The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-19
The Response from the White House

The very first para graph OF the Hawaiian
messaRe shows the Presidents Inherent
and incxtinguishable contempt for the atl-
thority OF Congress. He has been brought
mn with n round turn in his secret pur-
suit of the policy of infamy. Congress, by
resolutions passed by both Houses. has
demanded TO know what he has done. what
he has intended to do. and what he Ia still
doing, on his own responsibility In Ha-
wall. Mr.. CLEVELAND affects to Ignore
the peremptory call OF Congress-. He pref
aces his message OF yesterday. not. az
Is customary, with a straightforward state
ment OF the truth. namely, that IL is sub
mitted in consequence OF. and In obedience
TO, the command Of the Federal Legislature.
but with the sneaiing pretence that this
message originates solely In his own Volt
ton, and is now written in pursuance OF
previously expressed intention of trans
hitting further information on the subject
when additional advices permitted"
This document. really n reluctant re-
sponse to n sharp call from Congress. Mr..
CLEVELAND sends TO the Capitol as IL it
we're voluntary act OF condescension and
grace on his part. I'm accordance with my
previous intentions" said the coon. loftiy.
ct now proceed to come down and hold
further amicable intercourse with Capt.
SCOTT" Five-sixths OF the message Is
restatement in Mr.. CLEvELASD's own
language OF tho argument for the policy
OF infamy rendered familiar to everybody
through the previous efforts OF BLoUNT.
GRESHAM, and tho various hirelings OF
CLAUS SPRECKELs. The only new features
are stronger insstencc on the idea that the
findings OF Mr.. BLoUNT are paramount to
all other evidence. and must be regarded
as infaiiible and final: and a somewhat
more profuse seasoning OF platitudes
with references to morality. justice. and
the higher law. This part Of the message
might have been written by PAUL NEU-
MANN MS a foundation for claim for money
damages In behalf OF LILIUoKALANI. Mr..
CLEvELASDs presentation is no stronger
than was Secretary GREsHAM's Mr.
GREsHAM's carried no more weight than
BLoUNT's: what BLoUST's Is worth, the
whole country. including Congress-, now
perfectly under stands.
The remaining one-sixth OF the messageis
more interesting. but it is neither a candid
nor satisfactory defence of the Administra-
tons Hawaiian policy. Mr.. CLEVELAND an
nounces that he shall not again submit to
the Senate the treaty OF annexation with
Hawaii which hc withdrew last March.
This Is not surprising news. Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS hostility to American extension Is
now no secret. and the future union of
Hawaii's destines with those OF this coun-
trywill not proceed from his initiative. The
American friends OF Hawaii and the Ha-
wailan friends Of America have nothing to
expect or to hope for from him. The main
point to be noted is the President careful
avoidance OF any Ineligible explanation OF
the method by which he originally in
tended to accomplish the restoration Of
monarchy in the islands. at the time when he
hoped to put LILIUoKALANI back upon her
throne before Congress or the country
should know his plans. The process OF in
quiry by Congress Is not yet complete.
Mr.. CLEVELAND is obliged to confess to
Congress the utter failure of his policy
of infamy but he bears witness that 1t
failed through no hesitancy on his
part. The scheme fell through. Mr.. CLEvE.
LAND alleges, merely because LILIUOKA-
LAM refused to give certain guarantees
which he required as indispensable condi-
tions OF her restoration by him. This re-
fusal. together with the unfortunate pub
lie misrepresentation of the situation and
exaggerated statements OF the sentiments
OF our people," here in the United States,
"have obviously injured the prospects of
successful Executive mediation"
Executive media ton! WILLIsS instruc-
tions from GRESHAM show what sort of
mediation was originally contemplated
There was not a word about any Limitation
on the power OF the President to carry out
In Hawaii his DEGREES from the White
House, until long after the whole country
had been aroused TO extraordinary indig-
nation over the proposed outrage. The
dates OF the successive instructions to
WILLIS tell the whole story. on Oct ls
when the conspiracy was still under cover,
GRESHAM instructs WILLIS TO advise "the
Queen OF Mr.. CLEyELASD's desire 10 do
Justice and undo this wrong" IL LILIUO-
KALASI agrees to tho conditions imposed
by Mr. CLEVELAND. Mr.. WILLIS is then to
advise tho Provisional Government of the
Presidents determination OF this ques-
tion," and TO notify them that they
are expected promptly TO restore her
constitutional authority" If either IL
LIUoKALANI or the Provisional Govern
ment shall refuse 10 obey Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND. a contingency that does not APP
pear to have been regarded by Mr.. CLEvE- |
LAND as probable, then Mr.. WILLIS I
Is TO await further orders. On Nov. "A. /,
again GRESHAM instructs WILLIS to in /
sist on the conditions imposed on .
the Queen as essential conditions Of
restoration" II is not until Dec. 3. the /
day before Congress is to meet. and .
three weeks after the constitutional linn
itations OF the Executive had begun to be-
the subject OF somewhat excited public dis
eussion, that Mr.. WILLIS is reminded that
tho President cannot use force without
the authority Of Congress"
Now, when did that notion. that after
thought, find a Judgment in Mr. CLEyE-
LANDS intellect? II the dethroned Queen
had agreed TO the conditions as 10 amnesty
and recognition Of the acts Of the Provi-
sional Government. how did Mr. CLEVELAND
and Dir. GRESHAM originally propose 10 in
duee the Provisional Government 10 over
throw ttERff uuI NIB, rr-,-- g. a., I