New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-05

TO which, beyond reasonable doubt, they are
generally opposed. This outrage Is much the
worse when it is secretly proceeded with and
when their obvious right TO know the subject
in all its details is disregardcd
Congress should demand to be put in pos
session at once of all the documents relating
TO the Hawaiian situation. especially includ
Ing the instructions that have been given
To Minister Willis. 1t is impossible to accept
Mr. Clevcland's assurance that he Is proceeding
within the limits Of his constitutional authority
as President because the purpose he admits
entertaining Is Of Itself beyond his constitu-
tional power There is nothing he can do TO
iniurc the existing Government Of Hawaii or
10 restore the dcposcd Queen which he has the
right TO do, either by our law or by the law of
nations For that Government. however 1t
came into existence, Is a fact There Is nothing
wanted to perfect its position as Government.
International law does not warrant one Gov
eminent in schcming or acting to the injury
of another merely because the former thinks
that its own officers misrcprcscntcd it in the
circumstances out Of which the latter derived
It's being 1t is only IN Obvious minority Of our
people who sustain the President in the view
that Minister Stevens and Captain Wiltsc did
ANYTHING more or less than their bounden duty
or that they were in any way responsible for
the Hawaiian revolution for its results
When Mr.. Cleveland says that Mr.. Blount's re-
port showed beyond all question - that their
conduct was forcible intervention" it is his
partisanship that speaks, his malcvolcnt spirit
toward the Harrison Administration and his
pique at finding himself in Il minority. Mr.
Blount's report did not show that beyond all
question" because. mt the least, fourifths of
the people are questioning it every day. He
knows this and he knows that his language
is the language OF incorporate partsanship and
not the language of honest and judicial candor.
But even if Blount's report had shown II.
even if il were true. unless are going 10
make war on Hawaii. it is Il question. not be
tween us and Hawaii, but simply between us
and those of our servants who msrcprcscntcd
us. But there can be no such question rs that.
because Minister Stevens and Captain Wiltse
are acquitted. The present Administration may
think what it pleascs Of the acts OF the prccod-
ing Administration, but Mr.. Harrison was
lawful President. and Mr.. Cleveland cannot
question his lawful acts. He approved the
and that ends the matter What they did prior
10 March is passed on, and there is no power
under Heaven that can revise or reverse the
decision: and they did nothing after March /.
1t is plain. therefore. that there can be- no
mcddling on our part with the results Of the
Hawaiian revolution unless are going 10
make war on Hawaii. Mr.. Clcvcland's instrc-
tons TO Minister Willis are confcsscdy instruc-
tons 10 do what Willis cannot lawfully do, eX-
ccpt by the authorization Of Congress- He can
not lift his finger or open his mouth 10 put
down the Provisional Government and 10 re-
store the Monarchy without invading the sole
jurisdiction Of Congress- and since the PrcSi-
dent has Informed Congress that he has thus
instructed Willis. II Is the duty Of that body NJ
once 10 ascertain precisely what the nsruc-
lions are. and Of course TO couniermand them
For We are not going 10 make war on Hawaii.
and If the President has put us in the position
Of doing so. his acts must be disavowcd. He
cannot carry this Nation with him In any such
infamous business nor can h. be permitted so
10 misuse It's force without n struggle that will
involve his power if not his official place.