New-York tribune., 1893-12-24
THE root or TIE NATTER.

This great and powerful Nation has Il great
| responsibility for the exercise OF It's power
II is under the highest possible obligation to
promote. as far as 1t can within the limits
which international obligations fix. the advance
mcnt of good government, civilization ana
Christianity in countries with which 1t has Il
legitimate influence Surely there can De no
COOL citizen of this country, Whatever his party
associations or lcanings who will disregard
this obligation or seek to shirk II. But II lhat
obligation Is recognized in any measure what
ever il must decide the Hawaiian question
against the policy which President Cleveland
and Secretary Gresham have tried to force
upon the people Of two countries without con-
shifting the wishes Of either
About many Hawaiian matters there may bc
dispute, but on one point there is no room for
doubt The testimony Of Minister Willis and
his wife since their arrival OH the islands eX-
acty acconls with all other testimony gathered
during The last year from men Of all shades
of opinion 1t must be held established beyond
possible dispute that the worthicst, purcst and
best residents of the Hawaiian Islands are al
most without exception in favor Of the revohl-
ton and the deposition of the Queen. whose
corruption. prohigacy and wInfon disregard Of
constitutional obligations and persistent cncour-
agcmcnt of the groSsest superstition and
idolntry have been the source of most OF her
strength She has behind her the savage cle-
mcnt. the persons who want To wipe ont Chris
tian civilization. the people TO whom her life
II no offence. the persons who have lottery and
opium aud other corrupt Jobs on hand. by which
they wish 10 enrich themselves at the expense
of civilization and dccency in Hawaii.
The alternative is one which no Christian ma
ton can ignore even II II had no strong per
sona relations with the parties on either side.
But il Is also the fact that the leading men
among the r'voutiOnists are the sons of Am"ri-
can missionaries ~ whom the President and
his tools speak so contcmptuouSly. These mis-
sionarics went from homes In This country. at
the peril Of their lives many years ago To the
Hawaiian Islands To establish christianity
there and they succeeded well The whole
Christian world gave them It's sympathy and
honor. Their sons. ana the sons Of other
Americans who were induced 10 settle in the
islands for business purposes, and whose aid
in establishing Il Christian civilization there
WAS most important. are now the men Of con-
trolling Influence They are men Of education,
refinement. high character and as keen a sense
of duty aud integrity rs can be- found in any
land. and when such men take their lives in
their hands for the protection Of their homes
against barbarism IL is not II step taken with
out the highest sense of responsibility and
obligation
This IL the one broad fact which led every
civilized nation 10 recognize without delay the
new Government established on the islands.
Between good government and the worst pos
sible. between order aud peace and purity I'M
der men of high character. and corruption. in
deccncy and barbnr SIN under a shameless
Queen and her tools The choice was one over
which Germany and other civilized nations
could not hesitate. That fact President Cleve-
land tries harl 10 have the people overlook.
because II Is IN truth the most important fact
in The whole matter. The character of The
Queens Government was such that civil
iZed or Christian nation could encourage It's
continuance for an instant. after the cstab-
lishmcnt of Il better one had become prac-
ticablr. Yet II j. to oyrrurn that better Gov
crnmcnt thus recognized 10y the whole Chris
ian world. and 10 set mp II monarchy ofscor-
nplion and idolatry. that the President issued
his orders 10 an American Minister