The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-02-06
" THAT EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.

munication 10 Mr.. Willis of De-
cember p, and he is said to feel
aggrieved at its tone. The papers
say that he will make out a cdsus
beIi;: will demand its retraction !;
or order Willis to return and give
Mr.. Thurston his passports, thus
rupturing diplomatic relations be-
tween the two nations. This seems
an extreme course, and is not likely
to be followed. Although the
papers have made some very
shrewd guesses at what Mr.. Cleve-
land would do, they have not al
ways been right, and it is hardly
probable that they are in this in
stance. Still, Mr.. Cleveland does
some very extraordinary things,
and we have learned, to our chagrin
and regret, that not the least unac-
countable have been in his Ha-
wallan policy.
1t is not right to believe that his
course has been dictated by other
than right motives. But he has
been terribly misled. He sent Mr..
Blount here for information, and
having delivered to him the
whole matter, pinned his faith
on his report. We know that
the conclusions reached were
wrong and that his premises were
incorrect, but Mr.. Cleveland does
not, in all probability, and he has
been trying to carry out the policy
dictated by Blount's report. Mr..
Cleveland's mistake has been his
hard-headed, obstinate refusal to
be corrected. Mr.. Willis gave him
plenty of opportunity to reflect and
change his plans to accord with
the actual situation and facts, but
he has not done it. Perhaps he
could not do it and still be Cleve-
land, so we may have no right to
think he might have changed. On
the contrary, he appears to have
become more irritated and I'M
reasonable with the progress of
affairs, until he seems to be unable
to see things in their true light.
Mr.. Dole's letter was courteous and
correct. He only stated facts.
None here on the scene Of action
would think of questioning any of
his statements, yet the President
Of the great United States regards |
the letter as extraordinary" and,
it is said, insulting to the head of |
that great nation. How is it in
sulting? Wherein is it extraordi-
nary? The other side of the case
loes not appear to strike Mr.. Cleve-
and as at all out of the ordinary |
course of affairs. Yet it is
exactly the same as if
of France or
Russia or any other great power
maintaining the appearance of
friendship were to conspire with
he ex-rebels to overthrow the
he Government of the United
states; and by a display of force
md the ability to throw the coun-
ry into civil war, were to paralyze
business for weeks and keep the
people in a state of anxiety and
Is there nothing extra
ordinary about that Would not
by the President to
France or Russia, if indeed the
Incident did not precipitate q
bloody war, be very natural and
ustifiable thing? Yet Mr.. Cleve-
and says Dole's letter is very ex-
raordinary. How about his own
.ourse, which has been similar to
hat indicated above? 1t strikes the
ordinary unprejudiced person as
omewhat extraordinary, yet there
s no indication that Mr.. Cleveland
70 regards it. Is it that Hawaii is
10 little and helpless and weak
hat Mr.. Cleveland thought he
,ught to do anything that struck
lis fancy? Instead of being angry
It President Dole he ought to say
nothing, and he should bless Mr..
Willis that his sense of justice, of
ight and honor prevented any pre-