The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-17

An ACT OF WAR AND usUnPA-
TION.

On the night OF December the Corwin
sailed from San Francisco with dispatches
for Minister Willis containing this instruc-
ton under the date Of December 3. the
day before congress assembled: SHOULD
the queen ask whether. II she aecedes TO
conditions. active steps will be taken BY
the United States 20 effect her restoration.
or TO maintain her authority thereafter.
you .iiI say that the president cannot use
force without the authority OF congress. y
That dispatch reached Willis December
a. Nevertheless. Willis never communi-
Gated to the provisional government dur
ing the week Of agitation and solicitude
which followed the arrival OF the Corwin
that bis instructions 10 restore the queen
forbade him 10 use force. President Dole
and the representatives Of foreign
powers In vain urged Minister VIII
lis to ailay popular approximations that
force Was to be used TO restore the queen.
Willis kept silent and communicated his
instructions OF December to nobody but
Queen Lii. That 10, Minister Willis held
over the provisional government menace
ing to obtain by "a bluff what he knew
he could not compel by force. IL Was not
the fault of President Cleveland, Secretary
Gresham and Minister Willis that between
December IL and December % the peace OF
the Hawaiian islands was not disfgured
by scenes of turbulence and bioodshed.
On the 22d the Alameda with Minister
Thnrston arrived the feeling OF the Amer
lean people and of congress was made
known and tranquility was restored.
Even after the Corwin had departed with
an account of Willis demand aud Its re-
lection he evaded President Dole's reques.
for some peaceful assurance. Minister VII
lis attempted to browbeat and buIldoze
the provisional government by demand
for surrender aud dispersion by holding
over them an implied menace at q time
when he had in his pocket instructions
that without the authority of congress he
could not use force to compel submission
10 his preposterous demands.
In 1850 President Buchanan asked con-
gress for tho passage of Law authorizing
him, in certain contingency, 10 employ
the naval force under his command for tho
protection of shs lives aud property of cit
izens of the United States while In transit
across the fsthmus of Panama.
Mr.. Buchanan in his third annual mes
sage points out that this act was neces-
saFy; - the initiative of war cannot con.
stitutionally proceed from the executive.
but from congress, through legislation
authorizing the president to use force
In certain emergency. Pres
ident buchanan distinctly recognized
the fact that the war-declaring power
rests with congress. President Cleveland.
on the other hand. not only never asked
congress for authority 10 proceed IN Ha-
wait. but systematically concealed from
congress his intentions and movements.
and finally went so far as 10 demand OF
the dc .faete government of Hawaii, SOW.
ereign nation, that IL shall surrender "a
the United States as tho agent and at,or.
ney aud trustee of Queen Lii. This de.
mand. made by President Cleveland
through Minister Willis, was an initiative
Of war. aud would have been instantly
treated as such had the Hawaiian govern.
ment been osher than weak, insignia.
cant power President Cleveland officially
notified government already recognized
by the United States that IL must re-.
tire in order that il may DO re.
placed by another government. Th..
dsmsnd Was base and cowardly insult.
which President Cleveland under no nre
text would dare iniliet upon Great Britain
France, Germany. or the smallest and
weakest Of the civilized powers of Europ.
or America, The demand Was an act a
war perreiFated upon the provisional
government of Hsw All 20 which President
Cleveland sent Minister Willis as our a.
credited representative. bearing an official
message OF frtendiiness. respect and good
will.
ihsecnducs ef fresidcn. Cleveland from
the day of Paramount Citizen Rloun,',
appointment 10 this demand for the sur
reader and dispersion OF the provisiona
government, has been instinct with folly
darlieity and outrageous usarpatiea al
powers tia. do not belong To hsm to ex
eseise, except upon the authority and IA,
instructions of congress
Ne authority has been conferred unor
Mr.. Cleveland by congress to upset IN.
provisional government OF Hawaii ans
restore the asposea ausea. nor had rrr.l
dent Cleveland bean chosen as arbitrator
eesseen iae queen and the De fsoss gov
efnmeat oil Hawaii. with authority {,
enforce his decision by ,hs power Of r.,
United States. Congress did net reeoe
mae Cleveland as arbitrator: the queer
did nos. and certainly the provisions
government did not; President Clevs.sns
VAS net al arbitrator, he we a self
appointed dictator in the affairs O
Hasssss he was no rnote arbitrator thar
Nsre3eon iae 0rea, Vas an srhllra,o
when he rlacsa one Of has brothers on n,
throne 81 spain. another on the throne O
Holland, another on ihe throne Of wess
ahssia aad made his srcshsr-sn-iaw kga,
OF Naples
IAe vice pssssdsas Of Hawai-, Frank NJ