The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-12

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WASHINGTON Jan. lit is remarkable that
NO one OF official or other Importance In
Washington stands forth to support or even to
| excuse the Administrations policy OF infamy
| In the Department OF state are certain ON
cials. drAughtho in affairs, whoas matter
| OF fact know many times more than others
| with greater titles. and are always called on to
furnish the necessary learning whenever
| dispatches requiring exactncss are to be pre-
pared. These are not, all Of them, opposed at
heart to the Administrators policy In Hawaii
Nor is Judge Greshams hoart in It, Nor lie IL
a certain thing that Cleveland trusts him in
all respects. The belief is that Willis departed
with private instructions from Cleveland
which Gresham knew nothing about Hence
the Willis blunder. ms It is now called, in call
ing down the Provisional Government with n
view to restoring Queen NJ bad repute.
Cleveland knows no more ot diplomacy than
n COW knows OF musket. II is humilating
to say 1t. but 1t would DO characteristic tor
him TO give Willis sealed orders. as from the
President Of the United States. inconsistent
with the open instructions OF the Secretary OF
State IL is this that furnishes an explanation
OF Willls's demand on the Provisional Govern
ment to get out and allow the Queen to come In.
Men OF experience when they discuss pres
ent developments in Hawaii. always consider
Cleveland's ignorance Of statecraft as n Droba-
BILE explanation Of things that can be explained
on no other ground. Cleveland was a small
lawyer at the beginning. and 10 that now. lie
has never learned much in the art Of states
manship. His cole Of practice IL not recog-
nized In matters OF diplomacy and It is pre-
cisely this that may account for present en-
barrassments and complications. Willis left
Washington. after protractsd stay and many
conferences with Cleveland, impressed that he
was going to Honolulu to depose the Provision
al Government and restore the Queen to the
throne. When he departed he knew OF the ex-
traordinary interest at the White House for
the restoration Of the monarchy and the rea-
sons therefor. He knew. despite instructions
which may be found upon the record. that res
toration Of the savage monarchy would please
the President above all things. and that pre-
csely this was what he was expected to do.
So far as possible Willis has been faithful to
the wishes Of Mr.. Cleveland and there is
no other explanation for his conduct in
calling down the Provisional Government
When tho last reports from Honolulu came
It was Gresham who was alarmed. not Glove
land. Gresham was alarmed because Willis
had acted. so far as he knew. in defiance OF his
orders. Cleveland was not alarmed because
he knew Willis had lived I'D to his earnest
Wtb0eS lupTeSbou uDOu tHo
House. and up to the last moment OF his stay.
before starting for Honolulu.
The request for permission to land British
force at Honolulu pending Willis's progress in
the Queens restoration. IL thought by persons
whose attention has been turned to 1t. and
who have not Tor a moment lost sight Of
British interest in the restoration, to be
worthy OF particular notice. They refer to
the fact that all along. from the first move
ment In Cievelands policy OF infamy. the Brit
ish have known what It was. and would be.
even when Americans were in the dark about
It They now say It WAS but natural
q British force should be ready to land
in support OF Clevelsnd's policy OF
restoration. In these particulars the logic OF
events is referred to. including the visit to the
White House OF Mr. Davies the English gentle
man who il the guardian Of the young woman
who. II all goes well with the monarchy at
Honolulu. will become Queen Of the Sandwich
Islands. The extraordinary consideration
paid to her at the Executive Mansion is also
referred to. and the now open fact that Davies
and the young woman knew everything OF
what was to be attempted at Honolulu. whom In
the United States nothing was known. These
things show the studied indirection and secret
purpose and plans Of Cleveland. and also the
reasons why Willis has acted contrary to
Gresham's directions. These things also ex-
plain why Gresham was alarmed and Glove
land was not when the last news came.
1t is unaccountable that Willis should have
so acted" is what Judge Gresham said.
ClevslAnd's expectation was the Dole Govern
ment would give up. that the Queen would be
restored. and order would be maintained under
the protection of British troops. perhaps All
OF this was contemplated in the Cleveland
Willis plan Of action. outside OF Gresham's or
ders. This 10 the explanation that has been
made for events at Honolulu. and it is made
by persons who have studied everything that
can throw light on Williss behavior. Making
q scapegoat OF him is q common suggestion.
but wait and see IL Cleveland does anything
Of the kind. That he will stand by Willis is
not doubted. while Gresham will be powerless
even TO defend himself.