Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-01-11
A cREpIrAsLE POSITION.


A CREDiTABLE POSITION.
Tho Prssident's Wise Treatment of the
Hawaiian Question.
No fair-minded person can read Pres
ident Cleveland's message on the Ha-
waiian affair without coming to the
conclusion that the president and the
secretary of state are absolutely right
in every position they have taken with
regard to this unfortunate business
No state paper concerning q similar
subject has ever come from the execu-
tive Office that reflected more honor
upon our government, and of which
every patriotic American citizen had
more reason to be proud. It sets forth
once more in plain, clear and candid
way the well-established facts of the
ment by small band of conspirators
under the instigation of the American
minister and with the aid of United
States troops-facrs SO we'll verified by
documentary proof and all manner of
conclusive evidence that the most un-
scrupulous partisan 1nendacity has not
been able to obscure them. It is well
that the presidents message shows
more fully than it has been officially
shown heretofore how the American
minister had for years been bent upon
accomplishing the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands to the United States;
how he had yearned for the golden
hour of opportunity; how he had
asked the state department to permit
him to use the United States forces in
Hawaiian waters for purposes beyond
the mere protection of the American
legation and of the lives and property
of American citizens; and how, when
he thought the golden hour" had ar
rived, he used the United States forces
even to the extent of committing an
unjustifable act of war against a
friendly government
What interests the American people
most at the present moment is the con-
duct Of our own government under such
circumstances. The government of
Hawaii had been stolen, and offered to
the United States in hot haste by the
thieves. President Harrison SO Mr.
Cleveland generously presents the case
was misled by artful misrepresenta-
tons into a hasty acceptance of the
stolen goods, and submitted treaty of
Cleveland's administration, having
taken office fortunately before annexa-
ton was contaminated, easily detected
that there was grave discrepancy be-
tween the assumption of Mr.. Harrison,
that ''the overthrow of the monarchy
in Hawaii was not in any way pro-
NOTED by this government" and the
protest of the queen, declaring that
she had surrendered to the superior
force of the United States, and that she
therefore confidently submitted the
case to the enlightened justice of the
government of this republic. 1t was in
obedience to the simple dictate of COM
mon honesty that President Cleveland
withdrew the annexation treaty from
the senate and sent man of high char
acter and known ability and expert
ence to Hawaii to ascertain the facts.
Mr.. Blount, the agent selected, had en-
joyed the rare distinction, when
leaving congress after many years of
service, of carrying with him express
sions of the highest regard from lead
ing members of both political parties.
No man ever thought of questioning
his universally recognized integrity I'M
til. after a conscientious endeavor to
ascertain, and with a firm determina-
ton to speak. the truth, he told the
whole story of the theft of a country,
and thus incurred the rage of those
who found themselves baked in the in
iquitous attempt to profit from the dis
graceful transaction.
The president and the secretary of
state have done their duty. Now let
he toy in
who have SO wildly vociferated against
they have to propose, consistently with
American honor, integrity, and NOR
atty. Mere denunciation will no
longer serve. On the bare assumption
that the president had ordered the
queen of Hawaii to- be reinstated by
force of arms, without authority from
congress. they have hurled against the
president vilifcation without measure, |
evenFto the threat of impeachment. |
The message, showing that the presi-
dent has remained strictly within his |
limits, covers them with |
confusion and shame. They are ex-
posed as wanton calum niators. Their |
rage may grow more desperate. but it
will also become more harmless every
day. IF national honesty is to be dis
says the president land a
desire for territorial extension. OR dis
with form of government
not our own, ought to regulate our con-
duct, l have entirely Inexperienced
the mission and character OF our gov
eminent, and the behavior which the
confidence of our people demands of
thair nrb1ic Sarvants'' Let the preSi- |
dent rest assured that, the demagogues
Notwithstanding, the American people
are neither fools nor knaves. Their
of the mission and character
Of our government corresponds with
his own. Their sense of justice will
stand by him. and turn his severest
trial into his most signal triumph
Harper's Weekly.