Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-01-04

N'ISdI dlhItSbl = Oulu DE nldut Il cOIuI
ton precedent, is difficult to say. The adj
ministration was falling short of ''the
demands of justice" and its own theory of
the status of the eX-queen's proprietary
rights, in seeking to interfere with an un-
questionable right of sovereignty, the
punishment of offences against her laws.
The hope of placing Mr.. Dole, our presi-
dents great and good friend" and his
associates in a position where amnesty
would be of any value to them, was by
eXerting the armed power of the United
| States. The presidents administration,
| so insistent on respecting the independ-
ence of Hawaii, issued commands to a
government he proposed to re-instate, that
| those who had overthrown 1t last January
/ should remain its citizens deprived of no
right they enjoyed before the revolution"
/ This independent government was not to
/ be allowed to withhold the rights of suf-
frage even, or of holding Office from those
whom it must look upon as its bitterest
/ enemies Where would exist the indie
pendence of Hawaii under this duress
from the president of the United States?
1t would have become protectorate of
the United States, not in name, but in
reality; not by law, but through the presi-
dents sole decision and decree.
The clear implication in the report of
the secretary of state that the president
meant to restore the monarchy, and the
/ knowledge that the Hawaiian government
would yield to the dictation of the presi-
dent only after war, alarmed the country
and checked the easy flow of the admins
tration's policy. The ex-queen was evil
IDENTIFY distrustful of the influence or
powers of the president and asked what
assurances she would have for a faithful
,r h., -
the administration. Whatever may have
been the form of her request, the answer,
true but tardy, was telegraphed Mr..
Willis on Dec. 3, the day before the open
ing of congress.
"You will say that the president cannot
use force without the authority of con-
gress"
Six weeks of examination of the law
and of learning of the real opinion of the
country had resulted in something which
could not be criticised OF gainsaid. The
dispatches of Mr.. Willis which demanded
and obtained the above answer are moi
yet obtainable by congress. What wa!
their substance may be OWNED.
. The government of Hawaii was al
peace, was strong, was civilized. The ex
queen was hesitating and demanding tC
know what guaratee she would have, first,
that she should be put back and next,
that she should be kept there after she
had given her pledge to grant amnesty.
Would the president really do the only
thing that would do her any good after
extorting such pledge of vassalage to his
willy Would he rebuild her throne re-
store her to it and prop it up afterwards
with American bayonetsp No wonder she
wanted pledges. Here was an American
minister not only empowered, but secretly
instructed to threaten and coerce the gov
ernment to which he was accredited, into
yielding peaceably to a restoration of a
monarchy which was an abomination-an
abomination in the light of government,
an abomnation in the light of decency
He was to reinstate legitimate and indie
pendent ex-mOnarchy, provided he could
induce it to pledge itself to obedience to
the president't commands; monarchy so
| unfit to govern that even the administra-
| ton was afraid to restore it to its full
powers and functions. Yet in the sacred
name of Justice it was by intrigue to be
reinstated over the heads of those "who
constitute the intelligence of the Hawaiian
islands"
This is not the fair dealing and dignifed
course which should be pursued by the
diplomacy of the United States of Amer
| lea.
There is no question here before us of
examination, no issue as to the propriety
of Minister Stevens action, for as to that
we know only one side, prepared by an
agenr hostile to the administration of
which Mr.. Stevens formed part. There
is no ground of debate now as to whether
the present Hawaiian government was
rightly or wrongly established nearly
ttNpIVa nlnntnG a iug1tn Ia a,tI,
before the house whether to approve and
commend the course of the present admin
istration as disclosed by itself, of a pres-
dent without the consent of the senate can
send a paramount diplomatic officer to
supersede minister leaving the latter only
| routine duties, he may do it IN Great
Britain or Germany as well as in the Ha-
waiian islands. That officer, according
to the presidents apologists, is only the
president 'scommissioner' and not an Off
Ger in the diplomatic service of the United
States. The same right asserted here to
appoint an ambassador under the name of
Il commissioner would allow the president
to appoint any agent of his own without
conference with any other branch of the
government to exercise judicial functions
paramount to judges already in office by
and with the senate's consent
III Is SlBnlucenJ lacU UnaU tnuS far no
resolution in either house of congress has
been introduced approving the opinion of
the secretary of state or endorsing the
action. If the administration purpose to
reinstate the queen was right, congress
must carry it out, for the president has at
last shuiiied his policy off his hands to be
acted on by the Legislative branch of our
q government. When the majority are pre-
: pared to fulfill the presidents behests il
must propose legislation. Until that ia
done the country must take for granted
that the president is not to be approved Inv
his party.
After review and consideration of the
course of this administration as appears
from its own records the minority of your
committee have no hestitancy in recon.
mending the adoption of the following
substitute for the resolution reported by
the majority;
Whereas, executive communications tt
congress disclose that the executive de
a partment has been furnishing to a min
e lister plenipotentiary of the United States