St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-28
LET HAWAII DROP.

Let the dead past bury its dead. The
Hawaiian issue long ceased to be an
issue. and has become merely a reminis-
cence, and an exceedingly putrid and
foul-smelling Renaissance at that. Al
though President Cleveland's policy was
wise and patriotic, ana was dictated by
motives of the strictest equity, it failed.
partly by the timidity and stupidity of
his chosen representatives, and partly
because it was misinterpreted by the
American people aud repudiated by
them. At any rate, 1t is thing of the
past. and should be permitted to fade
from recollection.
The reports Of the senate committee
on foreign affairs relative to the policy
pursued by the president throw no new
light upon the matter. They are, as
was to be expected. purely partisan.
One part of the committee uphofds the
executive in all he has done in connec-
ton with the contention; the other
condemns him. None of the reasons
given for the differing conclusions are
new or novel. They are threshed-over
straw-tales that have been so often
told that they have become stale, fiat
and improbable. People have ceased
to read about the subject, and do not
care rush whether the senate approves
or disapproves of the course of the pres
ident.
The present is not the time to pass
Judgment upon the course of the adj
ministration relative to Hawaii. Party
prejudice runs too high. There is a
general concurrence, however, in the
sentiment that Mr.. Cleveland meant
well in doing as he did. He saw that a
great wrong had been done to the queen
and her native subjects by a band of
adventures, backed by an INSCRIPTIONS
representative of the United States gov
ernment. He sought to right that wrong
and to restore the queen to her own.
But through the folly OF the queen her.
self and the persistence of the American
people through their representatives in
congress in defending the wrong, he was
defeated in his purpose. Perhaps it may
be as well in the end that this
should be the case, for there are
evidences that the provisional gov
VI Law lido dndhtueu
to sense of its responsibilities, and has
resolved upon giving the people meas
ure of self-government, not originally
comprehended in its programme. The
new constitution prepared gives the
right of suffrage to all the people. and,
if wisely administered, the laws will as
sure to all the right to life, liberty and
property-freedom of speech and action.
This result is better than annexation
to the United States, the plan originally
proposed, and about to be carried out
by the Harrison administration. The
United States had nothing to gain by
| anneXing the Sandwich islands. They
are too remote from our shores, and
| their people are too foreign in race and
| interests ever to be desirable. AS for
| the commerce Of the islands, that be-
longs naturally to this country, and. if
unimpeded, will seek our shores. We
| already control the bulk of it, while
| American citizens control the agricult-
ure and trade. Perhaps at some future
day we may assume legal protectorate
| over the islands. For the present such
step is unnecessary. Our influence,
however, predominates. and will con-
tinue to control.
But the political contention over re-
cent events should subside. We have
had surfeit Of it, and the people de-
mand rest. There are other topics of
more vital interest to the public that
| command the attention of congress. Let
that body devote its entire energies to
those matters and leave Hawaii alone,
at least for time.