The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-10
The Latest Phase OF the Policy OF In
fanny,


War may exist without formal declara-
sufficient in itself to provoke hostillties. or
TO involve the possibility Of bloodshed. may.
when deliberately undertaken by one Gov
eminent against another. constitute as Of
fectual declaration OF war as formal
proclamation issued with unquestionable
authority.
Here, the power to initiate offensive war
fare in this way, or in any other way. rests
exclusively with Congress. Every President
before Mr.. CLEVELAND has recognized the
limitations imposed upon him by the Con-
stitution. and by his own oath to obey the
Constitution. Even when President BUCH-
ANAN had occasion in 1859 to ask Con-
gress for the passage OF q law author
izing him. In certain contingency.
to employ the naval force under his COM
mand for the protection of the lives and
property Of citizens OF the United States
while in transit across the Isthmus Of
Panama. he added In his third annual mes
sage: The chief objection against the
grant Of this authority is that Congress. by
comforting 1t. would violate the Constitu-
ton: that 10 would be transfer OF the war
making. or. strictly speaking, war-declaring
power. from Congress TO the Executive.
Iffhis pere ireH founded. IL irOuid. Of course.
be Conclusive" Then Mr.. BUCHANAN pro-
ceeded TO argue that the conclusive objec-
ton thus recognized did not apply TO
that case; inasmuch rs II war against
Colombia were thereby involved. the initi-
alive OF war would not have proceeded from
the Executive. but from Congress. through
the legislation authorizing the President to
use force In certain emergency.
The distinction so clearly recognized by
Mr. BUCHANAN has not troubled Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND. Without once asking Congress for
authority to proceed In Hawaii. indeed.
even while sedulOusly and systematically
eoncealing from Congress his intentions
and movements. the President has now
gone so far as to demand OF the existing
Government Of that sovereign nation that
II shall surrender Its sovereignty to the
United States. in order that the United
States may hand IL over 10 a private indi-
yidual in Hawaii. thus retstablshing a
throne that has been overturned In the
Inevitable march OF civilization. and restor-
ing monarchical rule under woman Of in
famous aud bloodthirsty character.
That such demand is an act OF national
hostility, the initiative OF war. Is a propose
ton too evident to require discussion.
Formally and in the name OF the United
States to notify a Government. already
recognized by the United States as our peer
aud equal In the family Of nations. that IL
Is required by the United States 10 step
down aud out. in order THAT the United
States may set up another Government in
its place, constitutes a deliberate afiront.
hostile Interference which any nation on
earth would DO justified In regarding as an
act OF war. and In resisting accordingly.
II such demand. no matter upon what
pretext based, were addressed To the British
Government. or b the French. or to the
Greek, or to the Japanese. or TO the Bra
LILLIAN, OF to any other Government no mat
ter where. nobody would presume 10 con-
tend that 1t was not an act of gar. II is not
ths less an act of war because il Is ad-
dressed b the Provisional Government in
Hawaii. to which Mr., CLEVELAND lately sent
Minister WILLIS as our accredited repre-
sentative. bearing = message offriendliness.
respectful salutatiOn. and good will.
Nothing in the history Of the world Is
more remarkable than the official eommu-
nlcatiOn 10 which this declaration Of war
against the Hawaiian Government Is con-
Veysd: In obedience to the command OF
the President. /. Minister WILLIS have
secured from the Queen We are about 10 re-
store a free pardon for you and all those
Who with yea rsOSll'd year ago against