New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-15
MYSTERY IND INSOLENCE.

1t is reported that the President is about to
respond to the popular demand, officially ex-
pressed by Congress in The customary phrase
ology Of resolution, for full exposition of his
Hawaiian policy. elucidatcd and confirmed by
the correspondence of the State Department
Whatever this reply may prove 10 be in sub
stance. it will not be satisfactory as regards
the date of its transmission. Since the Senate
asked him for the facts in his possession the
President has shown the same Discrimination 10
share them with Congress and the people which
has controlled him ever since the case came
under his charge. He has not allowed so much
as an intmation that he would ultimately yield
10 the desire which he has SO long resisted TO
escape him. In anxious expectation of comfort
ing intelligence from Honolulu, he has main
tanned the defiant attitude which he as
suned at the outset. IL, at last, he is about TO
divulge what he never had n reasonable excuse
for concealing, there will not be vestige of
grace about his compulsory revelation.
There is, therefore, no conceivable obligation
of courtesy to restrain any citizen from con-
demning the course which the President has
pursued in this matter. 1t has been course
of secrecy and insolence studiOusly followed
for the deliberate purpose Of mystifying the
people, and thwartng any attempt on the part
Of their representatives in Congress to check
the mischief which he was doing No rational
person looking forward to the natural effects
of such a policy could imagine that 1t would
be advantageous. From the point Of view OF
accomplished facts 1t Is seen to be deplorablc.
The President, who was law unto himself,
who could not tolerate a suggestion either OF
cooperation or restraint, whose estimate OF his
place in the orde- of existence was for him
sufficient guarantee Of infallibilty has succeed
cd in dsgracing himself, Illuminating his coun-
try, affronting. pelplexins and marrying
friendly Government and people, and impcrl-
ling q great National interest. And all this he
has done without the shadow Of an excuse de-
rived from considerations of public propricty
and advantage. but wantonly and selfshly, TO
crafty a personal resentment and a perverse
ambition
Even If the American people were either. so
Indifferent or so magnanimous as TO pardon
the treatment to which they and their repre-
sentatives have been subjected, they could not
think without shame and anger OF the indig-
mites which this Administration has put upon
the diplomatic agents of the Hawaiian Govern
ment Instead Of the candor and courtesy
which they had every right TO demand and
every reason to expect, these able, upright in-
genuous men have been forced TO endure con-
tnual afrronts. They have been tricked and
insulted at every stage Of the proceedings which
they were commissioned to conduct on behalf
Of Hawaii. Their just claims to consideration
have been rejected and their presence has been
scarcely tolerated. In his cool, keen and con-
elusive letter to Secretary Gresham, Mr.. Carter,
one Of the representatives sent TO negotiate n
treaty, has described his official intercourse
with the State Department In terms which
must make the American people ashamed Of
their Secretary Of State We trust that he is
still capable Of being distressed by that au-
thentic record Of his conduct and demeanOr.