St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-22
THE POINT OE VIEW.

THE POINT OF VIEW.
Harry Caldwell is gentleman for
whom we entertain high regard. Aside
from his culture, his ability and high
character. he has the additional claim
to our regard that he is Democrat;
one of the kind who are such from con-
viction, having for its base clear sense
of what Democracy is.
When we find ourselves holding an
opinion the opposite of that held by such
Democrat we are compelled to re-eX-
anime our own ground and to inspect
his carefully, that we may justify our
opinion or admit the correctness of his.
We have. therefore. read with interest
the interviews MIR Caldwell has accord
ed our neighbor down the street. cheering
it with the discovery of Democrat who
opposes the administrations Hawaiian
policy.
Mr.. Caldwell spent part of his boy
hood in Honolulu, where his father was
consul by appointment of President
Lincoln. His judgment of the Kanakas
thus formed is that they are, IN the scale
of morality and intelligence, about on
the level of the negroes of Mississippi.
This is doubtless true. We have eX-
Minister Stevens word for this, as we'll
as for some insinuations that the eX-
queen is 10 better than she should be.
But we think this fact is demurrable;
granting its truth, it does not constitute
defense.
Citizens of the United States and cit
liens of Hawaii whose nativity is here
have large interests there. The govern
ment does not suit them. They have
the bulk of the taxes to pay, and the
American is naturally a masterful fell
low, who i'll brooks control by a race he
deems inferior. are further reasons
given by Mr.. Caldwell. This may be
sufficiency as a justification may be
doubted, whether taken alone or in
conjunction with the preceding. Mr..
Caldwell is too good lawyer to insist
that an American residing in q foreign
country acquires any greater rights than
any citizen of that country or that he is
not bound to submit to the laws Of the
country of his domicile. lie will not
contend that this country owes HIM any
further duty than to see that he is not
Disseminated against by the country of
his residence. and that his rights are
respected. If he infringe its laws, we
have no right to say he shall not be pun
lshed for it. if punishment is made in
accordance with Its laws. If he chooses
to take the usual risks for the gains he
may make, that is his concern, not ours.
But it is the .'manifest deStiny' of
this country to expand its limit and ex-
tend to other peoples the blessings of its
government and its civilization. This
is by no means automatic. Ii we had
establisheda government in such perfec-
ton that no betterment were possible;
if every citizen were secure in the en-
joyment of equal rights under it; if
justice held the scale always with even
beam; if economic conditions, so far as
they are the result of law, gave no just
cause of complaint, and left nothing for
men to desire, then we might find some
warrant for the feeling that we should
carry our blessings to all parts of the
world and infiict them on the peoples
who had not attained our blissful con-
dition, i'll purely humanitarian spirit.
and whether they would or no. But
until that condition is reached it would
seem as if it were our manifest des-
tiny" to direct all our energies to reach
ing it, leaving other people meanwhile
to work out their salvation on their own
lines and under the memorable opera
ton of the law of the survival of the
tittest.
But we think Mr.. Caldwell begS the
question. 1t is not one of annexation of
: people asking to be taken in. but it is,
Did our minister, aided by our naval
force, conspire with some persons. part
subjects. part foreigners, to overthrow
the government of country with which
we were at peace and with which we
had treaty of commerce and amity?
If this is true, then is it not our duty, as
nation bound to be just in our deal
ingS with other nations, to diSavoW the
acts of our agents and restore the situa-
ton existing before the emeute? Then,
if the discontented element wishes to
depose the existing government and
establish another, it is matter that
does not cOucern us; and, il they sue
ceed and offer annexation. the propo-
sition can be considered, freed from any
question of injustice, and on its merits.
1t seems to US that there is question
Of morals to be adjusted before any
question of policy can be considered.