New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-10

THE EX-QUEEN'S PRESENT RESIDENCE
But chance had not had its last word with the
Hawaiian programme. While the President was
gratefully assuring Congress that unforeseen
obstacles had fortunately blocked his plans In
Hawaii, and humby asking the aid of the legis-
lative branch to settle the perplexing problem
which had led the Executive so far afield, the
Queen relentlng in Honolulu. and her be-
lated acceptance Of the Presidents conditions
of restoration were forcing upon Mr.. Cleveland's S
agent there the execution of instructions which
the authorities at Washington had only too
freely assumed to be nullified and abandoned
wILLIss ACTION JUSTIFIED BY ORDERS.
That Mr. Willis was justified under the cir
cumstances in attempting to carry out the origi-
nal instructions after the Queens unexpected
acceptance Of the Presidents conditions, must
be admitted even by the Administration officials
who were responsible for not shutting off all
further possibility of her relenting. The action
Of Minister Willis cannot be repudiated by the
"cuckoos here as in violation Of his orders
however they may wish to do so, nor can the
Minister be made a convenient scapegoat for the
Administration. His arbitrary demand on the
Provisional Government, however, leaves the
President In perhaps the worst possible plight
that could have resulted from his mistaken Ha-
attitude Of having played the trickster in all his
communications with the two houses
Knowing the hostility Of the legislative branch
to his restoration programme and giving pracu-
cal assurances In his December message that no
further attempt would be made to advance the
fortunes Of the Queen, he is now discovered TO
have served through his agent in Hawaii. the
notice Of dispossession on the Provisional Gov
ernment, which was the only logical outcome
Of his secret and apparently discarded royalistic
project Having in his message to Congress,
declared that he did not intend to transgress
the limitations of Executive power by employing
force to restore Liliuokalan he is discovered
now through his agent actually coercing the
Provisional Government by the threat or land
ing the marines Of the Philadelphia and the
Adams Furthermore. having through Minis
! ter Willis. submitted to President Dole an ap-
surd and indefensible demand, based on purely
Imaginary assumption Of authority, he has SUD-
jected this country to the humiliation Of just
and crushing refusal. and exposed his own Ad-
ministration to the contempt of Congress and
the American public. and to the Jeers Oh hteih-
gent opinion everywhere.
No such pitiable an exhibition OF diplomacy
has been known before In American history:
Violating internal right, the just limitations OF
the power Of the Executive, the judgment OF
Congress and the country. diplomatic traditions
Cleveand's Hawaiian programme, as now de-
veoped seems to draw upon itself universal
scorn and execration. An official accounting
with Congress cannot be delayed much longer,
and the receipt Of Mr.. Cleveland's impending
message on Hawaiian affairs Is likely to be the
signal for active assertion in both branches,
of the real opinion Of the country on this COM
plete and culpable diplomatic fasco.
WILLIS AS POLITICAL PROPHET.
1t might be added here that the Victoria
formed opinions as to Mr.. Wis's practical
Judgment and political discernment. In view
Of present sentiment at the Capitol. nothing
could we'll damage diplomats character for
sagacity more than the remarkable assertion
Mr. Willis Is said to have made to a member Of
the Provisional Government that the Democratic
party would remain in power In the United
States for the next twenty years 1t is the gen.
eral Judgment that If Mr. Willis wears hat In
Honolulu. he is evidently given to talking
through It,
Great interest centered in the Cabinet meet
ing held to-day and the Importance attached TO
it gave rise to the hope that the anxiety or
Congress and the people Of the country would
be relieved by the issue OF an authoritauve
statement as to the conclusions reached But
this hope was not gratfed, for members OF the
Cabinet. while admitting the gravity OF the
situation, were as reticent as usual as TO what
took place within the Cabinet room. An intima-
tion Of the nature Of the discussion. If not of the
decision reached was given by a gentleman IN
authority. however. and this would indicate a
policy Of non-action in Hawaiian affairs on the
part of the Executive while Congress has the
question before it. For three hours and quar-
ter the Cabinet sat. Every member was present,
and the discussion is understood to have been
confined exclusively to the news brought by the
Warrimoo.
NO ONE THOUGHT OF SURRENDER.
THE FEELING IN HONOLULU WHEN wILLIs's