Democratic (constitutionalist) President Cleveland calls for a respect for Hawaiian sovereignty, a return to the foreign policy of Presidents Washington, Monroe and John Quincy Adams, and defers to the Democratic 53rd Constitutional Congress (elected in accordance with Article I, Section 3 [Clause 1]) on the Hawaiian Question, after internally exiled Queen Liliuokalani refused to accept a conditional pardon from “President” Sanford Dole, of the Republic of Hawaii, and Dole refused Cleveland’s demands to resign, and reinstate the monarchy:

       By an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without authority of Congress, the Government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown. A substantial wrong has thus been done which a due regard for our national character as well as the rights of the injured people requires we should endeavor to repair. The Provisional Government has not assumed a republican or other constitutional form, but has remained a mere executive council or oligarchy, set up without the assent of the people. It has not sought to find a permanent basis of popular support and has given no evidence of an intention to do so. Indeed, the representatives of that Government assert that the people of Hawaii are unfit for popular government and frankly avow that they can be best ruled by arbitrary or despotic power.

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       [T]he military demonstration upon the soil of Honolulu was of itself an act of war; unless made either with the consent of the government of Hawaii or for the bona fide purpose of protecting the imperiled lives and property of citizens of the United States. But There is No pretense of any such consent on the part of the government of the queen … the existing government, instead of requesting the presence of an armed force, protested against it. There is as little basis for the pretense that forces were landed for the security of American life and property. If so, they would have been stationed in the vicinity of such property and so as to protect it, instead of at a distance and so as to command the Hawaiian Government Building and palace. … When these armed men were landed, the city of Honolulu was in its customary orderly and peaceful condition. …

       NOTE: Even in the issue of foreign affairs a constitutionalist president recognized the supremacy of Congress.

       [restored 5/21/2022] Thanks to Freedom’s Phoenix for this entry.