The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-07-09
AN INTELLECTUAL FREAK.


AN contain so much alleged general
wisdom and political acumen. The .
startling announcement is repeated .
in both Royalist journals that be.
cause Minister John l.. Stevens
original act was to recognize the
Government OF the Ha-
waiian Islands as de Jaft0 govern
ment that the Republic is not Q
de jure government and that its
existance as such has not been
recognized by Minister Willis in
extending "the recognition ac-
corded its predecessor The dis
covery is something simply wonder
full, and wonder deepens to awe
when all attempt is made to con
template the profound political
sagacity which must have preceded
this magnificent intellectual birth.
Now that the two and only in
tellectual giants" of the cause their
disreputable defense helped kill
have simultaneously evolved this
brainy freak in diplomacy, it would
be fttingly appropriate that each
editor place it under a glass case on
his table, together with a marked
copy of his favorite bitters, for pri-
yate admiration when the band
makes his heart aweary by playing
Republican airs in the street, or the
tramp of the Philadelphia's bat
TALON makes his former failures in
diplomatic Interpretation rankle in
his anti American heart.
There is something peculiar about
great discoveries in diplomacy. 1t
is that an admission that the dis
covery is genuine-in other words,
founded OH the intents and pur-
poses of those participating-neces-
sarily admits all the logical appli-
cations and deductions Of such a
discovery. The application OF
the principal cannot be checked
or lost sight of at any
point in the review of the case,
even though it thretens to become
a two edged sword with suicidal
tendency of cutting both ways.
The statement that the Provisional
Government, as we'll as the Repub-
lie. had become the dc jnre govern
ment in the course of events, i'll the
logic of circumstances and by the
acts of the United States was so
self-evident nobody save Royalist
would have thought of denying it.
If the Royalists had been right
in any stand taken or views ex-
pressed as to the outcome OF the
revolution for the past two years
they might hope for an audience
even in this, their latest political
absurdity.
Admit for the sake of argument
the recognition of the Hawaiian
Government is merely dc taefO, as
originally recognized by Mr..
Stevens. Of course, not being SC
we'll posted in diplomacy as the
anti-Americans and royalists who
have so signally failed therein since
the revolution, even in the diplo-
macy of neutrality-and all along
the line, for that matter, from
Stevens to Gresham-we hope the
two brainy editors, one of whom
has already openly proposed to de-
sert the ex-queen's cause, will ex-
plain the following facts: How
was it the United States entered into
treaty relations with the Provis-
ional Government if it was only a
de faet0 Government? How was II
the limited States accredited Min
lister to the Provisional Government
under the usual form and usage
extended only to de Jnre Govern
ments if the Hawaiian Government
at that time was viewed in any
other light in the archives of the
State Department at Washington
than a de JHre authority! Is
it possible the British Minis
ter Resident applied 10 a merely
de faetO government for protection
a few days ago. Can it be as
sumed in the light of the debates i'll
the United States Senate that the
resolution passed by that body is to
be Interpreted as referring to a de
faftO government, which is not only
to be allowed, but presumably
protected, if necessary, in forming
the bOiiy of the future and determ-
ming the constitution?
The fact is the wish has been
father to the thought, and the
thought will likely die for want of
nourishment, if it depends for sus-
tenance on the intents and pur-
poses of either the hackers of the
Republic de JH,e or those Of the
Government and people Of the