere in domestic controversies here.
I am, etc.,
James H. Blount,
Special Commissioner of the United
States.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
6.]
Extract from the Hawaiian Star, Monday,
May 8, 1893.
what of the
queen?
The ex-Queen professed to have yielded her throne to the
“superior force of the United States,” and has kept up that
pretense since. Her present attitude is one of waiting.
Before doing anything further she desires to know whether or
not the United States means to take the islands. From such
an attitude it follows that if President Cleveland and
Congress should decide to keep their hands off Hawaii, then
Liliuokalani will deem herself absolved from her obligation
to stay quiet. It must be noted that she has never yet
surrendered directly to the Government, or even entered into
an armistice with it. She calls herself Queen, and rarely
signs her name to a letter without the royal R. It is her
hope, that if annexation is defeated, to be
[Page 531]
restored, and she is now the
center and nucleus of all the royal politics in the islands
which look to that end.
So long as things remain in their present shape the ex-Queen
is not particularly dangerous; but if the Hawaiian question
should be left to stew in its own juice, then she might
become an unpleasant quantity to deal with. The United
States would have formally refused to accept her surrender.
She would have yielded to no one else, and would be at
liberty to negotiate with, say, the Japanese for a
protectorate. Certainly, her right to treat with a foreign
envoy has not been denied, as witness her unhindered
interviews with Commissioner Blount. Out of such a
conjunction of affairs as this might come a vast amount of
political trouble and expense. Even if Liliuokalani did not
seek foreign help—as she was quick to do at the beginning of
her troubles in a letter to Queen Victoria—her presence here
would continually breed mischief, provoke unrest, alarm
capital, excite the emotions of her old party, harass the
existing Government, require a large military force to be
sustained, and cause an impression to go out that if the new
régime should at any time be caught napping the old order of
things might be restored.
It is pretty generally admitted now that it was a mistake not
to have shipped the ex-Queen abroad when she was deprived of
her throne. That was one of the errors of a hurried time
which, if it had been avoided, would have left the
annexationist cause in much better shape than it is. But
what is past can not be mended. Only that which is to come
may be kept from the need of mending.
The Star believes it to be the duty of the Government to
protect itself and the people from the danger that
Liliuokalani’s presence here might breed by sending her out
of the country under the act—which may be enlarged if
necessary—that deals with “undesirable residents.” This
course might, it is true, work a certain hardship, but
compared with the hardship that the ex-Queen’s continuance
on this soil would visit upon property and business
interests, it would hardly be worth noting. Its severity
might, of course, be modified by some provision for the
expenses of travel abroad, but this is a matter of detail.
The main thing is to have the disturbing influence of the
royal pretender out of the way when the time comes to
tranquilize the country and get it ready for the
responsibilities of its future. No better preliminary to
that status could be had than the deportation of the woman
at once. This would afford ample time, before the American
decision could be had, to get the country perfectly in hand
and to meet anything that might happen.
There need be no fear that such an act would make a bad
impression in the United States or elsewhere, as it is one
of the unwritten laws of popular uprisings that when the
people overthrow the throne, the occupant of it must leave
the country. So far as Hawaii is concerned every sensible
politician in America would justify deportation under the
existing circumstances.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
6.]
Mr. Blount to Mr. Dole.
Honolulu, Hawaiian
Islands, May 9,
1893.
His Excellency Sanford
B. Dole,
President of the
executive and advisory councils of the Provisional
Government of the Hawaiian Islands.
Sir: In the Hawaiian Star of May 8,
an editorial headed “What of the Queen?” to which I invite
your attention, uses this language:
“Certainly her right to treat with a foreign envoy has not
been denied, as witness her unhindered interviews with
Commissioner Blount.”
It has been my purpose to studiously avoid any word or act
calculated to produce on the mind of any individual an
impression of a disposition on my part to interfere with the
political affairs of these islands. In this article I am
made to hold unhindered interviews with the ex-Queen
Liliuokalani. These alleged interviews with me are treated
as treasonable on her part. This can not be true without an
implication of dishonorable conduct on my part. As such, it
is insulting to the Government of the United States.
I have held one interview with the ex-Queen, of which you had
knowledge before and afterwards. This is the only one. I can
not believe that the editorial, in so far as it relates to
myself, can be approved by the Provisional Government. I
respectfully request a reply.
With assurances of the highest consideration, I am, etc.,
James H.
Blount,
Special
Commissioner of the United
States.
[Page 532]
[Inclosure 3 in No.
6.]
Mr. Dole to Mr. Blount.
Department of Foreign
Affairs,
Honolulu,
Hawaiian Islands, May 9,
1893.
Sir: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your communication of even date
calling my attention to an editorial in last evening’s issue
of the Hawaiian Star touching on your interviews with the
ex-Queen.
The Government sincerely regrets the publication referred to
in your communication, and I hasten to assure you that it is
in no way responsible for the expressions of that or any
other paper, and thoroughly disapproves of anything that may
be published that can be taken as implying any action on
your part that is not entirely consistent with your
mission.
The management of the Star have promised to make the amende honorable in this evening’s
issue.
With the sincere hope that nothing may arise that will in any
way disturb the cordial and amicable relations that exist
between the authorities of the Provisional Government and
yourself as the honored representative of a nation that is
our nearest and greatest friend, I have the honor to be with
the highest respect and consideration,
Your most, etc.,
Sanford B.
Dole,
Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
Hon. James H. Blount,
Special Commissioner of the United
States, Honolulu,
