The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-09

WILL IMPEACHMENT FOLLOW?
HAS President Cleveland in his con-
duct of the Hawaiian affairs done any
thing which merits an impeachment
trial 2" is question that has been asked
Of The News by number of readers.
The president of the United States
can be impeached as can other officers
Of the government President Andrew
Johnson, who as vice-president sue
ceeded the martyrcd Lincoln, was made
the subject of an impeachment trial for
his attempted removal Of Secretary OF
War Edwin NJ. Stanton, in defiance of
the tenure-of-office bill, a matter far
less grave in its consequences than the
attempt to overthrow an existing gov
ernment Of friendly nation.
That the president has rendered him
self liable TO impeachment can best be
judged from the fact that the question
has already been seriously discussed by
senators and congressman, and that a
decision has not already been arrived at
is due to the desire TO postpone any
action until the news that is at hand
today was in possession of congress.
The facts are as follows Mr.. Cleve-
land as president withdrew treaty
relating to Hawaii from the senate to
which it had been sent by previous
administration. He then determined to
send an investigator 10 Hawaii
to look into the matter.
Instead Of asking congress to ap-
point committee of investigation he
preferred to adopt the unprecedented
act of sending personal commission
err giving TO him--u unlawfully, so it is
claimed by the ablest students Of the
constitution - extraordinary powers,
without consulting with the senate.
Upon the report of this commissioner
he determines, still without consultation
with congress, that because of an act
which took place in previous admins
tration over which he had no power of
review, he would "righta great wrong"
He appoints minister, accredits him
to the government he plans to over
throw, and then undertakes through Lis
instructions to that minister to destroy
government and replace it by restor-
ing rotten monarchy. He orders the
minister of the United States to make
proposition to the deposed queen-and
while he is still accredited to
the provisional government to
restore her to her throne.
Minister Willis was further instructed
that he must, provided the queen ac-
cepted the terms proposed call on the
provisional government to abdicate in
her favor. This he has done and in doing
so threatened to use force if necessary
to accomplish the purpose and force
may have been used ere this.
This is in itself a declaration of war
and an actual commencement of hos
tilities, whether force has been used to
carry. out the plan proposed or not.
II this is not making war the English
language needs revision.
Congress and congress alone has the
power OF making war. Yet he has
made war without consulting congress,
and for this attempt to usurp
the power OF congress- he can be
impeached. The decision as to whether
he has transgressed his lawful authority
rests not with himself but with the SEN
ate under the process of impeachment
after the house has decided on the
necessity of an Impeachment trial.
1t is grave step to take and if it is
taken it will be only after consideration
of the most careful and conservative
nature.
Whether the house as at present con-
stituted can be induced to decide on
trial by impeachment is a matter of
some doubt because of the big majority
in that body of the members of his own
political faith. Were the house more
evenly divided the chances that impeach-
ment would follow would be far greater
than they are at present, but even now
seems necessary and par.
tisanship may yet be sacrificed for pat
riotlsm