The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-16
WIFI, warned the Admlnlstration.

considering the downfall OF the policy OF
infamy, is that Mr.. CLEVELAND and Mr..
GRESHAM persisted in that policy, stub
bornly although not blindly. after Minister
WILLIS had sent them timely warning OF
the certain consequences OF their enormous
folly. Its much to Mr.. WILLIS S credit that
while obeying his instructions most faith
fully. he, nevertheless. told the President
and the Secretary Of State the truth about
the situation at Honolulu. and gave them
an opportunity to reconsider their crazy In
tentions with respect to the Queen.
The policy Of infamy was disclosed TO the
country on Nov. II by the publication OF
GREsHAM's report based on BLoUNT's re-
port: the Administration at that time un-
doubtedly supposing that the overthrow Of
the Provisional Government and the resto-
ration OF the Queen had already been accom-
plshed by Mr.. WILLIS according to his first
instructions.
Mr.. w1LLIs's interview with LIL1UoKA-
LAM. at which she announced her fixed pur-
pose to cut off the heads Of President DOLE
and his associates. occurred on Nov. Is,
two days after the publication here Of
GREsHAM's report. When WILLIS wrote. on
Nov. 10. his despatch informing LILIUoKA-
LANI's protectors in Washington what q
murderous old MEssAL1NA they had In
charge. he did not know that the policy Of
infamy had already been communicated to
the American people. In this now celebrat-
ed despatch No. .. which has been suppressed
until now by Mr.. CLEVELAND for reasons
easy to understand. Mr.. WILLIS said every
thing in his power to open the eyes OF the
Administration to the truth about Hawaii.
to warn the Administration of from its un-
dertaking. and TO prevent the Administra-
ton from committing itself before the
American people.
What was it that Mr.. WILLIS told Mr..
CLEVELAND and Mr.. GRESHAM in that de-
spatch OF Nov. 1872
First. that LILIUoKALANI was no fit pro-
tegee for an American Administration. but
q vindictive savage whose very first use OF
Mr.. CLEvELAND's good Offices would DO the
qualification OF her revengeful spirit by
wholesale murder. This information was
conveyed to Mr.. CLEVELAND In LILIUoKA-
LANIs own horrible language.
Secondly, that LILIUoKALANI's nearest
friends and advisers were a bad lot. with
one or two exceptions. WILLIS charac-
ter sketches ought to have opened the eyes
had good words for only two OF the persons
named to him by the Queen as her most
trusted friends" JOHN RICHARDSON is de-
scribed as "a half-caste. attorney at law.
stock raiser. and proprietor Of the Bismarck
livery stable" JOSEPH EAwAHI. the full
blooded native. displays very little knowl-
edge Of the structure and philosophy OF the
Government which he so long represented"
and he boastingly remarked to WILLIS.
Il am leader" although. perhaps. those
circumstances might not injure NAwAHI
In Mr. CLEvELAND's estimation. JOHN 4.
BUSH is "a man Of very considerable abil-
ity. but his reputation is very bad" r. W.
WILCOX Is 1.-The notorious half-bred who
engineered the revolution OF 1885," Only to
CARTER and MCFARLAND. In Mr. WILLIs's
opinion. could ministerial bureaus be
safely intrusted."
Thirdly. having described tho gang
which would get into power II Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND should restore the Queen. Mr.'WILLIs
went even further and declared that he felt
satisfied that there will be concerted
movement. in the event OF restoration. for
the overthrow Of the Constitution [of 1887,
rhich could mean the orerthr0ic Of cOnsti-
tutiORdl and limited government. and the
absolute dominion Of the Queen" That Is to
say. Mr.. WILLIS told Mr.. CLEVELAND that
the policy of infamy meant not tho restora-
ton OF the order OF things existing before
the Queen was deposed. but the almost GER
tain return OF Hawaii to absolute and bar
barous despotism.
Fourthly. Mr.. WILLIS warned the Presi-
dent as plainly as possible against BLoUNr's
conclusions. by asking that 1.-THE BLoUNT
report be withheld for the present"
All OF this truthful information. all OF
these invaluable warnings. were contained
In the document which WILLIS forward
ed on Nov. 10. before he knew that the
policy of infamy had been publicly an
nounced on Nov. IL. II the despatch
had reached Washington very few days.
earlier. 1t would doubtless have prevented
the publication OF GREsHAM's report. To
suppose the contrary is to suppose that Mr..
CLEVELAND and Mr.. GRESHAM are not only
destitute OF political common sense but
also devoid OF primary instincts OF self
preservation.
Mr.. WILLIs's despatch came too late for
that. Even as 1t was. lie rendered the Adj
ministration a service OF very great i'm
portance, lie put 1t within the power OF
Mr. CLEVELAND to withdraw, II not grace
fully. at least not disgracefully. from the
false position assumed in the GRESHAM re-
port. based on BLoUNTs misrepresenta-
tions. All that was necessary was a frank
and manly admission that perhaps the Adj
ministration had been misled; that perhaps
1t had chosen the wrong man as Paramount
Commissioner; that perhaps further infor-
nation about the Hawaiian situation was
desirable before proceeding in the attempt
TO restore the Queen. Such admissions in
volved nothing worse than trialng sacri-
flee OF personal vanity.
Yet even when Mr. WILLIS told the Ad-
ministration that 1t was on the wrong
road. the Administration could not bring
itself to make that trihing sacrifice Of per-
sOnal pride and TO confess It's mistake. In
stead Of Withdrawing II persisted. Instead
Of waiting. 1t pushed WILLIS on TO action,
Instead of hesitating in face of the revela-