Morning journal and courier., 1894-02-27
URlGHrING A wRONG,,.

Those who have been at all impressed
by the CUFF which President Cleveland has
given the country in his messages concern
ing the Hawaiian matter will do we'll to
pay attention to the majority report of
the Senate Committee on Foreign Rsla-
tionr, which is now made public. This re-
port, which Is signed by Senator Morgan
the Democratic chairman of the commit
mittes, and by Republican Senators Sher
man Frye, Dolph and Davis, enti.eiy up
sets Paramount Blount and his master.
1t points out that in a country where
there Ia no power of the law to protect
the citizens of the United States there can
be no law of nations nor any rule of
comfy that can rightfully prevent our
flag from giving shelter to them under the
protection Of our arms, and this without
reference to any distress it may give to
the queen who generated the confusion or
any advantage 1t might give to the people
who are disputing her right to resume or
TO hold her regal powers. The committee
agree that such was the condition of the
Hawaiian government at the time that the
troops we're landed in Honolulu from the
steam warship Boston; that there was then
An interregncm in Hawaii as respects the
executive officers; that there Yves no execu-
tive power to enforce the laws of Hawaii,
and that 1t was the right Of the United
States to land troops upon those Islauds
at any place where 1t was necessary in the
opinion of our minister to protect our oiti-
zsns.
The recognition of the new government
by Mr.. Stevens is justified, and the report
says that in his dealings with the Hawaiian
government his conduct Was characterized
by becoming dignity and reserve. and was
not in anyway harsh or offensive. In the
opinion of the committee, based upon the
| evidence which accom- pan,es the report,
the only substantial irrsgularity that ex
listed In the conduct of any officer of the
United States, or agent of tho president
| during or since the time of the revolution
of 1898, was that of Minister Stevens IL
| declaring q protectorate of the United
States over Hawaii, and in placing the asi
of our country upon the government build
ing in Honolulu. No actual harm resulted
from this unauthorized sct, but as prsce
dent it is not to be considered as beinf
justified.
The question of the rightfulnsss of thu
revolution, of the lswfulness of the meanI
by which the deposition and abdication o.
the queen were effected and the right o.
the provisional government to exist and t.
continue to exist having been conclusivel,
settled by the act of the administration O.
President Harrison recognizing such gov
ernment, the report points out that 1t in
controvertibly follows that the Pres!den
of the United States had NO authority t.
attempt to reopen such determines. .ques
tions. and to endeavor by any means what
ever to overthrow the provisional govern
ment or to restore the monarchy which 1
had displaced.
There is no mistakipg the meaning o
this. The President has been all wrong Il
the Hawaiian business. just now he
off duck k-shooting. He would have bee'
more usefully employed duck-shooting thai
in attempting to resest the Hawaiian ducl
on the rock of "divlns right"