St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-13
SENATOR HoAR IMPATIENT.

Senator Hoar seems ambitious of dis
tlnctlon as common scold. On Mon
day he took occasion to offer in the SEN
ate a resolution calling upon the presi-
dent for information relative to his ac-
ton concerning affairs in Hawaii. He
commented on the fact that the informa-
ton communicated by the president to
certain senators UNI Ter the seal of conf
dence had been freely given out to the
representatives of four newspapers
known to be Jealous. thoroughgoing, he
had almost said inscriptions, support
erS OF the administration. If that allie
CATION were true, it seemed to him as
gross violation of the constitution of
the United States as was ever charged
upon or imputed to any public official.
1t was not necessary to say to the SEN
ate or the administration people that an
attempt to usurp the power of appoint
ing or commissioning such an officer
without the consent of the senate was
an attempt to usurp all the diplomatic
relations of the government.
Senator Hoar no doubt understands
full we'll that the president cannot be
held legally or morally responsible for
the acts of the senators to whom he may
have communicated secrets of state.
They are amenable to censure, not he.
Ii they have violated confidence, ex-
pressed or implied, the senate has the
remedy in its hands. but whatever of
blame exists rests upon the members of
that body. and the president must be
held blameless.
But the public will look with extreme
leniency upon the offense of the senators
who gave out the facts regarding which
the controversy rose. The senate mas
many exceedingly absurd rules, and
among them is the rule requiring all
matters considered in executive session
to be kept from the public, no matter
how deep all interest there may be in
the subject. This Hawaiian affair is one
in which every citizen is concerned. All
the facts bearing upon it were necessary
to perfect understanding of the issues
involved. The report of Paramount
Commissioner Blount was especially inn
portant, and. as soon as it was given to
the senate, ought to have received the
widest publicity. But this could not be
permitted; the traditions of the ancient
and self-important body of old women
would NOT permit such a concession to
the public demand. It is not pretended
that the publication of the report would
work injury to any of the parties in
interest. On the contrary, useful
purpose would be served by the pub
Iication, for by its means public senti-
ment could be sounded and much In
formation ELECTED from various sources
that would be of great value to the
senate in coming to a determination of
the case. The public obtained aece IS
to a portion of the evidence submitted,
but is yet in ignorance as to many
points essential to a complete and in
telligent Judgment. This information
will probably be forthcoming in the
presidents message now daily expected,
but it might have been available to
| great extent had it not been for the
secrecy enjoined by the senate rules.
Senator Hoar'S Impotence would be
regarded as natural, were it not for the
partisan malignity by which it is mani
testify inspired, for the public at large
is as impatient as he. But the public
does not scold, as does the Massachu-
sets man. The president has prom
ised to lay all documents bearing upon
the subject before congress. and is bus
lily at work collating and arranging
them. 1t is earnestly to be hoped that
he will not send the message to the
senate in executive session, to be with
| held by 1t as long as its members choose
! from the public view. The long-con-
tinued uncertainty that surrounds the
question should be dlssipated, and in
sending his message to congress the
president will no doubt consider the
rights of the mass of the people, as we'll
as those of the old women who compose
| the senate of the United States,