The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-22

A rIrIABLE POSITION.


There is no doubs that President Dole's
reply TO Willis leaves the president Of the
United States and his secretary Of state in
the pisiabls position Of being PIT 70 com.
piete confusion by the clear headed and SEN
sibIe executive OF the little government OF
Hawaii. President DoIs's letter proves in
contestsbly that he knows more about the
constitution Of the United States. and the
Limitation Of the powers OF the executive.
that he knows more about tho fundamental
obligations Of international law. than the
president Of onr great republic and bis
pessifovging secretary OF state.
Mr.. Dole completely demoiishes IN his
reply Mr.. Cieveland's theory Of his at
tempted Jurisdiction in Hawaii: he shows
that Mr.. Cleveland had not besn constr
tuied by anybody as referee or arbiter. and
he completely eviscerates the ridiculous As.
sumption that because Biount and Ores
ham concluded that Minister Stevens and
Can't Wiltse had wrongfuiiy aided the
provisional government to obtain power,
therefore Mr.. Cleveland was constitution
ally authorized TO call On that government
20 abdicate its functions and restore the
throne. President Dole tells Minister
Willis that assuming for the sake Of argu-
ment tina. the movement against the
queen, II not inssigated. was encouraged
end supported by Minister Stevens. IL was
''purely a private matter for discipline be-
tween the United States government and
Its officers" that no action of eur naval
forces at Honolulu could have conferred
upon the United States an authority over
the Internal affairs of this government. -
and certainly no such action could entitie
MIR. Cleveland to say who shall govern
Hawaii.
President Dols's logic Is equally Inn
prsgnabls and invincibls when. referring
20 the claim OF Mr.. Cleveland that our gov
eminent has made itself in some way
responsible TO the deposed queen, he re-
plies that the Hawaiian government as q
recognized sovereign power cannot be
lawfully overthrow by Mr.. Clevelsnd's
administration '.for the sake of discharg.
Ing its obligations TO the ex-quesn."
President Dole makes it clear that Pres.
ident Cleveland has taken the absurd posi-
ton that because he (CIeveiandl believes
Minister Stevens, under the prctense OF
preserving the peace in time Of trouble,
trsspassed upon the international rights
OF Hawaii. therefore he tclevciand) has a
right 10 asurp powers that do not belong
Go him aud commit an act of war against
the lie feet. 1aravnpnas.s 81 lf.w.x r. l.
surprising that even 30 mediocre lawyer
ss Prcssden, Cleveland cannot zee that,
even II Minister Stevens abused his d!plo-
matte position ana perverted his powers,
that this assumption in no wise justified
Mr.. Cleveland in his attempted inserfer.
enee 70 restore the queen. even supposing
that she was the lawful authority. Presi-
dent cieysland's fallaeious reasoning on
this point - completely exposed by Presl.
dent Dole. and IL is surprising that the
president and his secretary of state should
have placed themselves so entirely at the
mercy OF President Dole. for they knew
that be was an educated man OF eonspleu.
Gus ability and intelligence.
The assumption of Mr.. Cleveland va.
that he had constitutional right as the
executive 20 undo by his own fiat any
wrong that he assumed had been per.
polratsd by the administration Of presi
dent Harrison. President Cleveland eithe.
does not know, or pre,cnds not to know,
that he Is not the nation presiasn,
Cleveland cannot be excused for not know.
ing tha, the De faeto government Of us
wal could not be overthrow exccpt by an
act OF war, and the war-making power i,
expressly reserved 10 congress by tho
constitution. The ahle.. public men In
both the great political parties agree ths,
II Was Mr.. Clevelsnd's duty. il he believed
that Minister Stevens had exceeded a,
perverted his powers a. the diplomatic
agent Of cur government, TO lay ali the
facts IS he understood them before con.
grsss and ask authority, 10 exercise th-
war-making power 60 restore the queen.
The nation gave MIR. Cleveland no "a
thority 20 decide whether q wrong hss
been wrought or TO set IL right, and Al,
assumption Of the right to DO whA,hs va,
net constisasicnslly empowered 10 do
was clear usurpstion Of authority
whes Minister Willis. Ia eheasene. Ia hi,
instructions from President Cleveland. De
msndsd the aediea.ion Of The provision q
governments Of Hawaii he committed ar
act Of war and made Cleveland lust object
Of impeachment BY thu house Of repre
sentatsves. for Mr.. Cleveland broke his cath
OF osfsce when. without the sanction o,
congress. be ordered eur minister al Hen
ialn 10 commit sn act Of var on q &c fsrs.
government Mr.. Cleveland vas boane
by his cath Of essiee to obtain TIA author
lily Of congress for has extraordinary FRO
ssedings. He either kaew that thls "a,
necessary and ds4Ansly dlsregAraed h,
ees1gsiions, or lie ei. nee know IL saA
acted sgaeransly Ia sAis Whole matter. 1
he kaew that ne wss acting without ths
saiaeFsiy al eoagress, thea he ts mar
capable Of dangerous acts % 1surra.laa
and II be did not saow il tAsn he - uaa,
for bis high and responsible eftee.
WAsa Minssssr Willis announced TIA
sAs pzss.4sas 81 tie [ ailsa states Aa4 De