The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-19
VIII the senate Act i?

The desire OF the rev newspaper uelenu-
ers OF the Administration to drop the dis
cussion OF the Hawaiian business is en-
tirely Ineligible. They know that. In his
conduct OF the affair. Mr.. CLEVELAND has
twice violated the Constitution Of the United
States; and they fear that, unless the at
tention OF the people can be diverted to
other matters, he may yet be brought to
account. II not by this Congress. by the
next. In the hope OF casting veil OF
silence and indifference over the policy OF
infamy, they are reckoning on the con-
nivance OF tho Senate, without whose CO.
operation their scheme will evidently come
to naught. They have seen the House OF
Representatives recreant to Its duty in the
matter OF denouncing usurpations OF the
legislative power. and they look forward to
a like exhibition OF subservience on the
part Of Senators.
We do not believe that the Senate. which.
owing to the present peculiar composition
OF the House of Representatives. has come
to be regarded rs the sole trusted guardian
OF the peoples rights. will tacitly acquiesce
In the establishment OF precedents fatal to
that balance OF powers which the authors Of
our Constitution strove. with prophetic
wisdom. to secure. Mr.. CLEVELAND has I'M
uoubtedly been guilty OF two infringements
OF our fundamental laws. which. unless they
are promptly met with protest and rebuke.
may hereafter be prolific Of disastrous usur-
pations. In despatching Commissioner
BLoUNT to Honolulu to override and sup
plant Minister who had been accredited
and not recalled. he deliberately ignored
the confirming power lodged in the Senate
by the Constitution. In instructing Minis
ter WILLIS to demand the surrender OF the
Hawaiian Government, which had been
formally and repeatedly recognized by the
United States and other powers, he COM
mitted an act OF war. which the Constitution
forbds him to commit without the previous
sanction OF Congress.
We say an act of war. because II IL evident
that, II Hawaii had been. not n weak power.
but a strong one. the insolent demand for
it's surrender made by WILLIS would have
been answered by return OF his passport
and q notification that the American war
vessels would be fired upon. II they did not
leave tho harbor OF Honolulu within twenty
four hours. WILLIs's announcement that
Mr. CLEVELAND had decided to recognize
dynastlc pretender as tho sole ruler OF
Hawaii. to whom the de fdcto Government
was expected to give way. was. on the face
of it. an insult which only the conscious
ness OF weakness prevented tho Hawaiian
Executive from repclllng as it deserved.
II the history OF Congress shall record
that Mr.. CLEVELAND was allowed tn make
with impunity declaration so distinctly
provocative OF war. there are no limits. OK
cept those Of his personal pusillanimity. to
the international difficulties and dangers in
which we may hereafter be involved. 1t
may be that the present President would
long hesitate before perpetrating a likeout-
rage upon power strong enough to return
the blow. But. In times to come, we may
have, az We have had before, a military
President OF type different from that Of
those civilians who sent substitutes Ia the
war, aud such a man may make sinister
use OF the precedent set by Mr.. CLEVELAND.
unless that precedent is repudated by at
least one branch 81 the Federal legislature.
The blow struck by WILLIS at Honolulu on
Dec 10 was leveled not only at the Ha-
waiian Government. but at the rights re-
served TO Congress by the American Con-
stitution. and. therefore. unless it be visited
with severe reprobation. il may eventually
prove as dangerous as it was dastardly.
A heavy responsibility rests upon the
NenaLo at lNlS JuuCtuIf' anu We bfllbNe tndL
it will be discharged with the fidelity and the
iirmness which have repeatedly distinguish
Ell the action Of that body in the past. The
Senators did not hesitate 10 inhict vote ~
censure on SO great President as ASDEEw
JACKSON because they believed him guilty
Of exceeding his constitutional powers,
although there was grave doubt touching
tho correctness OF their Wow, and although
the country at large was divided in opinion.
No such doubt is teI0bis regarding the
iliegality OF the acts Of GROVER CLEVELAND.
whether we consider his uusanctioned
appointment Of Commissioner BLoUNT. or
the even moro ilag-ant wrong committed
in the unauthorized demand for the sur
render Of tine Hawaiian Government. The
people of the United States. whether Demo-
Gratis or Republicans, are substantially
agreed upOn that point. Il is especially.
however. the duty Of Democratic senators
70 move in this matter. both because they
are the traditional upholders Of a strict