Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1894 — THE HAWAIIAN BUGABOO. [ARTICLE]

THE HAWAIIAN BUGABOO.

The esteemed Chicago InterOcean desires us to “read up on Senator Turpie” on the Hawaiian question. Thanks, we have done so, and apparently to more purpose than the Inter-Ocean. It finds nothing in his speech but the maintenance of the proposition that “the provisional government, having been once recognized by the United States and the civilized world, it was a fact accomplished, and recognition could not be withdrawn.” It seems to have overlooked the lively lanuping of Minister Stevens, “the international spy, ingrate and outlaw,” which lormed an interesting poition of Senator Turpie’s remarks. We see no conflict between the positions of Senator Turpie and the president. The president has not withdrawn Mr. Harrison’s recognition of the provisional government, and haß not attempted to do so, not even after thi indefeasible publication of the attack on the administration by the Hawaiian minister to this country Indeed, the republican papers have long been calling attention to the fact that he commissioned Blount and Willis to represent us in negotiation? with the government of which “Great and Good Friend” Dole was the head. If tne 1 nter-Ocean will look back over the facts in this affair it will see that it has been fighting a straw man of its own construction. When Mr. Cleveland came into office he found pending in the senate a treaty of annexation which he suspected to have been procured by the unwarrantable action of our representative in Hawaii. He w'thdrew the treaty and sent a special agent to examine into the matter. The report more than confirmed the suspicions, and show ed that annexation under such circumstances would be a blot on the good name of the United States. As the matter then stood it had been submitted to the president for arbitration. Mr. Harrison had made no express decison, but had been following out tbs policy of Minister Stevens. It is not questioned, even by Dole, that the queen surrendered her forces on agreement to submit the question to tua president of t’’e United States, anu that Mr. Damen, who had been sent to her by the provisional government, accepted the surrender on these terms. Dole now says that Damen was not authorized «o do this The provisional government, by its own declaration, was formed to exist until the islands were annexed by the United States. On the facts presented, the president was obliged ta decide that, so far as was in his power, it was his duty to restore the situation existing when the unwarrantable interference of our minister occurred. H? made his decision. It was submitted to the parlies. o threats of interference by foice were made. Mins ister vvillis was explicitly directed to explain 'he entire situation to both parties, to tel. tnem that the president had no right to declare war, to assure them that he would use his influence to adjust the matter on the basis stipulated by him. As Mr. Dole says, the question submitted to him was, “Are you willing to abide by the decision of tbe president?” He answered “no,” and that ended the matter so far as arbitration by the president was concerned.

But meanwhile the republican press and the Republican politicians have raised a great hullabaloo about'nothing. They have insinuated that the president w\a about to declare war o*i the Hawaiian provisional government, when the dispatches show that he never contemplated anything oi. the kind. They have even talked of impeaching him, when he was acting strictly within his constitutional power. Now they drop with a dull sickening thud. They have an opportunity to reflect that they have made egregious asses of themselves. As Senator Davis truly observes: “It is absurd for Mr. Cleveland to say thet he leaves the matter to congress. There is nothing congi ess can do, now that the treaty is withdrawn.” Of course not. There has not been anything that congress could d&. And yet congress has been howling for the papers in the case and holding investigations of the entire proceeding. The moment congress met the republicans began demanding 1 hat the president sho’d refer the matter to congress. He has complied. Congress has it.-+ Now what is it oing to do with it? We shall be interested in observing how Messrs Hoar, Boutelle and others will dispose of their straw man. They have made all sorts of charges, and now ihe tacts show that they have not a shred of truth to back them. Thev conjured up a bugaboo, and now its

real character is fully exposed.— The only thing that is left to th-*m is to attempt some apology for the disgraceful conduct of Stevens ana the Harrison administration. —lndianapolis Sentinel.