Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-07
Astounding Standardization.
(The Sun IDem

The self-contradictory resolutions on Mr..
Clevelands infamous Hawaiian policy. re-
ported to the House by the foreign affairs
committee, are affording the text for an
equally absurd and inconsistent defence of
that policy by the cuckoos in Congress.
These resolutions, framed BY men sup
posedly capable Of logical reasoning, start
out by condemning Minister Stevens on the
controverted theory that he assisted illegal
" in overturning the rotten monarchy, and
thus violated ''the traditions of our repub-
lie. and the spirit of our Constitution"
Then they proceed to heartily approve the
principle announced by the President of the
United States, that interference with the
domestic affairs of an independent nation is
contrary to the spirit of American institu-
TONS though in fact the very occasion for
the resolutions was the indisputable and
persistent interference of Mr.. Cleveland
with the domestic affairs of Hawaii After
having laid down the sound principle that
"the people of that country should have
absolute freedom and independence in pur-
suing their own line Of policy" the commit
tee 70 on t, laud Mr.. Cleveland for con-
spicuous and fragrant violation of it.
A more impudent report was never laid
before q legislative body of reasonable
men. 1t insults the intelligence of Con-
g:ess and the people. It treats them ~ if
they were fools incapable of understanding
the meaning of words. After Mr.. Cleve-
land has worked and conspired ceaselessly
for nearly year to restore discarded
Queen to her throne, by the overthrow of
foreign government recognized by the
United States and all the rest of the great
powers of the world, this committee have
the shamelessness to tell the people that by
so doing he announced the principle that
such interference, sis contrary to the spirit
of American institutions! In one breath
they condemn foreign interference in the
domestic aft airs of Hawaii, and in the next
they glorify him for having practised it.
On the assumption that Minister Stevens
assisted in the overthrow of the barbarous
monarchy, they condemn him: but with the
facts Of Mr.. Cleveland's efforts to restore
that corrupt rule before them in official
documents, they stultify themselves by at
tributing to the President the enunciation
of principle Of non-interferenca which
codemns his own course as false to " the
spirit of American institutions"
Moreover, the resolutions reject both an
nexation and the assumption Of protecto
rate over the Hawaiian Islands as s'uncalled
for and inexpedient," so far as this country
is concerned; but they recognize the right
of the Hawaiians to make a treaty of an
nexation with any other power, England
for instance, by saying that they have
"absolute freedom and independence in
pursuing their own line of policy, without
foreign Intervention. Being free to pursue
their own policy without interference from
US or any other foreign power, they have
now a. much right to offer themselves to
England as they had before to ask for an
nexation to the United States; and il we
undertake to interfere with their policy 10
that particular, we shall be guilty of the
very foreign interference reprobated by the
committee.
To such lengths must the servile retain
ers of Clevelandism in Congress 60 in order
to make 4 pretence Of defending this indie
feasible and infamous Hawaiian policy.
They must humiliate and stultify themselve
and render our country ridiculous and con-
temptible in the eyes Of the world.