The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-01
AN ACT OF PREPARATION.

AN ACT OF PREPARATION.
Justice" wrote Benjamin Franklin,
lis as strictly due between neighbor
nations as between neighbor citizens.
A highwayman is as much a robber
when he plumbers in a gang as when
single, and nation that makes an
unjust war is only great gang of
robbers,
The first political sensation of Presi-
dent Cleveland's second term is practi-
cal restoration by the United States
of Queen Liliuokalani to the throne of
the Hawaiian group, a step recon-
mended by Secretary of State Gresham
as the only one consistent with justice.
After full and judicial investigation of
all facts connected with the deposition
of the queen and installation of the
provisional government. Secretary
Gresham reaches the conclusion that
the minister of the United States, John
L. Stevens, and the marines of the
United States were promoters of a po-
litical change resulting in overthrow
of the lawful ruler of the islands.
Organizers of the conspiracy consisted
of thirteen persons, a majority of them
aliens. For carrying out the plot Mr..
Stevens secured public hall, in which
he placed American troops and two
Calling guns procured from Captain
Wilson, commanding the United States
steamship Boston. Mr.. Stevens made
only evasive replies to the protest of
the queens minister of foreign affairs
against invasion of the territory of a
friendly reighbor of the United States
The governor of the island also adj
dressed a futile protest Neither Amer
lean life nor property was in danger.
Proclamation of the usurping gov
eminent was read under protection of
the arms and flag of the United
States. The government of Hawaii
surrendered only under threat of force
made by Minister Stevens and only
until such time as the government of
the United States, upon the facts being
presented to it, should reinstate the
constitutional sovereign. There is no
evidence and there was no demonstra-
ton of sympathy by the Hawaiians
with the conspiracy.
Should not the great wrong" asks
Secretary Gresham, in conclusion,
done to feeble but Independent
state by an abuse of the authority of
the United States be undone by restor-
ing the legitimate governments"
Instead of calm and patriotic reply
to this question the Republican press
of the country has already in acute
and apparently unanimous chorus en-
tered on an arraignment of President
Cleveland for approving the finding
and adopting the implied recommends
ton of the foreign minister of the Uni
ted States. Assault upon the presi-
dent rests on two points. He is re-
versing the action of a predecessor in
a matter of foreign policy and he is
restoring monarchy to power.
On the first of these Republicans
should be wary While it is true that
governments maintain, so far as may
be practical, undertaking course in
foreign relations, rarely permitting do
nestle differences to affect national
attitude to other powers, it is true
that reversal of policy sometimes hap
pens, and, in the nature of things,
must happen. Unfortunately for Re
publican criticism of President Cleve-
land in repudiating action taken by
President Harrison, proXimate prece-
dent is Republican. President Arthur
and Secretary Frelinghuysen reversed
President Garfield and Secretary
James G. Blaine under circumstances
far more conspicuous and humilating
than those that invest the case of
Harrison and Stevens versus Cleveland
and Gresham. The second message
of President Arthur in 1882, and offic-
ial instructions to Mr.. Prescott, Feb.
"a, that year, by Mr. Freiinghuysen,
are timely reading for critics of Pres
ident Cleveland and Secretary Gresh-
am.
All but unbroken tenor of American
craftsmanship in relation to noninter-
ference in foreign political affairs con-
stitutes the defense of the president
of the United States in respect to Ha-
wall. This defense is strongest on the
SapOrd r10int of attach made b1- Pa
publican partisans on Mr. Cleveland
that he is party to setting up a mon
archy. Only dishonest or ignorant
men will state the charge in these I'M
just terms. The president is not set
ting up a monarchy; he is making an
act of reparation to lawful govern
ment outraged by unauthorized en-
ployment of American arms to accom-
plish in the name of the American ma
ton wrong upon another nation. He
is not setting up a monarchy; he is
undOing a political crime, and it is not
our business to inquire whether the
victim of that crime was a sovereign
ty of one kind or of another kind so
long as it was legitimate and friendly.
In the famous "Hulseman note" by
Daniel Webster, Dec. q, 1850, almost
every conceivable phase of this contro-
versy is anticipated and covered. The
main question then turned upon re-
ported intent Of the United States to
recognize projected rebellion of Hun
gary against Austria. Subtle danger
of permitting sentiment to override
reason and law is therein fully consid-
cred. A masterpiece of diplomatic
composition, it is also fundamental
statement of the real principles of JUS
tice and honor which must actuate the
United States when analogous dis
putes arise. Nor is it becoming parts
ans of conspiracy in Hawaii to charge
President Cleveland with will to pat
ronize or sustain monarchy Their own
proposal regarding Hawaii was that
we should establish protectorate
there and pension the deposed queen
a proposal fragrant to the last degree,
for Americans will never pension roy
atty. AS to a protectorate, as President
Arthur put it in regard to the Blaine
policy of interference in South Ameri-
ca, establishment of a protectorate in
our name over any foreign country is
at odds with our past policy" and
would be full of embarrassments for
the future Chicago Herald.
Great Britain,s Debt
The debt of the United Kingdom is in
round numbers 1856, 100000 Comparisons
are made with the debt as it was in 1890