The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-19
THE MESSAGE ON HAWAII.
HISTORY or 7HE SIGNAL Failure or
AN ATTEMPT 40 RESTORE
the MONARCHT.

fore aud Anrr the Revolution, Based 90
the Mislcading Reports OF Paramount
Bioupt-The President Adnits the Detess
OF Hts Plans to Restore the Queen s,a
Tnrn- tho whole Question Over 60 Com
Grsas-Not n Lins of Evldence tn suppert
OF the Claim, that the Hawniisu Peopi.
Are Loyal 60 the Queen or Desire Neg
Restoration Minister wnils's Despatch,
Informing tho Administretioa that ne
Could Not Carry Out Hi- Instructions,
suppressed "In the Iutere.t OF the Pus-
lie Service"-Reception OF the Message.
WASHINGTON. Dec 1s-Presidont Clsveland's
long-eXpected message TO Congress- telling
the story Of the defeat Of his attempt to restore
the monarchy In the Hawaiian Islands, was
sent to Congress to-day. accompanied by the
correspondence between Secretary Gresham
and Ministers Blount and Willis. The corrs-
spondence with previous diplomatic agents.
subsequent to 1881, was also sent In. but has
no particular application to the present
Hawaiian situation. None OF the correspond.
ence. however is essential to correct under.
standing Of this remarkable diplomatic case.
for the President. in his own words. and over
his own signature. tolls Congress that he at
tempted to replace the Queen on the throne.
and that having failed. he now WASHES his
question Of the government OF the Hawaiian
Islands over to Congress.
The message has created little II any SUR
prise in Washington. for there is absolutely
not one feature Of 1t that is new or that has
not already been laid before the American
public in tho columns OF the newspapers. ID
has been well known for several weeks that
the Administrations Hawaiian policy OF reg
toraton was based almost entirely upon the
a 800 NJ.
tho acts OF the Harrison Administration. and
that Minister Williss mission had sienally
failed. The President. In his message, not
only confirms this diagnosis OF the case. but
he testfes to the general accuracy OF the pub
lshed reports OF the scope OF Minister Williss
instructions. Certain thick-and thin friends
OF tho Administration have been persistently
intimatng that tho President had O surprise
In store Cor tho public. and that his message
would contain some important informa-
ton that would turn tho tide OF public
criticism and secure for the Administration
the commentator OF the public, even though
tho policy Of restoration had failed. These
MuGwumps were simply talking through their
hats, and though they stretched their ears to
tho fullest length while the message was be-
ing read. not single ray OF comfort could they
find. The message Is simply q restatement
OF the facts that led up to tho revolution In
Hawaii as contained in Commissioner Blounts
report with tho addition OF the Presidents
humiliating confession OF his defeat There
is not In the message one glimmer OF hope
that the restoration polcy may yet succeed.
and not one line OF evidence in support OF the
claim. so often set up by the Secretary OF State.
that tns !4a..sI.GE pC, 40 aIO .oyal to the fore
tunes Of the Quoen. The Administrations
case has no longer leg to stand upon. and
the Presidents message is generally regarded
by public mon as the closing act Of great
diplomatic farce.
1t is significant that President Cleveland. In
tardily responding to tho demand OF Congress
for the Hawaiian correspondence. has with
held. " In the interest Of the public service."a
message sent by Minister Blount Just before
hia resignation. and also the despatch OF Min.
lister Willis. in which he tells OF the impossi-
bility OF restoring the Queen, chiefly for the
reason that she would not consent to be re-
stored BlOunt's reports are not I'm portant
but this unpublished despatch Of Minister VII
lis would undoubtedly make very interesting
reading. and in the opinion OF many public
men 1t might show somethiag beyond the
mere refusal Of the Queen to be restored under
promises Of amnesty to her subjects and with
out the assurance Of the maintenance OF the
monarchy by the United States Government.
To Congressman and others who have given
careful reading to the message and the docu-
ments accompanying 1t 1t is clear that the Ad-
ministration contemplated the use Of force TO
restore the Queen had she consented to be the
fgurehead OF tho new revolution. In one OF
the documents submitted to-day the Secretary
says to Minister Willis that IL the Queen
should not consent to be restored. then he
should act upon previous instructions What
these particular instructions were does not
appear this being one Of the points withheld
from Congress In tho interest Of the public
service" But In one OF tho communications
forming part OF the documents submitted to-
day. Secretary Gresham plainly says to Minis
ter Willis that President Cleveland Is now con-
WINGED that he cannot use force without the
authority Of Congress. q fact that he seems to
have become aware OF only at the last mo-
ment 1t seems plain. therefore. that tho Pres
ident either instructed Minister Willis verbal
ly or otherwise to call upon Admiral Irwin for
assistance. or that ho contemplated asking
Congress for the necessary authority for
enforcing tho restoration policy. From
the tone OF tho Presidents message
from beginning to end. aud the nature
OF his instructions sent 10 Ministers Blount
and Willis. the inference is perfectly justified
In the minds tCongressmen that until Minis
ter Willis notified the Administration that he
could not carry out his instructions, the Presi-
dent was thoroughly convinced OF his absolute
authority to lnAugurate such policy as he
saw III without tue consent OF congress- AFTER
this communication came from Minister
Willis the President seems 10 have had some
doGt's as 70 his paramount rights IN the
mattsr, and has therefore. submitted theeaso
t. Congress, with the hope that the democratic
majority m tie two Houses vii stand by INN
AMI devise some legislative plan Tor settllnR
the Hawaiian question and shielding the
Cleveland Administration from the conse-
quences Of ito humiIating diplomatic blum
Gers.
The reception and treatment OF tho PresI-
dents message ~ the two Houses OF Congress
was unusual and uudigninei but served at
least one good purpose. in making IL perfectly
apparent that tho Administration has very
few friends among the leaders Of the party
who are wiling 10 light for and defend H. and
that. ia the opinion Of large majority OF
Senators and REPRESENTATIVE the Adminis-
tion has suffered defeat for when there
seems 10 he no excuse, and for which IL IL
roUnlly condemned The public knew that
the message would ue sent % Congress to-day,
aud SO tu,Io vas "a bug crowd in the galleries
Uf both Houses. eager t. 500 and hear all that
was 10 take place. n the senate the row began
a. once. and a few democrats who are neither
leaders nor able dsbatsTs nor skilled pArllA-