The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-23
Hauling Down the Stars and Stripes.

There is much perturbation shown and
much indignant remOnstrance expressed
by the truly loyal partisans who are not
in happy accord with the present Demo-
cratic Administration, all on account OF
the American Commissioner, Hon. James
II. Blount, having ordered the United
States flag TO be removed from the Cow
eminent building OF Hawaii. over which
It had f1oated for two months. or since
the establishment of the Protectorate by
Minister Stevens.
Calm and unprecedented men. whose
patriotism il not a whit less virile than
that of those who have so heartily and
angIily condemned, without knowing
the grounds upon which he proceeded,
the order of the Commissioner, will be dis
posed before joining in the hue and cry
to consider the matter more dispassion-
ately and conservativey. until, at least,
they have such information as will give
them better reason for wrath against
Commissioner Blount, or the Administra-
ton.
Whether or not It was wrong to re-
move the American flag from the Capitol
of Hawaii depends very much. we think
It will be admitted, upon whether or not
II was right to place 1t there. A good
deal Of light is thrown upon this question
by the following dispatch, which Presi-
80 far as your action may appear to
overstep that limit, by setting the au-
thority and power Of the United States
above that of the Government OF the
Hawaiian Islands in the capacity of pro-
tector or TO impair In any way the in
dependent sovereignty Of the Hawaiian
Government by substituting the flag and
the power Of the United States as the
symbol and manifestation Of paramount
authority, it is disavowed."
Thus it is made to appear that the
order to Haul Down the Old Flag" was
not the original idea Of the present DEM
ocratic Administration, but Of the late
Republican Administration. President
Harrison, in the clearest, most decisive
language, "dsavowed" the conduct Of
the American Minister in setting the
authority and power OF the United States
above that of the Government OF the
Hawaiian Islands in the capacity OF pro-
tector," or by impairing ''in any way the
Independent sovereignty Of the Govern
ment by substituting the flag and the
power of the United States as the SYM
Dol and manifestation of paramount au-
thority" over Hawaii.
To "disavow" in the language Of diplo-
matte statecraft is to utterly repudiate,
condemn and set aside, and President
Harrison's dispatch was consequently
virtually an order TO Minister Stevens to
undo the things which he had done, to
wit: establish an American protectorate
over Hawaii and to raise the American
flag upon it's capitol as ''the symbol and
manifestation of paramount authority"
by the United States over the islands.
II Commissioner Blount has, by remov-
ing that Symbol and manifestation" OF
the paramount authority" of the United
c., To- t.,
with instructions from President Cleve-
land. then by President Harrison's dis
patch to Minister Stevens 1t is conclu-
sively established that the present DEM
ocratic Administration Is simply causing
to be carried out the policy OF the late
Republican Administration, That pro-
position is indisputabie. and II is conse-
quently remarkable that the excited par
tisan organs cannot perceive that by in
dlgnantly denouncing the removal OF
the flag from the Hawaiian Government
building they are condemning, not Presi-
dent Cleveland. but President Harrison,
who disavowed in the most vigorous
language OF diplomatic intercourse, the
placing OF the flag in that position.
There is unquestionably a strong feel
ing I'm this country favorable TO the es-
tablishment Of closer relations with Ha-
wall. and there is nothing as yet TO show
that Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Cleveland
do not share II. The contention OF
the Government that it is not compatible
with the dignity and propriety Of diplo-
macy for II TO maintain a protectorate
over Hawaii during the consideration OF
treaty between this country and that
is one that will not be seriously disputed.
Though the policy of President Harri-
son in disavowing the placing of the
American flag over the Hawaiian Can't
tol has been carried out by Commissioner
Bount. the assurance has been given
that "the United States would brook no
hostile interference in Hawaiian affairs
by any foreign power"
That assurance should be wholly salts
factory TO even the most truly loyal par
tisan whose patriotism has suffered so
rude a shock through President Cleve-
land causing to be executed the policy
of President Observation-Disclosures Led
ger.