The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-12-22
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY.

If any confidence can be placed in
Washington gossip, Mr.. Cleveland,
in his official relations with the Pro-
visional Government of Hawaii, pro-
poses to add insult to injury. 1t is
given out that Minister Willis was
Instructed to inform the members of
the Provisional Government that the
President considered full amnesty
from Liliuokalani on her restoration
due to them, because he believed that
the authority of the United States
and ex-Minister Stevens led them
into revolution. In face of the ex-
plicit declarations of Provisional
Government which has been recog-
nized by two American Administra-
tions, this action by Mr.. Cleveland
amounts to a cool charge against that
Government of Justification in its Off
cial communications. This IS diplo-
macy with a vengeance.
Mr.. Cleveland, in his efforts to re-
store the queen, hopes ito have the
hearty cooperation of the Provisional
Governments Seeing that the Pro-
yisional Government was formed as
last resort to break up a regime so
corrupt and profiigate that 1T had be-
come intolerable, the assumption of
Mr.. Cleveland that it will aid him in
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 concede
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
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-
nizes the old royal regime.
This is sophistry of the thinnest
kind imaginable. Granting, for the
sake of argument, that the Provi-
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
annexation has not yet been accom-
IL 10 4Ob IhC - dilCa SbhlSo
but Mr.. Cleveland, that has refused
annexation. He has employed lille
ultimate 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 a corrupt and filibustering
project, when unquestionably 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 will maintain
their position until our present alb
surd Administration is swept out of
existence at the next election and
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
meantime.
Furthermore, it is not for Mr.. Cleve-
land. but for the Provisional Govern
ment to decide its limitations. That
Government came into power under
the right of revolution, which Is un-
1t has maintained itself
for the last six months without even
the moral countenance of the United
States Government. 1t has exer-