Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-16
II MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
sut Cleveland Did Net Consult others in His
Hawaiian Policy.


1t was a Democratic senator known far a.d
wide for his shrewdness. both az politi-
clan and money MAKER. who today con-
mented on the Hawaiian policy OF the adj
ministratioa in the following language.
president Cleveland made a tremendous
mistake in his method Of applying the re
storative policy even if we grant that .hai
policy was wisely chosen. Had he decided
to take counsel in Il quarter that counsel
was worth having. there would be differ
eat situation today in tine senate. Sup
pose the president, havins; virtually decid
ed ON the restorative business. had called
Senator Morgan to the White House
showed him the BloTut report and the
Gresham letter and said to hi:a:
"'Morgan, tell me what you think OF it.
.In all probability Morgan would have
fenced u little till he could ascertain what
b. presidents views were. As soon as he
had found ont that the president was il
favor Of the queen's restoration, doubtless
he would have Endorsed that view. Their
he would inve returned to the senate an
advocate of the presidents policy instead OF
being inimcal or at least Indifferent there
to.
Ee slight, but He Didn't.
"This might have made all the difference
In the world Mr. Morgan would ut once
have begun to talk to the rest of Us, in a
guarded way, OF course. He would have
taken senator after senator down to lunch
with him. and without giving the presi
dents intentions away at all would have
prepared the ground for a favorable recep-
ton of the news. AS able and careful il
Ia, ATor,ro,, would hay lac Il
influence upon the whole senate BY caus
ing man after man to look at the matter
from a little different point of view the
whole temper of the senate could have been
gradually brought into more or less Sympa
thy with the president view.
This is the way in which IA really astutt
president would have prepared the grounG
in the senate. He would have done th(
same thing i'll the house too. Through sen
ators and representatives, who are i'll daily
contact with more than ii hundred newspa
per correspondents, the country would hay,
been reached, | don't mean with argG
inents or open announcement of the polio,
or anything of that sort, but with the littlt
-fragmcntaiy interviews, the ahilit,
TO see both sides of the case--which are COZ
tagious among any body of men and wit.
the public,
He Took the Responsibility.
But Mr. Cleveland did not do this. II
did not take the chairman Of the senate for
eign relations committee into his conf
dence, nor the chairman Of the house for
aign affairs committee.
Gle might safely and with great ad
vantage have done so in both instances
The only member Of either committee whr
was confided in was Senator Gray, and h,
was not consulted early. Besides it is uuWis.
to pass by the chairman Of q committee ant
coniide in Il mere member. 1t always breed
bad feeling. 1t is poor policy. Instead O
consulting with men who could have helpe,
him. Mr. Cleveland preferred to spvug hi
Hawaiian policy is a complete surpYis
upon the senate, the house and the country
"This brings me to = little analysis
Mr.. Cleveland's character. ! trust I1ySeI
to do it, because am his friend anl admir-
ar and always have been. | eul0gize hi.
strong qualities, but | also perceive his
weaknesses. One OF these latter is his ab
solute inability to advise with any one
There is no such thing on the part OF Il san
atOr at least as consultation with the prasi
dent. He is a man who always is Willing
to have his views indorsed but never tt
have them opposed.
"I remember one Of my own experiences
was asked to the White House by tbs
president. +Ic said he wanted to consult
me about q ccryain matter. He gave his
views. and then | gave mine They did moi
coincide The president thereupou com
planned quite bitterly because was against
him. Great God, Mr.. President | ex
claimed, if you do not want metotelI You
what / think, what was the Use Of asking
me to come here?
Cleveland and Harrison.
- will tell you what Mr.. Cleveland re
minds me of, concluded this senator, and
say it with perfect respect. He is like a
lump of rubber. If you press him, you get
nothing out Of him but resistance. Indent
him, and he always flies back to the same
form. the same position. You may strike
him, but you get nothing in return. 1t is
dead. irresponsible. There is no resonance
in him. You cannot discuss anything with
Il man who has this quality. All the seua-
ters with whom ! talk have had the same
experience Even the members of the cab
met, with perhaps two exceptions, meet
with the same difficulty when they so to
the White House. With all his command
ing strength us Il public leader, his great
wisdom and courage, Mr.. Cleveland is re
marilably weak in that he fails TO get help
out Of men who are able and willing TO help
him"