The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-08
sEArTLg. FRIDAY. DEC. O.


TIE blunder Of President Cleveland con-
cerning the Hawaiian situation was made
perfectly clear yesterday when 80 coaserv-
asivc q man ~ John Sherman. speaking
for the committee on foreign relations and
% radical . Democrat as David b. HUI.
agreed that the action Of the president
was not defensib.e. Senator Hun said II
the president. as inferred. intended 10 Use
force 70 restore the previously existing
status 1t brought up the very important
question whether the administration had
the power, without consent Of congress. TO
restore the queen, even conceding that the
provisional government had been estab-
lishsd BY fraud or even BY force.
Senator Sherman agreed with Senators
Hoar and Hill that simple resolution.
asking information from department Of
the governments in reference 70 . most Inn
portant m after, information that should
have been given in the presidents mes
sage. should at once be passed by the
senate. Senator Sherman said that the
congress Of the United States had not been
treated fairly and openly by the admins
trasion: that congress ought 70 have been
officially informed by the president Of his
purpose to restore the queen and its judy
ment taken. The purpose and the In
formation OF the president ought to have
been conveyed TO congress and to the peo-
pie. Secrecy has been maintained when
there was no ground for secrecy: all the
facts ought to have bean communicated TO
congress. Sherman said that IL ii was the
purpose Of the president by the use Of
military force 10 restore the queen in
Hawaii, IL would DO . fatal act Of
public policy, great injustice 10 the peo-
pie of tho United States, and almost an
making power. The president had no
right to declare war or precipitate the
country into . controversy Of this kind.
It seemed to him that not only the infor-
nation called for by ths resolution. bu, Gil
Information available. should have been
communicated to congress at it, last ses-
sion. Then congress might have acted
and the public might have been prepared
for the present condition of affairs. What
ever view was taken Of the action Q year
ago there would be no doubt about the
view that would be taken by tho people
of the United States Of any act now which
involved violence. or even the appearance
of violence, or threats. or any act what.
ever to be done by executive authority
without the consent or knowledge OF con-
gress.
These are words OF truth and soberness
and their impressive utterance by Senator
Sherman leaves the president and his sec
Rotary without any justification for the
blunder. II makes no difference whether
ex.MinisteY Stevens exceeded his powers
or not year ago, two wrongs do not make
a right. and President Cleveland has no
business 10 exceed his constitutional pow.
ers on the plea that ex.Minister Stevens
exceeded his powers.
President Cleveland will be compelled
by this senate resolution to make q full
statement TO congress. aud IL Is clear that
he will never be authorized by congress "a
use the United States troops 90 restore the
queen. II is not party question; IL is q
patriotic and diplomatic one. and with the
opposition to the presidents policy already
developed by Senators Hin and Morgan
IL 10 not possible that President Cleveland
can be endorsed by congress.
The Republican senators, led by sher
man, will be n unit against him. and Their.
will he at least halt dozen Democrats,
senators who viii agree with HUI anc
Morgan.