The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-19
FAILURE OF "MY POLICY"


Although Mr.. Cleveland's special message
on Hawaiian affairs is in response to. a
resolution Of both houses Of Congress call
ing for the correspondence, he assumes that
IL is voluntary. There is no reference to
the action Of Congress, but he admits that
circumstances render it proper and ex-
to the broader authority and discretion of
Congress" With his usual assumption Of
superior virtue. he says. II suppose that
right and justice should determine the path
to be followed in treating this subject" He
imputes to all who disapprove of his Ha-
waiian policy a disregard for national hon
esty and a failure to comprehend the mis-
sion and character of our government. Il
alone am right. and those who differ with
me are wrong" said Emperor William. In
effect Mr.. Cleveland says the same.
The entire message is based on the as
sumption that the provisional government
was established by the United States forces.
This assumes a vital point in the case. 1t
is denied by many credible witnesses, in
Guiding ex-Minister Stevens. Captain Wiltse.
now dead, President Dole. Minister Thurs
ton and many other witnesses OF high char
acter and unimpeachable integrity. 1t is
disproved by the contemporaneous record
of events. 1t is sustained only by Blount's
report. Mr.. Cleveland has no right to as
sumo so vital a point without proof. The
assumption is. in fat, a falsehood.
A considerable portion OF the message is
was in favor Of annexation. Undoubtedly
he was, but that signifies nothing. The
present question is not as to the propriety
of annexation. but as to the propriety of
Mr.. CIeveland's acts in trying to overthrow
a de facto government and restore one that
has passed out of existence. He repeatedly
arraigns Minister Stevens for having recog-
nized the provisional government on Tues
day, Jan. II. yet he studiously ignores the
fact that the representatives of Sweden,
Germany. Austro-Hungary, Belgium. Rus
STA, the Netherlands and China all recog-
nized II the same day and within less than
two hours after the United States minister
did.
The only lew matter in the message is
the statement of the Instructions TO Min
lister Willis. and in this respect public con-
lecture is confirmed. He was instructed to
bring about the restoration of the Queen
on certain conditions. which were by her
declined. The President does not state, and
the instructions do not clearly show.
whether Mr.. Willis was authorized to use
force in restoring the Queen. but the i'm
plication is that he was. The President
does not state why she declined the prof
fered restoration. but no doubt the reason
was that Mr.. Willis was not authorized
to guarantee her the continued protection
and support Of the United States. Mr..
Cleveland has withheld Mr.. wilIis's dis
patches to the State Department on the al
legged ground that their publication would
be incompatible with the public welfare.
Undoubtedly these dispatches would show
IldL TIE DTONlSlOIldl BONG IlItIl MdS "
strong to be overturned, that the Queen
had no strength and no following. and that
it would be useless for the United States
to restore her without guaranteeing her
protection. AS the administration was not
prepared to go as far as this. it stopped at
that point.
The message is a confession OF ignomin-
ious failure. Its clustering and assertive
tone cannot conceal the fact that the adj
ministration has been compelled to back
out of an indefensible position. AS a piece
of special pleading the message is adroit and
strong, but it is no stronger than Blount's
report, on which 1t Is based. and one must
go down with the other.
Mr.. Cleveland says he will not resubmit
the annexation treaty TO the Senate. That
ends annexation. His confession Of failure
also ends restoration. 1t remains for the
provisional government to decide what it
will do.