The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-16

| tives. That is the penalty provided by our
Federal organic law for the wrong which
we assume, for the moment. that Mr.. HAIR
RIsoN committed.
But IL may be said by the thick-andthin
approvers OF Mr. CLEVELAND. Do You mean
| to tell us that because Mr.. HARRISON was
| unimpeached for what we hold to have
| been his violation OF the Constitution, the
wrong which we think was inflicted on
Queen LILIUoKALAN1 by the United States
Is to remain without remedy Not so;
but we do assert that remedy must not
be sought in second violation OF the Con-
stitution. II Mr. CLEVELAND believes that
he can prove the statement OF facts on
which Mr.. HARRISON acted. to have been
tissue OF lies: il he thinks he can demon-
strate that United States marines and SOL
diers overthrow Queen LILIuoKALANI. who
had been recognized by US as the ruler OF
the Hawaiian Islands, then let him lay his
evidence before Congress. and ask Its
consent and approval to make war
upon tho present Hawaiian Govern
ment for the avowed purpose OF over
throwing it and OF restoring the ruler
whom, as it Is alleged. the United
States wrongfuly assisted to depose. Thus
doing, Mr.. CLEVELAND will be acting strict
ly in accordance with the dictates OF the
Constitution. But IL, without procuring in
advance tho consent OF Congress. he VEN
lures to commit an act Of war against the
present Hawaiian Government, he will have
proceeded on the assumption that two
wrongs can make right; and he will have
done that for which he in his turn will de-
serve impeachment by the House OF Repre-
sentatives.
A government once recognized and ad-
vanced from the de fdcto into the de jure
status. cannot be lawfully attacked by a
foreign power upon the plea that the recog-
milton was given on false pretences or a
misunderstanding OF the facts. An attack
upon government once recognized Is an
act Of war, and nothing else; and as such
it Is subject in the case OF the United
States to the restrictions Of our Consti
tuition upon the powers OF the Execu-
tive. That the present Hawaiian Govern
ment has undergone such change no.
body disputes. 1t has been formally recog-
nized. not only by tho United States. but
by almost all other important foreign pow
ers; and. in pursuance Of it's de jure status.
it has entered into contracts with some of
them. as. for example. with Japan. This
being the situation at Honolulu. it is mani
fest that the wrong imputed to Mr.. HAIR
RIsoN cannot now be redressed by Mr..
CLEVELAND through wrong OF the same
character. Mr.. CLEVELAND. no more than
Mr.. HARRISON. has been invested with the
right Of violating the Constitution through
the preparation of an act Of war. Nothing
can be clearer. however. than that II Min
lister WILLIS or Admiral IRWIN lifts finger
for the purpose OF upsetting the recognized
Hawaiian Government. he will have COM
mitted an act Of war; and. II that act has
been sanctioned by President CLEVELAND.
he will have deliberately broken the oath
which. on the 4th of March. he took to obey
the Constitution.
All this Is but the alphabet Of interna-
tional and constitutional law. Tho notion
that the Hawaiian Government. once con-
verified from a de .facto to de jure status.
can. under our Constitution. be lawfully de-
molished by President CLEVELAND. because
he subsequently finds himself unable
to approve Of the circumstances under
which the de facto Government arose. is too
puerile to be put forward by lawyers who
value their reputation. 1t is as silly as the
assertion that two wrongs make right.