The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-12-20
AS TO THE SITUATION.
MORE ABOUT THE WILLIS COM
MUNICATIoN.
Daniel Webster versus Grover Cleye-
Iand-A willis Interview-Note
and Comment.

Iapd-A Wills Interview-Note
and Comment.
After the STAR went to press last
night with it's regular issue it printed an
extra with the following addition to the
text:
The special session of the Council at
3 p m. to-day was opened with prayer
by President Dole All the members
present except Mendonca.
The minutes of last meeting were
read and approved.
The Attorney General moved that the
Councils go into Executive Session.
Carried.
Councilman Hatch moved that Chief
Justice judd be allowed to remain dur
ing the session Carried.
The Councils were in secret session
about three-quarters of an hour, about
half of which was occupied in discuss
ing the advisabiity of making Minister
Willis communication public.
Minister Damon, Councilmen Hatch,
Emmeluth and others advocated the
immediate publicity of everything con
nected with the Minister'S communica.
ton, but out of Difference to President
Dole's wishes the publication was de-
ferred until the answer is fully pre-
pared.
The written document presented by
Minister Willis to the Cabinet was then
read to the Council but what action was
taken thereon cannot be ascertained.
further than that any final action was
deferred to future meeting, probably
the regular one of Thursday.
Al.
to state that Minister Willis communi-
cation was simply very polite request
to the Provisional Government TO yield
up the reins of power for the purpose
of restoring to Liiuokalani that which
was taken from her on the 18th of Jan
uary.last
ThW President further said that as
soon as an answer was prepared he
would furnish both to the press.
: Since last night it has been learned
that Minister Willis offered amnesty to
all the "rebels" on behalf of the ex-
Queen. This communication took the
general ground that the Provisional
Government, having submitted its case
to the arbitration of the President of
the United States, it was in duty bound,
now that he had decided against it, to
step down and out.
The news of the event was received
with the usual gin-bedewed exultation
by the Royalists but it only served to
nerve up the patriotic party and raise
the war spirit higher. Where there
was any need of further preparation for
resistance, such preparation was made.
Rumors, of course, were on the wing.
Among them was one that Mrs. Irwin,
the wife of the Admiral, was packing
up TO leave the country, possibly on the
Corwin. Various incendiary remarks
were also attributed to British naval
officers.
DANIEL WEBSTER IN POINT.
An eminent lawyer, to show how
much variance there is between Mr..
Cleveland and the great Webster on the
matter of Presidential coercion calls our
attention to the following:
On July 18th 1851, Daniel Webster,
Secretary of State, wrote as follows to
Luther Severance, then Minister to Ha-
wall:
II have to say that the war-making
power in this Government rests entirely
with Congress. and that the President
can authorize Delligerent operations
only in the cases expressly proUided for
by the constitution and laws. BY those
in power is given to the executive
to oppose an attack by one independ-
ent nation on the possessions of another.
We are bound to regard both France
and Hawaii as Independent States; and
though the general policy of the Gov
eminent might lead it to take part with
either in controversy with the other,
still. if this interference be an act of
hostile force, it is not within the con-
stitutional power of the President, and
still less is 1t within the power of any
subordinate agent of Government, civil
or military. If the SerleuSe had at
tackled Honolulu, and thereupon the
Vanddlid had fired upon the lSerieuSe,
this last act would have been an act
of violence against France not TO be
justified, and, in fact, if not disavowed
at Washington, it would have been an
act of war. In these cases, where the
power of congress cannot be eXei cised
beforehand, all must be left to the re-
dress which that body may subsequently
exercise. This you will constantly bear
i'll mind. But, at the same time, it is
not necessary that you should enter into
these explanations with the French
Commissioner or the French naval COM
mander. In speaking of what
the United States would do in certain
contingencies, / do not mean the execu-
tive power, but the Government in its
aggregate, and especially that branch of
the Government which possesses the
war-making power. This distinction
you will carefully observe, and you will
neither direct, request or encourage any
naval officer of the United States in
committing hostilities.
NOTE AND COMMENT.
A prominent merchant of this city
who is interested in one of the largest
plantations of the Islands recently
called on Minister Willis and asked him
if he could give him any assurance that
in case of future trouble here between
the United States and the Provisional
Government that the trouble would not
extend to the plantations. The mer-
chant represented to the Minister the
large interests involved and the large
number of laborers employed, and that
the latter would be only too glad to take
advantage of any opportunity to quit
work, resulting in subsequent rioting,
etc., as well as great loss to the owners.
The Minister said in reply that there
was no occasion whatever for any alarm
on that score at present, nor in the
future, as far as he knew, and depre
Gated the present excitement in the city
as being entirely unnecessary.
The general opinion is that Mr.. Willis
will not proceed to force without fur
ther advices from Washington. 1t is
said that he will send the reply of Pres
ident Dole to the coast on the Corwin
and wait results. On the other hand. the
Royalists claim that the Corwin will
wait and carry the news of restoration.
Minister Willis has said that the little
vessel will probably be here for week
yet.
1t will cheer the American women
and children to know that they can
probably find protection from American