New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-19
fHE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Mr.. Cleveland Is not the sort OF man who can
frankly acknowledge a mistake. His Hawaiian
message is an elaborate defence OF what. by the
very process Of defending it. he admits to be
Il failure Above and beyond everything else in
the message is Mr.. Clcyeland's characteristic
representation Of himself rs substantially the
only person charged with responsibility for the
conduct of public affairs. who is able TO enter
tain high views Of things. He graciously adj
mits that he shares this popularity with those
whom he describes as the people," meaning
that scanty fraction of the public which Is con
trocd by his views and lends humble obedi-
cncc 10 whatever he declares TO be a proper
policy; and. assuming with characteristic IN
tolerance of every view except his own and of
all facts inconsistent with the conditions, not
as they exist. but as he would have them, that
his conclusions are necessarily the correct ones.
his Judgment necessarily the Judgment OF the
Nation and his policy necessarily the only one
possible To common sense and common honesty,
he proceeds to deliver himself of a lecture on
morality. honor and Righteousness. proclaiming
that any dissent from his purposes is only To be
accounted for by want of principle and an
inherent inability TO grasp and comprehend
high moral considerations.
No light whatever is thrown by this message
on the real practical problem presented by the
Hawaiian complications. 1t is simply state
mcnt of what Mr. Cleveland chose 10 regard as
the facts in the case on the day he took office
and Of what he sent Mr. Bount 10 Hawaii for
the purpose of making out the facts 10 be. This
statement of the case the people have been
familiar with since the publication Of Mr.. Grcsh-
ANS letter and of the Blount report, and their
views with regard 10 ii We're definitely formed
some time ago and are not to be affected by
a reiteration Of either side Of the controversy.
Their Judgment depends not on what Mr.. Cleye-
land thinks nor on the view Of any other per
son who was not an eyewitness Of the Ia
waiian revolution. ON the case as made up by
the American Minister. the American naval
officers and prominent lIawafianS. such as Min
lister Thurston. Professor Alexander. Mr. Castle
Mr. Carter and President Dole on the one hand
and the adhercntS of the deI,oScd Queen on the
other every intelligent man is as capable as
any other of drawing his own differences and
forming his own conclusions. This has been
done. and with the undoubtcd result that Il
majority Of the American people are con
WINGED that substantial Justice WAS reached in
Hawaii by the victory Of the revolutionary
party and the establishment Of the Provisional
Government. To deny that this is the view OF
the people is To b. wilfully blind.
Mr.. Cleveland now turns the whole matter
over 10 Congress. with the offer 10 cooperate
with that branch of m" Government In any
plan which is consistent with American honor.
integrity and morality" That the President
f,,
such Limitation To the plans that Congress
might devise exhibits his Sclfrishteous AFRO
gancc in its most offensive light. What II means,
Of course. iS that appearing 10 stand aside. he
will keep club within easy reach ready 10 fall
upon anything that Congress proposes and I"
smash il rs Il plan that is not consistent " with
American honor. integrity and morality" He
has placed himself In the way Of any settle
mcnt of the real Hawaiian problem. That prob
lem is not who shall govern Hawaii hut what
shall he our relation 10 Hawaii The utter
emptiness Of the Presidents policy Is revealed
In the fact that if il were accomplished moth
ing would even then be- settled The real prob
lem would remain as big and * difficult ~ ever.
Congress should proceed without delay 10 de
tcrminr upon policy concerning Hawaii. 1t
must be- the policy 81 letting Hawaii abso
lutcy alone. 10 do what she pl"ascs or
To 20 where She plras.s. or II must be-
the policy Of a protcciorai" or Of annexation.
1t ought to be- possible 10 obtain from body
like the American Congress mindful Of the re-
laion which the settlement Of this question
will have upon our interests in Cuba and other
West Indian Islands. 10 devils" such an agree
mcnt with the Provisional Government Of lia-
wall rs Will afford 10 that country The subsian-
tlal benefits IL has the right 10 expect from IN
alliance with America. and Ia ourselves the
commercial and political security which the
existence of thcs' islands in front OF our Pa
cihc scaboard requires us 10 conserve