The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-02-24
M'CREARY's RESOLUTION.

Esop's satyr, who threw his guest
out of doors because he declared his
ability to blow first hot and then cold,
would be puzzled to devise fitting
| punishment for those members of the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
who are responsible for what is known
as the McCreary Hawaiian resolution.
To characterize that measure as ex-
traordinary is to speak with excessive
mildness. Starting out with the un-
proven or disproven charge which ac-
cused Minister Stevens of aiding in
the rebellion and setting up in it's
place a provisional government not
republican in FORM" the resolution
goes on to say that 1--WE heartily APP
prove the principle announced by the
President of the United States that in
reference with tine domestic affairs of
an Independent nation is contrary to
the spirit of American institutions"
this sound principle are going to recon-
Gle it with the conduct of the ID
ministration they are endeavoring to
defend, is indeed a mystery - an
enigma that staggers intellect and
compels even the shrewdly thought
full to wonder whether there is mean
ing in words. What sensible Ameri-
can but will laugh, internally at least,
when he hears eX-Minister Stevens
unjustly condemned for aiding in the
establishment of a government not
republican in FORM" while President
Cleveland-who used his utmost en-
deavor to overthrow decency and re-
enthrOne q degraded mockery of
queens lauded?
For the sake of argument let it be |
admitted that John L. Stevens was
guilty of all that has been charged |
against him; that he gave aid and |
comfort to the American revolution |
lists whose rights were endangered by |
the most corrupt of governments; |
that by his assistance comic-opera |
dynasty was terminated and succeed |
ed by men who hated fraud and were
earnest in their opposition to the |
monarchy-petted lottery and opium
"rings." Suppose his ofense as helm
Gus as these Specifications, and yet is
he more bIameworthy than the Pre-
sident of the United States, who
through a new interference with the
domestic affairs of an independent
nation" sought to undo the great
good that had been accomplished, and
who, contrary to the spirit of Amer
lean institutions" Frustrated himself
at the feet of barbarOus royalty in the
shape of the copper-colored Mrs.
Dominis Is it possible that clear
minded men can approve President
Clevelands vocal principle ''that in
reference with the domestic affairs
of an independent nation is contrary
to the spirit of American institu-
tions' and at the same time shut
their eyes to the fact that this same
President sent to the Hawaiian ISL
ands, first, private spy, who was
given power to command the United
States forces at Honolulu, and then a
appointed minister-both of
them instructed to interfere to an I'M
heard of extent with the domestic
affairs of a government which had
been officially recognized by this ma
ton with which we were at peace?
The principle which the President
is said to have announced is sound,
and it is for violating that very prin-
ciple that he has been blamed by the
American people. If he had merely
the annexation treaty, re-
called and rebuked Stevens, and an
nounced the quoted principle, there
would have been no general and nom
partisan criticism of his course. Stew
ems would have defended himself as
not guilty of the alleged interference,
and the issue would have been one of
act, with Stevens on the defensive
and the President right in principle,
whatever the result of the trial of
Stevens at the bar of public opinion.
But the President did not stop there
the alleged interference
IF Stevens, he proceeded to interfere ]
himself in a manner far more gross
y un-American than that with which
stevens was accused. The McCreary
resolution should logically be amend
ed to read: 1--WE heartily approve the
principle announced by the President
Of the United States that interference ,
with the domestic affairs of an indie. /