The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-12-26
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

Washington gossip, Mr.. Cleveland
in his official relations with the Pro
Yisional Government of Hawaii, pro
| poses to add insult TO injury. 1t i
given out that Minister Willis wa
| Instructed to inform the members o
the Provisional Government that the
President considered full amnesty
from Liliuokalani on her restoration
due to them, because he believed thai
the authority of the United States
and ex-Minister Stevens led them
into revolution. In face of the eX-
plicit declarations of a Provisional
Government which has been recog-
nized by two American Administra-
lions, this action by Mr.. Cleveland
amounts to cool charge against that
Government of Justification in its Off
cial communications. This is diplo-
macy with vengeance.
MI. Cleveland, in his efforts 10 re-
store the queen, hopes "to have the
hearty cooperation of the Provisional
Governments Seeing that the Pro-
visional Government was formed as q
last resort to break up q regime so
corrupt and profigate that it had be-
come intolerable, the assumption of
Mr.. Cleveland that it will aid him in
restoring that regime is about the
most colossal display of assurance on
record. If anything can be gathered
from the good sense, moderation,
firmness and executive ability thus
far shown by the Provisional Govern
ment of Hawaii, it will coneede
no more to Mr.. Cleveland than he
can command by the bayonets of his
marines.
An Administration official, who
processes to speak by the card, gives
the following as Mr.. Cleveland's
theory in this matter. The Provi-
sional Government was established to
exist until the Islands were annexed
to the United States. The United
States has refused TO annex them,
consequently the Provisional Govern
ment has ended. Therefore Mr..
Cleveland throws down no govern
ment, but, the Provisional Govern
ment having ceased to exist, he recOg-
Mics the old royal regime.
This is sophistry of the thinnest
kind imaginable. Granting, for the
sake of argument, that the ProYi-
sional Government was formed to
exist only until the Islands were an
neXed, it still remains in existence by
its own terms of formation, because
has not yet been accom-
plished. 1t is not the Uuited States
but Mr.. Cleveland, that has refused
annexation. He has employed lille
gitimate means to accomplish his
purpose. He has misrepresented the
people of the United States. He has
discredited the acts of the previous
Administration and stigmatized it as
engaged in corrupt and filibustering
project, when unguestionably it was
supported by four-fifths of all the peo-
pie of the United States in its Hawaii
an policy, especially by those best in
formed concerning the Importance of
the matter. The Hawaiian annexa-
tionists understand this perfectly well.
Left to themselves they viii maintain
their position until our present alb
surd Administration is swept out of
existence at the next election and a
regime established at Washington
that will infuse some sense into our
foreign policy. Then Hawaii will be
admitted quick enough, unless in a fit
of disgust it turns elsewhere in the
Furthermore, it is not for Mr.. Cleve-
land, but for the Provisional Govern
ment to decide its limitations. That
came into power under
the right of revolution, which Is IN
questionable. 1t has maintained itself
for the last six months without even
the moral countenance of the United
States Government. 1t has exer-
cised, unquestioned, all the func-
tons of sovereignty, including setting
up relations with foreign Powers. 1t
has administered the finances of the
islands in such manner as to re-
their shaken credit. II has
commanded the full obedience of all
the people OF Hawaii without firing a
shot. 1t has done everything that an
Power may properly do
so far as occasion has required. For
MIR. Cleveland to assume that such
Government becomes non-existent
merely by virtue Of his Interpretation
Of its formative act is the grossest
piece of sophistry, eonceit and injus-
tee that could be conceived. The |
position Of Mr.. Cleveland and his sup
porters in this matter is utterly indie |
iensible on the ground of either JUS
lice or sound policy. It is based on in |
which has been violently |
distorted to serve his purpose. The |
only satisfactory feature of the muddle |
ne has made is that it will politically |
Sill and bury him and his faction
:. +. Bulletin