The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-31
"A USURPER OF POWER
Cleveland Severely Arraigned for
His Hawaiian Policy.
Report of Republicans on the ResOlu-
tiOns Presented to the House by
Representative McCreary.
THE DEMOCRATIC PROBLEM
How to Meet Revenue Deficits
THE DEMOCRATIC PROBLEM
How to Meet Revenue Deficits
Still all Unsettled Question.
Chairman Wilson, Of the Ways and
Means Committee, FavOrs Issuing
Bonds of Small Denominations.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The Republican
members Of the foreign affairs committee
have completed their minority report the
resolutions presented by Chairman Nc
Creary on the day Congress adjourned
a substitute for the Hit resolution. The
report was prepared by Mr.. Storer, of Ohio.
and is signed by Messrs. Hit. Harmer,
Blair. Draper and Van Voorhis of New
York. 1t is voluminous and goes into de-
tail into the whole history of Mr.. Blounts
appointment as commissioner paramount
and the course of the administration. 1t
says that it was publicly stated, though
as yet not officially known, that James M.
Blount started from Washington on March
I, on a mission to the Hawaiian Islands with
verbal secret instructions from the Presi-
dent. His subsequent written instructions,
not made public until November last, bear
date Of March IL.
The report then discusses at length the
Presidents power to appoint a diplomatic
officer armed with the powers given to Mr.
Blount without the consent of the Senate
This" the report says, "covers all that is
needed to show how the President ignored
the plain language Of the Constitution He
has assumed to appoint of his own volition
without the advice Of the Senate, a diplo-
matte officer with paramount powers To
try to argue that Mr.. BlOunt was not
diplomatic officer of the United States, but
only my special commissioner is idle. The
minister of the United States at that time
In Hawaii had been appointed under the
Constitution by the President and confirmed
by the Senate. He had never been removed.
Leaving our minister nominally in charge
of the routine functions. the President sends
a high diplomatic officer, selected by him
self alone. Should the advocates OF the
Presidents policy try TO defend his action
by claiming that Mr. Blount was only
personal agent and not a public officer,
they must ignore the fact that Mr.. Blount
was given supreme command of both our
navy and our flag. Can anyone say that
either of these were the Presidents own
property or that he could delegate any per-
sonal power over them.
our diplomatic history is full of crit
ical times. of delicate questions, OF re-
sponsibilities bravely accepted. No prece-
dent for such an appointment has been
pointed out, and prolonged research on
our part fails to find one that can JUSTIFY
Withdrawing the Foster treaty from the
Senate. which may have been his eonsti-
tutional right, the President was led to
employ unconstitutional means and an un-
constitutional agent to reverse and dis
credit the policy of the preceding admin
stration h tbs Is more MORE nan an aan nn9Ea
ent and steady since the first days OF our
republic. 1t is unwritten, but universally
accepted. law that no administration of
any representative government ever con-
demns the international policy OF, pre-
ceding administration. FOR I'm so doing 1t
would attack it's own government"
Coming down 10 the question of Minister
Willis's Instructions the report says: The
falseness of the situation thus created by
giving secret instructions TO a minister OF
the United States Ia intrigue and negotiate
for the overturn OF a government TO whlch
he had been formally accredited does no.
seem to have struck the administration.
Whist right the President supposed he had
10 impose terms upon independent gov
prnmppt which he was about 10 rclnStHte
on the very ground that it must remain an
Independent government ana still assume
| to issue commands that universal amnesty
should he made a condition precedent, Is
| difficult to say. To impose conditions upon
this legitimate government would not be
| to restore Restore means to put back as
| IL was before removal; not TO put back
| shorn of part OF the fundamental rights OF
| government.
''The administration was falling short of
| its own theory of the status OF the eX-
Queens proprietary rights I'm seeking To I'M
| terfere with an unqrestionable right of SOW
| ereignty, The punishment Of offenses against
her laws. IL would have been a protector
| ate of the United states, not In name, but
| I'm reality; not by law. but through the
Presidents sole decision and decree. Here
| was an American minister not only empow
cred. but secretly instructed, TO threaten
| ard coerce the government TO which he was
accredited into yielding peaceably to "a res
| toratlon of a monarchy 80 unfit to govern
| TO restore IL tc it's full powers and func-
| t'oLs. III a President, without the consent
/ OF the senate. can Senn a paramount dip
lomatic officer TO supersede a minister
| leaving the latter only routine duties. he
may do IL in Breat Britain or i'm Germany
| as well IA In the Hawaiian Islands
The minority recommends the adoption of
the following substitute for the resolution
reported by the majority:
Whereas, executive communications to
Congress disclose that the executive de-
| partment has been furnishing to a minister
| plenipotentiary of the United States secret
| instructions to conspire with the represents
| atlves and agents Of a deposed and dis
! carded monarchy for the overthrow of a
/ friendly republican government, duly rec
| ogniZed by all the civilized nations. TO
| which said minister vas accredited. and TO
| which his public instructions pledged the
| good faith and sympathy OF the President
| the government. and the people of the
United States.
| Resolved, That IL is the sense OF this
| House that any such Intervention by the
executive of the United States, its civil or
| military representatives or officers. without
| authority of Congress, is dangerous and
] unWarranted invasion of the rights and
4 dignities of the Congress of the United
states and violation OF the law of the
| nations; and further. that the manner Of
such attempted Intervention by the execu-
tive and methods used are unworthy of the
J executive department OF the United States
/ while the confessed intent OF such inter
! vention is contrary to the policy and ira
| dition of the Republic and the spirit of the
| Constitution