The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-12-22
PRESS COMMENTS
Almost Unanimous in the Opinion That
Cleveland Has Numbered.

NEW YORK, Dec. Recommending
on the latest news from Honolulu. the
New York san tomorrow will say:
We have but little doubt that IN view
of the aroused feeling of the Ameri-
can people and of the grave situation
at Honolulu caused by Mr.. Cleveland's
attitude, a joint resolution in favor OF
annexing the Hawaiian Islands could be
carried through the present Congress
For the moment, however, it is the bus
mess of Congress to consider "A still
more important question, namely.
whether Mr. Cleveland in appointing
Commissioner Blount or in the instruc-
lions given Minister Willis has exceeded
his constitutional authority. CONNER
cially and strategically valuable as Ha.
waii undoubtedly is, and legitimate and
honorable as Is the wish of its inhabi-
tants for annexation, IT is for us Il mat
ter of far greater moment TO learn
whether our executive has been guilty
of usurping the powers constitutionally
reserved to Congress.
If such usurpatiOn can be practiced
with impunity; if the Congress, or eithnr
| branch of it, will eXtenuate or pardoe
such an act, then the Constitution of the
\ United States might as well be dis
charged as worthless rag. If there be
any statute of the United States which
I authorizes the President, while the SEN
ate is in session, and without the consent
of that body TO send a Commissioner
with paramount authority over an un-
recalled Minister at Honolulu, it Is high
| time that the statute were produced, and
| if any pretcXt can he found IN the Con
stitution or Federal laws for the attempt
4
| Congress to overthrow a friendly Gov
eminent. Mr.. Cleveland is now called
upon to prove to Congress the existence
of such preteXt.
For the benefit of the administration +
astounded apologists, who have be n
forced to interpret Mr.. Gresham's unpre-
cedented programme through their hats,
we must call attention TO the manner in
| which the Sandwich islanders have in
terpreted themselves. They have not
charged the Administration with falsiti
cation by ostentatiously refusing to be-
lieve that 1t meant what IT said. The
Provisional Government has made ready
to defend itself, as though war was AT
hand. 1t is prepared, as it naturally
would be prepared, unless it were too
contemplate to breathe the air of thi,
hemisphere, to resist the assaults other
of diss Olute, throne-hunting monarch
. or of monarchistic, throne making
President. This describes the last know
state of the affairs of Hawaii What Q
spectacle.
) The New York Times will say:
Apparently the Provisional Govern
ment is determined 10 hold posses ioI
! of power, even though annexation mas
be given up, and there is little chunc
that the Royalists can, without armt
as sistance, set the monarchy up aTai
and maintain 1t in authority .Accordiu
to any principle of government on a
right of revolution held in this country
the people of Hawaii ought to settle TIA
question OF their political status f.
> themselves. If they overthrow on
! government and set up another, il
= their business and not ours; but W
y have no right to use our national pc I'VE
!, to help II revolutionary party ther
u even if it does call itself an America
= party and is led by mcu of America
= origin.
# The New York World will saw
1t The Provisional Government hi
r. taken the attitude of armed defian,
1t that puts an end to the hope, il it h
e. been anywhere entertained, that d
tie restoration of the grotesque Queen C;
IN be peaceably accomplished, As her r,
Of toration by force would be an act
of war, in support of which not doz
as votes could be obtained in Congre