The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-07

/ garded by the administration rs an aniaw-
f1l act These were all matters of contro-
yersys but there Was enc thing which sp-
/ peared TO him 10 he vcry plain, sad faas
| Was that the congress OF the United States
bad not been treated in the open
| and fair way IN which the ad-
rn.nistrasive part of the government
Of the United States should treat
congress. IL was certain thA. doubts
about The condition OF affairs which ex-
istsc in Hawaii year ago were in the
| mind OF the president when congress met
N sxtrao- binary session; it VAS certain
that gentleman of high standing, =
former member OF the house. had been
sent 10 Hawaii for the purpose OF aeqair-
ing information; il VAS also certain that
the administration had formed a certain
definite idea of its duties and IL had been
stated practically thar il was the purpose
OF the administration TO restore the status
that existed before the revolution, TO pu.
the queen IN power again, and congress
had not been informed of IT, The presi-
dent OF the United States and the executive
ON ,ers of the government might as veil
understand that the people of the United
States did not like this. That was the
feature of the controversy which im-
pressed itself upon the minds of the plain
est people of the country. Whatever
might be the idea or information OF the
president, IL ought TO be conveyed 20 the
pubic ~ large. not only to congress. but
also TO the People. There was no reason
IN the world for secrecy. All the facts
ought 10 be communicated TO congress.
sherman said all he desired to say on the
present occasion was that if il was the
purpose of the president by the use of
military force to restore the queen in
Hawaii, it would be q fatal act of
public policy. great injustice to the peo-
! pie OF the United States, aud almost an in
suit to congress. Congress was the law
making power. The president had no
right to declare war or precipitate the
country into q controversy of this kind.
1t seemed to him that not only the infor-
nation called for by the resolution. bu, all
information available, should have been
communicated to congress at its last ses-
sion. Then congress might have acted
and the public might have been prepared
for the present condition of affairs. If
there had been less secrecy and more open
handed and fair dealing there would have
been less suspicion and less trouble. Ii il
in pursuance of the authority of the exec
utive American troops should be landed in
Hawaii and bloodshed result and q single
life lost, it would be by an unlawful act
Whatever view was taken of the action
year ago there would be no doubt about
the view that would be taken by the peo-
pie OF the United States of any act now
which involved violence, or even the ap-
pearance of violence, or threats, or any
act whatever to be done by executive an-
thority without the consent or knowledge
of congress
Gray agreed with Sherman that there
was no objection to the adoption of the
resolution.
Frye spoke of the high character Of ex-
Minister Stevens and declared the read
mess of himself and colleague (Hale) to
defend him against any attacks that might
be made upon him.
Call closed the debate and then the reso-
luton was adopted without division.
After short executive session the senate,
at 5 minutes past 4, adjourned till tomor-
row.
Nomination.. b. Doe. Wisconsin, to
be assistant secretary of war.