The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-22
Tho Policy of Infamy Not an Issue.

The platform adopted by the New York
Republicans at Saratoga on Tuesday con-
tains a scathing reference to the crime at
tempted in Hawaii by the Democratic Pres
ident of the United States and his warmed
over Republican Secretary OF State.
Promising a continuance of the vigorous
foreign policy established by the lamented
JAMES G. BLAINE" says the platform ar
raigning the Democracy for the acts of Mr..
CLEVELAND and Mr.. GRESHAM, ait substi-
tuted a policy of infamy' when Hawaii was
freely offered u.s."
This is the general view of honest and in
dignant American sentiment, but it Is here
somewhat distorted for the purposes of
partisanship. The policy of infamy cannot
with justice be charged against the Democ-
racy of the United States. The rejection of
the golden opportunity for which enlight-
ened American craftsmanship had been
waiting for half a century, the further in
fanny Of the plot to crush out republican
Government in the islands and restore the
Queen, were purely and exclusively
the enterprises of individuals in Of
flee, namely, GROVER CLEVELAND and
WALTER q. GRESHAM. The Democ-
racy was never consulted. The Democ-
racy was kept in the dark while these
two men conspired against American inter
ests and Hawaiian liberties. The Democracy
never approved or supported the CLEVELAND
GRESHAM policy of infamy; it has never
accepted responsibility for the same, and it
has never undertaken to apologize for it or
to defend it, or to share with the authors of
that policy their shameful burden of failure
and disgrace.
The almost unanimous Democratic senti-
ment respecting the policy of infamy and our
relations with Hawaii, differs in no essential
particular from Republican sentiment on
the same subject. II Democrats as a rule
are less ready than Republicans to record in
formal public declarations their emphatic
condemnation of Mr.. ~CLEvELAND's Ha-
waiian policy and performances, the reason
is to be found solely in the supposed ext
gencies of political tactics. Silence during
the campaign that is now on, does not affect
the fact that the prevailing Democratic
sentiment with regard to Hawaii is the
only sentiment possible TO common sense
and American patriotism.
II the Republicans, therefore, persist in
the effort to make a leading issue of the
pOllcy OF lnIamy, the
discussion is likely to be one-sided. There
will he no systematic attempt TO defend the
indefensible. There will be no general dis
position to accept responsibility which be
longs to individuals and not to the party.
Democrats will merely grit their teeth and
keep their lips shut tight when the at
tempted restoration of LnIUOKALANI by
GROyER CLEVELAND is mentioned.
With regard to the future relations be-
tween this nation and the Hawaiian Islands,
there is no political reason for Democratic
reticence during the present campaign or at
any other time. Along the inevitable path
way, destiny will lead right on to ultimate
union. Democrats and Republicans alike
will speed the day when our flag shall
float over Hawaii. 70 consideration tor
the vanity of n Democratic President,
thwarted in his th-rone-building enterprise,
no thought as to the personal comfort or
discomfort Of a laundering Secretary of
State, viii deter any Democrat whose eyes
are open, and in Whose heart Is honest zeal