The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-30
CLEVELAND ON EXPANSION.
His Views Clearly Defined In Connection
with Nicara gun and Hawaii.

Mr.. Cleveland's ironical and sarcastic
observations on Republican policy in the
Philippines, expressed in January, 1899
and reproduced in The Post yesterday, are
only consistent with mis- whole record as
a public man. IN his first annual mes
sage, December S, 1886. Mr.. Cleveland in
formed Congress of his withdrawal from
the Senate of the Frelinghuysen-Za
treaty, negotiated by his immediate pred
ecessor, President Arthur, with the gov
eminent of Nicaragua, for the construc-
ton by and at the sole cost Of the United
States of a canal through Nicaraguan
territory, and. in explanation of that first
official act, Mr.. Cleveland defined his po-
sition in these words:
do not favor policy OF acquisition Of
new and distant territory or the incorporation of
remote interests with own.
The laws of progress are vital and organic, and
we must be conscious Of that irresistible tide of
commercial expansion which, the concomtant
Of our active civilization, day by day is being
urged onward by those increasing facilities of pro-
duction transportation, and communication to
which steam and electricity have given birth; but
duty in the present instructs US to address
selves mainly to the development of the vast re-
sources of the great committed to our charge
and 10 the cultivation OF the arts of peace within
our borders, though jealousy alert in preventing
the American hemisphere from being involved in
the political problems and complications of distant
governments Therefore / am unable to recon-
mend propositions involving paramount privileges
Of ownership or right outside of territory
when coupled with absolute and unlimited engage
ments TO defend the territorial integrity of the
State where such interests lie. While the general
project of connecting the two oceans by means Of
a canal is to be encouraged | am OF opinion that
any scheme to that end to be considered with favor
should be free from the features alluded to-
Eight years later, on the fifth day after
his inauguration for his second term as
President Mr.. Cleveland turned down
one of the important acts of his immedi-
ate predecessor CHarrison) by withdraw
ing from the Senate the treaty, negO-
tiated only a month previously. for the
annexation of Hawaii to the United
States Having withdrawn the treaty, ,he
dispatched the Hon. James II. Blount, of
Georgia, to Honolulu, as a paramount spe-
cial commissioner, TO make investigation
Of the circumstances and conditions.
Surely" said Mr.. Cleveland in his sub
sequent special message to Congress, ''un-
der our Constitution and laws the en-
largement of our limits is a manifestation
of the highest attribute of sovereignty,
ana II entered upon dS dH executive act
all things relating to the transaction
should be clear and free from suspicion
Additional importance alta ched TO this
particular treaty OF annexation because
it contemplated a departure from I'M
broken American tradition in providing
for the addition TO our territory of islands
of the sea more than. zoe miles removed
from our nearest coast"
He instructed Minister Willis TO advise
the deposed Queen Liliuokalani of his
(Mr. Cleyeland's) desire % aid" in re-
storing her 10 her throne, &c, IF such
restoration could be effected upon terms
providing for clemency as Well as Justice
to all parties concerned" The conditions
suggested required THAT the past be bur-
led and that the restored government
should reassume its authority as il its
continuity had not been interrupted 4"
These conditions did not prove acceptable
to the Queen, and, thereupon. Mr.. Cleve-
land submitted 10 the broader authority
and discretion OF Congress- all matters
connected with our relations with Ha-
wall.