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Blount Report: Affairs in Hawaii

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               HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS.			             1267

I have said, to Her Majesty that it seems to me that the position of Mr. Cleveland is full of difficulties and 
embarrassments; that as President of the United States he is a ruler among the nations of the earth as Her Majesty 
was and, I hope, is to be, and. that she should make the way as clear to him to carry out his wishes to repair the 
wrong done as she possibly can, not giving way to any personal feelings in the matter; that she must leave out of 
consideration in the question any idea of revenge. I told her that I took it as the wish of the President that she should 
grant amnesty as to life and property.
Then I went on to the remark that she makes that she feels unsettled and unsafe with these people in the country. I 
am bound to repeat what Her Majesty said to me, although it may not he in accord with my own views, that she feels 
that these people should leave the country, or peace and good government can not prevail. She thinks any third 
attempt at revolution on the part of these people would be very destructive to life and property; that her people have 
stood about all they can stand of this interference with what they consider their rights.
I have gone into the matter of the constitution with her, because I know our views are not as fully in accord as I wish 
they were. I have said to Her Majesty that I think she can safely put her cause into the hands of the President of the 
United States, and say to him unreservedly, "You dictate my policy and I will follow it."
Is Your Majesty satisfied with the statement I have made?   Is it correct?
The Queen. Yes.
Mr. Carter. Is it your wish?
The Queen. I must think a moment.
Mr. Carter. But you said you are not seeking the lives of these people.
The Queen. Not their lives.    I am willing their lives should be spared.
Mr. Carter. And their property?
The Queen. Their property should be confiscated to the Government, and they should not be permitted to remain in 
the Kingdom.
Mr. Carter. Is Your Majesty willing that this should he taken by the minister as your wish to-day, that this matter 
should be put unreservedly in the hands of President Cleveland with this statement. This is said by me as a friend, 
and I think you have always found me such. In the conversation had with you this morning I asked you as a friend to 
you and your people that you give it prayerful consideration. You need not sign it if you do not wish. It is your 
privilege to do as you please. I wish you would read it over, consider it, and give it to Mr. Willis at as early a 
moment as possible.
The Queen. I should like to talk with some of my friends.
Mr. Carter (to Mr. Willis).    Can she see some one in the matter?
Mr. Willis. I do not think it would be safe. I take it for granted that in matters of such great importance she has 
ascertained the wishes of her native people and the leaders, and that she has been in consultation with them upon 
these general propositions. Is not that true, Your Majesty? I mean as to the general policy to be pursued ?
The Queen. I have. I must mention here (speaking to Mr. Carter) that I have never consulted you in this matter 
before. Bat I have talked the situation over with some of my subjects, and I consider their judgment is wise and in 
accordance with law, and have come to the conclusion that the statement I gave in my first interview was what the 
people wished. I had hoped some day I might have a chance to confer with you, Mr. Carter, in these matters.
Mr. Willis. I understand, then, that you said that the first interview I had with you embodies the views of the leaders 
of your people with whom you have been in consultation in the present crisis?
The Queen. They do.
Mr. Willis. And you have no withdrawal to that to make this morning?
The Queen. Although I have never stated to them what I had decided personally, still I feel that there may be some 
clemency, and that clemency should be that they should not remain in the country.
Mr. Willis. That is the extent of the clemency-that they should be removed from the country instead of being 
punished, according to the laws of the country, with death.
The Queen. Yes.
Mr. Willis. I understand that there is no withdrawal of your conversation of Saturday with reference to military 
expenses and police expenses that have been incurred by the Provisional Government. You still insist that those 
expenses should be met out of property confiscated?
The Queen. I feel so.
Mr. Willis. I understand that you would not be willing that the constitution as it existed on the 17th of January, 1893, 
should be established permanently in the Islands, believing, as you stated on Saturday, that it discriminated against 
your native subjects.

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