Evening star., 1893-12-19
DIlEM M AS HORNS
Now Presented to the Choice Of the
Democratic Party.
OPPOSITION TO MR.. CLEVELAND.
Criticised for Not Taking Counse
With Congress.
USU ALTON CHARGED

The democrats find themselves confronted
Dy very embarrassing question relating to
the Hawaiian policy Of the administration,
ana tney are endeavorig to delay any dis
cussion OF the matter until they shall gain
Time 70 decide upon a course of action.
Aside from the very few thick-and-thin ad-
ministration men In both Houses. the party
- hesftating between the selection of two
evils. The impression among them Is very
general that however they turn in this mat
ter 1t will be more or less disastrous. There
Is very widespread feeling that as Sc
rious as such a course would be. the best
thing for the party Is to cut loose from the
administration and take what consequences
come from this division In the party, rather
than to have the party united in support Of
q policy which is sure to receive almost
universal condemnation.
They feel that they have come to the
parting Of the ways. where they must as
sumo responsibility for the administration
and be held accountable for its acts, good
and bad. or must Join in the general con-
dennation. and preserve what they can
from the wreck. trusting to the future for
resuscitation. Two sides are contending in
council, and they are not ready yet to take
2 step which must be extremely grave in
its consequences In whichever direction it
hes. Mr.. Cochran, as stated yesterday,
proposes to side-track the matter and post
pone 1t for an indefinite time. and the con-
rather than face the issue. 1t Is extremely
doubtful whether the republicans will per-
init them to dodge in this way.
They Are Hesitating.
A very striking illustration Of the indis-
position OF the democrats to commit them
solves at once to the support Of the admin
istratton was given in the ruling Of the
Speaker OF the House this morning When
he expressly stated that his ruling which
sent the Boutelle resolution to a committee
was not an exceptional ruling to cover this
particular case. and quoted from one rul-
ing in which he had gone against his own
party on a similar occasion. This was evil
IDENTIFY to impress upon the records of Con-
gress the fact that he was not taking sides
in this controversy in his ruling.
The Indications are that the party Is being
driven to the support of the administration
and though ii finds this very distasteful
many of them will go in to it like discour-
aged troopers who follow their captain to
certain destruction because they have not
the courage to desert him. Excepting the
cIass of democrats known as cuckoos. men,
bers of the party are avoiding as FAR as
possible any discussion OF the message ex-
cept in 80 far as they are willing to de-
clare that II is a very well written argu-
ment. Representative Whiting expressed
very general feeling this morning in saying:
Il greatly approve of his sending this In
formation to Congress. He might have
done 1t sooner" Representative Weadock.
another democrat. said: 1T used to be said
in oiden times that the king had no use for
parliament except when he needed supplies.
This matter should have come to the atten-
tion of Congress at a much earlier date, and
the policy adopted should have been the
policy of Congress, with the knowledse tnat
Mr.. Cleveland possessed after Mr.. Blount's
Investigation of the extraordinary manner
In which the overthrow of the queen was ac-
Mr.. Cleveland, IL he designed
10 make amends to the queen, should have
accredited Minister Willis to her, and not
to the provisional government.
Not Talking Much.
These are examples of the very general
expression among democrats. but as yet
few of them are willing to be quoted. Re-
publicans are free enough to express the
opinion which the public is now familiar
with In condemnation of the whole policy
of the President. The general summing up
Of Mr.. Cleveland's course agreed to by men
of both parties Is that Mr.. Cleveland's dog
matte statements as to the manner OF the
overthrow of the queen are in dispute, and
that IL they are all true his conclusion as to
the duty devolved upon him Is arrogant, IL
logical and incorrect.
1t was for Congress to determine whether
or not a wrong had been committed when
the facts were presented by the executive;
II they found wrong nad been committed
IT was for them to determine whether 1t
could be corrected; II they decided that it
could be corrected, 1t was for them to say
In what manner it should be corrected. Mr..
Clevelands course. ii Is contended, had 1t
been Just and proper was one which he had
no right to follow. and his action was first
a usurpation of the functions of Congress,
and consequently an offense against this
country; secondly an attempted usurpation
of power in q foreign country, and a wrong
to the country. and a violation of the prin-
cipies of international relations.