Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-20
A POLICY OF AVOIDANCE,
Course Of the Democrats in the House of
Representatives.
They Feel That They Cannot Defend
Mr.. Cleveland's Course in the
Hawaiian Controversy.

The democrats have practically adopted
policy Of avoidance in the Hawaiian
matter. There are very few who feel that
| they could make a successful defense of
| the action of Mr.. Cleveland in ignoring
Congress and arrogating to himself the
| right to interfere in the affairs of a friendly
foreign government. The excuse for his In
structions to Mr.. Willis, which appears to
be adopted by those who would protect
him from attack, is that he took this ac-
| ton under the impression that both the
queen and the provisional government had
referred the question of which should DOS
! sess the government for decision by the
President of the United States as an arbi-
traitor, and 1t was only after he had re-
ceived rebuffs from both the contending
parties in Hawaii that he discovered his
mistake.
The Only Warrant for the Assumption
The only thing produced as a warrant for
his assuming that he had been selected to
arbitrate is that President Dole indorsed on
the back of the queens protest the date of
its receipt by him and his name. They argue
from this and from She fact that the pro-
visional government was formed pending
negotiations for treaty Of annexation and
that the queens protest was forwarded
here by the provisionl government, that Mr.
Cleveland might have assumed that the
purpose was to have the President of the
United States render a decision In the mat
ter. AS absurd as this proposition appears
1t seems to be the only one which is gener-
ally advanced by democrats.
To Attack Mr.. Stevens.
There is no question that the general feel
ing among democrats in both Houses is
| mat their only safety in this matter is to
avoid the question of Mr.. Cieveiand's inter-
ference in Hawaii and as far as possible to
distract attention by animadversion upon
Mr.. Stevens. The resolutions of Mr.. Cock
ran, which were sent to the committee on
rules and which are designed to deal with
the abstract question of what are the pre-
negatives of the House of Representatives
in the matter of negotiations for the acuui-
tion or territory and which entirely avoid
the question of the propriety of the Execu-
tive OF the United States interfering to set
up or pull down foreign governments, is ex-
pected to be reported soon after the holiday
recess and a special committee will immedi-
ately proceed with a laborious Investigation
1or the purpose of establishing the right of
tne House to participate in matters affect
ing the extension of domain.
No broadening of the Resolution.
Amendments to this resolution looking to
broadening of the investigation so as to
encompass the action of Mr. Cleveland
tt erefore, If there is to be any investiga-
! ton or expression of opinion by the House
on the question of Mr. Cleveland's policy,
1t will have to be based on an entirely sep
arate resolution, which, IL confined to the
jurisdiction of the committee on foreign
affairs. is not apt to receive favorable ac-
ton. However, the course which the House
will probably follow In this matter-that of
ignoring the Presidents message entirely
will in itself be in the nsture of a con-
demnation by q negative course.
Action Expected Tomorrow.
Some action on the Hawaiian matter is
expected from the Senate committee on for
eign relations tomorrow. 1t is not yet well
defined what their action will be, but the
expectation is that majority of the COM
mittee will report a resolution providing for
an investigation of the whole SUBJ
Ject of our relations to Hawaii
during both Mr.. Harrison's and Mr.. Cleye-
lands administrations. Some of the lead
ing democratic Senators are urging a Wig
| orous and aggressive policy in the Senate,
designed to attack MIR. Stevens.