The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-29


President Cleveland's whole Hawaiian
policy rests on the assumption that the
provisional government was nothing bat
o body Of "tnirty or forty men," who
would never have taken possession Of
supreme authority In the islands without
the aid of the United States marines. II
the provisional government was imposed
by American bayonets and Gailings on an
unwilling people the provisional govern
ment would instantly have collapsed,
now that II is known at Honolulu
that the president OF the United
States is opposed TO IL and anxious
so use force TO overthrow IL. II 10
maintains itself in power IL 10 perfectly
clear that the original assumption Of Pres
ident Cleveland is baseless. Mr.. Cieve-
land has yet TO learn that he is not the
Federal executive, legislature and judi
ciary rolled into one, and his whim can.
not be permitted to supersede the consti-
tuition. Senator Hoar's arraignment of
the president has brought him up Sith .
round turn and has called upon him to
defend himself like any other citizen who
on his owl admission Is suspected Of hav-
ing infringed the law.
The president in his message OF Decem-
Der informed congress that on his own
authority. without consulting congress.
he had instructed Minister Willis to undo
the wrong that has been done by those
representing as, and TO restore as far as
practicable the status existing at the time
Of our forcible Intervention" Queen Lii,
however. wants not merely q restoration,
but . guarantee Of the tenure of the re-
established throne. If "ths higher law"
required that the president and his secre-
tary OF state should restore monarchy and
snthrons Queen Lii In spite Of the provi-
sionai governments in order to undo the
alleged wrong committed by the agents Of
''higher law" requires that monarchy
shall be restored and Queen lii declared
queen in spite Of the provisional govern
ment and Queen Iii. Mr.. Cleveland un-
der his higher law" must employ the
United States troops TO undo great
wrong" whether Queen LII wishes il or
not Mr.. Cleveland puts himself in the
ridiculous situation Of suddenly abandon
ing q great moral undertaking and then
attempting to throw the whole burden
Of settlement upon . congress ignored
and defied by the administration up 10
the present time. Mr.. Cleveland has
been guilty Of attempting functions be-
longing to the legislative branch OF the
government; he has uniawfuily and un-
constitutionaiy undertaken to usurp the
war making power. congress. There is not
the faintest shadow of precedent or juris-
diction for Mr.. Cleveland should Ii turn out
that the president without the previous as.
sent of congress ordered Minister Willis to
perpctrate an act of war. Every compc-
tent lawyer in both houses OF congress
knows that IL Mr. Cleveland has usurped
the war making power in the Hawa allan
matter his act is not susceptible of any ex-
ense or extenuation. The president had
ample time TO request the assent OF the
Federal legislature 10 the overthrow OF the
Hawaiian government before the adjourn
ment of the extra session. President
Cieveland's course Is indefensible from
any point Of view save that OF q vain, OBJ
stiuate, jealous and resentful executive
ne has dstied public sentiment both in the
United States and Hawaii. and he has
brought about state of affairs so critical
that armed resistance or the protection oil
another nation may be- the only recourse
of the friendly power whose interests he
has BETRAYED with ours. The American
people through congress will, We believe
undo the mischief that Cleveland has
wrought.
Hawaiian Commissioner Carter has corn
pleteiy demolished Secretary Gresham.
letter. What was left of Gresham and
Biounts statemen. after Stevens and
Thurston got through with /. is com letsly
ridded by Commissioner Carter.
The following from Mr.. Carter's state
ment mus, be very unpleasant reading 70,
Secretary Gresham;
"You constantly declined 10 allow m,
an iutersiew Ger the purpose OF making 1
statement for the commissioners on behal
of the provisional government At the
interviews which we did have, you point.
eddy evsded all attempts We made at leav.
lug you q statement. once going so far "a
- interrupts Gie by rising from your seat.
sxeaslng yourself and abruptly leavlns
the room The day that the news reached
Washington of the lowering of the flag
called apou you and asked you ii the re
port we're true. You stated that you had
no official Information on the subject. bu;
assumed thaE the newspaper dispatches
were correct, and asked me If in my
opinion 'he course followed by Mr.
biodnt would ee likely TO lead TO blood
shed or violence an Honolulu replied
10 you that the provisional government
vas snapiy abe g. take care OF itself, that
there would ee no danger unless the Tow.
erIag OF tae aag were toe 6rss step toward
sae restoration Of the queen. Yoa stated
positively that there vas no Intention al
restoring the queen, q statement watch
you repeated a. oas OF our las. inter
yleWsH
The Springfield Repsbiies. tDesn. con.
fssses that Carriers review Of Gresham
letter leaves taas gentleman ia q very BAD
| piigai Finally Cleveland has clearly