The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-12
A POLICY OF SPITE.

A POLICY OF SPITE.
A conspicuous feature of Mr.. Cleveland's
Hawaiian policy has been his studied at
tempt to cast discredit on the Harrison adj
ministration. This spirit found it's first ex-
preston in the withdrawal of the annexa-
ton treaty and it has been manifest ever
since. 1t is a close question of constitu-
tional law whether the President has
right to withdraw a treaty after it has
been transmitted to Congress. No person
would contend that Congress could recall
a bill which had passed both houses. been
signed by the Speaker and President of the
Senate and sent to the President for his
approval Yet this would not differ in prin-
ciple from the recalling by the President of
treaty after it had been transmitted to
Congress. The moment a treaty passes
from the executive to the legislative depart
ment it ceases to be under the control of
the President, and he has no more right to
recall it than he would have to alter it.
pending the action of Congress. AS matter
Of comfy between different departments of
the government Congress may waive it's
draw treaty after it has been submitted,
but he has no such right.
Mr.. Cleveland recalled the Hawaiian an
nexation treaty on the fourth day after his
giant message which implied no doubt of
his right to do SO. He was not only oblivi-
Gus TO the constitutional question involved.
but he was equally disregardful of the po-
litical proprieties of the situation. There
is patriotic as we'll as constitutional
aspect of the case. The government has
continuing existence. Administrations may
come and go, but the government goes on
for an administration to try to bring dis
credit on the acts of it's predecessor, espe-
cially acts connected with the admins
tration of foreign affairs. The policy that
should prevail in conducting the foreign af
fairs Of a great government was truly set
forth by Daniel Webster in a speech de-
livered Sept. 1. 1S4S Referring to instruc-
lions which had been recently given to one
OF our ministers. he said:
It was novel In our history. when an ad-
mtnistratton changes, for the new admin
istration TO seek to obtain privileges from
foreign power on the assertion that they
ahe sac of th
held to be altogether undignified by all pub
lie men, When l went into the Depart
ment of State under General Harrison 1
found in the conduct of my predecessor
| many things that l could have wished had
Of e What MI Forsyth had said? took tt the
| case, as he had left 1t. and conducted it up
on the principles which he had left. l should
| have considered that had disgraced my
| self If l had said, Pray, my Lord Ash
| burton, we are more rational persons than
| than they, and intend to adopt an entirely
| opposite policy. Consider, my dear Lord.
how much more friendly, reasonable and
amiable we are than our predecessors"
| Mr.. Webster had himself been Secretary
| of State under Wing administration
| which succeeded a Democratic one, yet,
as he says. he did not try to reverse. undo
and discredit the acts of his predecessor.
The course of the administration in this
/ respect has been in harmony with its gen.
eral conduct. 1t is the most un-American
| administration we have ever had. Its Sc
| cret, dark-lantern methods, it's suppression
! of news it's attempts to coerce Congress,
| its contempt for public opinion all point one
way. One of its first official acts was to
haul down the American flag and even
now all it's energies are bent to secure the
| adoption of distinctly anti-American eco
nomic policy. Its willingness TO place the
government itself in the wrong by repudi-
| ating the acts of it's constitutional authori-
ties in order to crafty a spite against po-
| litical opponents shows 1t to be utterly de-
/ void of true patriotism.