The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-14
Is 1t knavery or Folly on the Part
Of the Evening Post2

The Erening Posts attempt to befog the
capital issue In the Hawaiian business still
goes on. although nobody who has read the
Constitution. and who can think straight.
pays any attention to its maunderings. 1t
Is now engaged in ridiculous attempt to
answer the Outlook. which has stated the
cnse against Mr.. CLEVELAND in q concise
and cogent way.
The Outlook was led to discuss the mat
ter by the chatter about Mr.. CLEyELASD's
high-minded determination to redress a
wrong. as II. even on the assumption that
a wrong WAS done last January in Honolu-
lu, 1t could now be redressed by the COM
mission of another. The Outlook pointed
out that it will not do to take for granted
that all alleged analoges between nation
and an individual are sound in logic: and it
proceeded to show that the supposed analo-
gy on which the Administration course
has been based In the Hawaiian affair is
anything but sound. 1t Is not asserted
that Mr.. CLEVELAND Is blameworthy for
the desire to see the American nation undo
a wrong which. as he believes. was perpe-
trated year ago by the power OF the ma
ton. But IL was for the nation. acting
through its proper organs. TO undo the
wrong. not for Mr.. CLEVELAND. who. for
such a purpose. In no wise constitutes the
nation. The de 5acio Government at Homo
lulu could not be overthrow without an
act OF war. and the warmaking power is
expressly reserved to Congress by the Con-
stitution. 1t was Mr.. CLEvELAND's duty,
II he believed wrong to have been done by
Minister STEVENS. to lay all the facts. as he
understood Thorn. before Congress, and re-
quest from 1t permission to exercise the
war-maklnR power for the purpose OF REIN
stating the deposed ruler. The Outlook
found fault with Mr.. CLEVELAND. as every
Intelligent citizen finds fault with him, be-
cause the nation gave MIR. CLEVELAND no
authority to determine whether wrong
had been perpetrated, or to set 1t right:
and for him to assume to do for the nation
what the nation had not authorized him to
do. was a usurpation OF authority.
That the Outlook Is right Is undeniable.
No doubt upon the subject Is any longer
expressed by any statesman qualified to
speak for the Democratic party. 1t is be-
yond question that when Minister WILLIS.
in pursuance of his Instructions. demanded
the abdication OF the Hawaiian Provisional
Government. he committed an act OF war.
whereby Mr.. CLEVELAND. whose mouth
piece and agent Mr.. WILLIS is. violated the
Constitution and exposed himself TO i'm
parchment at the hands OF the House of
Representatives. That this position is we'll
taken. and cannot be impugnsd. would be
frankly admitted by the ErsniH0 Post II 1t
had any respect for It's own reputation or
for the intellect OF It's readers. Instead Of
doing this, when printing a letter from the
aAt ~ ha In Kyhiah
are reAsserted. 1t subioins a rambling and
futile answer. half column in length. writ
ten by somebody in Chicago, who proves
nothing except that he has never read the
American Constitution. and Is unaware that
Il does not give the Federal Executive any
| right to think or act for the nation in the
matter Of exercising the war power.
1t can only be knavery or stupidity which
causes the EpeHiR0 Post to persistently
dodge this issue; and We leave the readers
OF the paper to determine on which horn Of
the dilemma to impale it, We repeat that
Mr.. CLEVELAND broke his oath OF office
when. without the sanction OF Congress. he
ordered our Minister at Honolulu TO commit
an act OF war on de factO Government. 1t
was his duty TO begin by requesting au-
thority from Congress. OF that duty either
he was ignorant. or defisntly he disregarded
It, We incline to the latter suggestion. for
otherwise In December. when he laid the
Hawaiian papers before Congress. he would
then have requested permission to upset
the Hawaiian Government. II he honestly
believed. as he pTetends. that Justice re-
qulred It's overthrow. He made no such re-
quest He has never made it. He will
never dare To make 1t.
In rarJv IN a ouestion in the House Of