Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-06
SOME PLAIN TALK.
The Presidents Hawaiian Policy
Discussed by Mr.. Dingley.
PRONOUNCED NHORFOIGHTED OR WICKED
The Administration Said to be in
Serious Dilemma.
WHAT CAN IT DO ABOUT 1T?

Discussing the reference to the Hawaiian
bffair in the Presidents message. MIR. Ding
ley of Maine said to a Star reporter:
1T is difficult to make out from Mr..
Cleveland's message just what he means in
his reference to the Hawaiian business. He
makes clear enough the ultimate end which
he is striving for, that is the restoration
Of the queen. for. of course. the status of
January 16 last cannot be restored other
wise, but he leaves open the question OF the
means by which this end is to be attained.
i rather suspect that there has been a mod
ification of Mr.. Willis instructions though
no change of purpose to what is to be
accomplished finally. 1 cannot quite see
how MIR. Cleveland can expect to reinstate
the queen by means in accordance with his
constitutional authority. He makes clear
his purpose to restore the monarchy or as
he states. to restore the status as it was
before January 16 as far as practicable
and within the constitutional limits of eX-
ecutive power One can hardly credit the
idea that he proposes to restore the mon
archy by force of arms. which would GER
tainly not be within his constitutional
limits OF executive power yet he can hard
ly be simple enough to imagine that his OBJ
ject can be accomplished by his merely re-
Questing it.
One of Two Things.
My impression is that he had one of two
things in mind First. for the royalists.
with the encouragement Of this government.
10 naugurate a rebellion and proclaim
Liliuokalanl queen, when he would have
the United States forces landed under the
preIense of protecting American interests,
but actually to give moral aid to the restor-
alton of the queen. But he cannot for a
moment think that the people in this coun-
Nor can / conceive how he could expect
that President Dole would submit meekly.
Certainly with the information which Pres
fdent Dole now has as to the sentiments
of this country he would resist that, and
the part of the United States government
In II would be disclosed speedily.
The other plan which he may have in
mind Is TO submit the question to vote
OF the people, yet that could not be practic-
able; Tor what right have we to call for an
election and submit a question to a vote in
foreign country II this any question
IS submitted to the people of Hawaii 1t
must De done by the de facto government
OF the country. The queen might rise up
ana declare herself queen and submit a
question 10 vote, but that would have no
legal character. We have recognized the
oe facto government and could not regard
any act OF the dethroned queen as the act
OF that government. He would be reduced
InereIore, to an agreement on the part of
PRESIDENT Dole himself to submit the ques-
uoh' "hich Is not at all likely to be had.
Serious Dilemma
Looking at the question from any noin,
Of view II seems to me that President Cleve
land has got himself into a very serious
dilemma, and that there is nothing he can
DO TO accomplish the end which he declares
ne has In view which will be within the
limits OF his constitutional power The in
terview published today with Mr. Willis,
four days later than our previous news
from Hawaii. If authentic. shows that he
has found a state of affairs there different
from what he expected, which means L
suppose. that he has found the provisional
government stronger than supposed, and
that President Dole is not willing to yield
without struggle TO the demands of this
administration, and therefore Mr. Willis is
awaiting further instructions. What these
instructions may be- which have doubtless
been sent, 1t Is impossible to infer from Mr.
Cleyelands message. yet in all probability
they are modification of former instruc-
tions.
ShOrt-SiEhted or Wicked.
The attitude in which Mr. Cleveland
places himself is one which is either very
short-sighted or else decidedly bad. If he
expects to accomplish his end by argument
and persuasion, it is short-sighted. But if
he contemplates using force, then his policy
Is wicked 1t seems to me that there was
Just one of two things for him to have done
In TINS matter; either to have stood by the
annexation treaty in the form in which he
found II, or in some modified form as the
result OF investigation, or else to have sim
ply washed mis- hsInQs OF the whole business
as one Tor Hawaii itself To settle declaring
II ne wished 10, that ne did not approve of
the method by which the situation was
Drought about, or giving any other reason
he thought proper. one of these two
courses only Seems to have been open to
nm; But in what he has done there is
neither reason nor propriety.
A Tribute to- MIR. Stevens
Mr.
well He is a man Of great ability. has a
large store of information, excellent indy
msnt. and not at all given to hasty or in
eonsiderate action. AS a diplomat there are
certainly not more than dozen men in
this country who have had wider expe-
rience than he, and. in addition to this he
Is diplomat by nature-a born diplomat
lie is a man OF the highest integrity, and
no man who knows him would for one in
stant believe him capable of falsehood or
dishonesty in any form. His statement of
This case IS certainly clear and straightfor-
ward, and does not admit Of doubt as to its
honesty. l do not mean to reflect upon the
honesty OF Mr.. BloUnt- l know him well
and grant readily that he is honorable
gentleman
Mr.. BIount Led Astray
1T is too evident, however. that he has
been led astray. My belief is that he did
not willfully misrepresent the facts, but
that he went over an advocate rather
than an investigator. sent by the admin
Sstration to sustain a theory already held
and his method of procedure was that of
m advocate. He sought that only which
would sustain the assumption which he
Carried with him that this country had
committed a wrong to the Hawaiian mon
Gchy, and he was soon surrounded by
those who were that side. He heard all
they had to say, but nothing from the other
side; and Just lawyer retained in
case in court, he became thoroughly imbued
with an idea that his side was right, and
mat all things told him favorable to the
Administration were true.
His Presentation Incorrect.
TT Is his judgment and manner of max
ing investigation and not his integrity which
are called in question. 1t is perfectly clear
however. that his presentation of the case
Is incorrect. Point after point which he
made has been knocked over and there is
nothing left OF his case. 1t is very evident
that the people OF this country will never
sustain the administration In the use OF
force. moral or physical. to re-establish the
monarchy 1 have not the least doubt that
Liiuokaianl Is put upon her throne il
VIII nave 10 be by force used in sOr,le man