The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-07
Senator's Demand That Cleve-
land Tell the People.
THE PRESIDENT a usuRPeR.
He Has Not the Power to Legisiate or
to Declare War.
late Queen Lila Champien. and the
Maine Senators Defead Ex- Minister
stevens From Koyaltss Attacks.


WASHINGTON CfTr, Dec "a spirited
discussion OF the Hawaiian question occu-
pied the senate this afternoon. The debate
arose over the resolnsion offered Yesterday
by Hoar, requesting the president TO
forwa ard to the senate all the correspond
ence on the Hawaiian question. Hoar said
the resolution coyeresi period Of three
administrations. and hoped and believed
the instructions would show settled and
consistent policy. certsinly down to recent
time, in regard 20 which there had been
no party or political difference Of opinion.
If the presidents message meant any
thing. il meant that the president was
meditating the question whether he
should by his own executive authority
commit an act of war against friendly
power. If that was apparently proposed
TO be done ii had not been Done yet. Hoar
desired that the swift and indignant re-
monstrance of the American people
shond make itself felt and heard. The
president was getting into the habit of
adopting rather extraordinary language in
hi. dealings with the other branches OF the
government.
Mills opposed the resolution. II called
for information. but meanwhile its author.
before he got that information. charged
the president with meditating an act of
war Mills denied that statement; on the
contrary, the executive had respectfully
submitted the question to congress and
had given information at his disposal,
such as he thought appropriate to submit
in message. The presidents action in
,A h,I koa atr al
within the limits of executive authority.
The only question presented was: Did the
United States government interfere and
overturn the existing government of
Hawaii2 If ii did, it was the duty OF the
people of the United States. represented IN
the government, to make restitution and
reinstate the governments which had been
overthrown. Mills asserted that the entire
Hawaiian difficulty had arisen because
the sugar planters Of Hawaii wanted to
obtain bounty on sugar, to be paid them
out OF the pockets of American citizens.
Villas thought there were reasons why
the resolution should not be adopted at
this time. The president in his message
had said additional advices were soon
expected, and when received would be
promptly sent to congress, accompanied
by a special message. He referred to the
remarks of Hoar as to the reported action
of the president being AnAsct of var, and
asked whether the landing of troops TO
overthrow the government by virtue of
their force was not an act of war.
Hoar replied tha, there was no pretense
that there was any act of force or war.
Troops were landed under the allegation
that they were to be used to protect the
lives and property of American citizens
Villas said Hoar was begging the ques-
ton.
Hoar continued. saying the queen
yielded to armed instruction, and not to
American troops. -
what information has the gentleman
from Massachusetts" asked Gray, "that
there was any armed insurrection on the
18th of january"
The statements Of Stevens and the pro-
vislonai government" replied Hoar.
There is not bit of evidence of that"
declared Gray.
II think there is" asserted Hoar. "Af-
ter the president had sent letter ad-
dressed to My Great and Good Brother.
President Dole. it would be an act of in
fanny only excelled by the act of Joab
when he stabbed his neighbor under the
fiilh rib and then asked, Art thou in good
health, my brorher?'" ELaughter.l
Villas protested that that was not the
question.
Haar replied that the whole argument
of the senator from Wisconsin and the SEN
ator from Texas was one that would re-
auire the United States to give back Texas
to Mexico today.
We never got Texas from Mexico"
said Mills Texas came into the Union
voluntary"
Without going into the question Of the
character of the instructions of the presi-
dent ~ the minister, Villas declared at
what the president had instructed the
minister 10 do he had ample authority
TO do.
How do you know" came from half
dozen senators ai once.
Villas moved that the resolution be re-
ferred 10 the committee on foreign rela-
tions.
Hill said he did not propose 10 cross the
Hawaiian bridge till ne reached IL. nor
did he lntend TO discuss the wisdom OF the
original procedure, or of what had been
done recently by the presidents admins
tsstion. lie seldom agreed with what the
senator from Massachusetts, stated, but he
did agree with him that this was a simple
resolution asking for Information from q
department Of the government IN refer
euce 10 a most im portans matter, informa-
tion which he thought the American peo-
p!e wanted TO know from the presidents
message, and we're disappointed when il
vas not given 10 them. II had been said.
continued Iiils, that instructions had been
gwen. lie did not ssy So. however. and
he hoped II sas not true. as had been in
ierye5, that force might be used to restore
the previously existing status. That
brought up the question snether the al
mInistrsilon had poser. sithout fhe
consent Of congress, 20 use tae army
or navy 20 restore the previously
existing condition Of Affairs. even coaced-
Ing tha; the government hsd beea planted
by fraud OF even BY force. There were
three departments of this government; and
the executive department vas bat one OF
them. TAe-s were reasons why this infor-
nation shoa.d bc given now. Perhaps a.
this moment. possibly al this very hoar.
the navy Of the United States. eo-operss-
tng wish the United states rsinlsier. vas
>c< A&8& % 4uS%sGS tARc kA&ssss1fta& EDsrFs<-
raeai oy force. aad that Sas question the
propriesy OF which shouli be determined
BY congress
sherman favored passage of the resogn-
ton. He sassi he dad no. intend nos to
say a xord IA regard 10 the condition Of
Affairs existing, or xhleh existed in Hasaii
4 year ago. The ditncustv was that the
president Snd ;hs newspapers say there IS
= p4rpose % restore tie azsea aEd reaes
tie status s1o hssx2ss o4 sa4s Vas re-