Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-12-26
AT LodoERHEADs ABOUT CUBA.
Has the President Power 10 Override
Congress OIney's Peculiar
"Americanism."
ZION our ReguIar oorresponaenll

IRON our Regular correspondent
WASHINGTON. Dec. 7I.-There is
great danger that the merits of the
Cuban question will be entirely over
looked in the wrangle that is likely
to follow the extraordinary position
taken by Secretary Olney, that Con-
gress has nothing to do with the rec
ognition of a new state, the power
being vested in the President alone.
Mr.. Olney first publicly took this
position in a discussion with the SEN
ate Committee on Foreign Relations,
before that committee had decided to
report the Cameron resolution for the
recognition of the independence Of
Cuba. After the Committee had de-
cided to report the resolution today,
Mr. Olney went great deal further,
by making statement through the
Press Association, saying in effect
that the President would veto the reso-
luton if it was adopted and that even
if it were then readopted by the con-
stitutional two-thirds ofboth branches
of Congress he would ignore it and
treat it simply as the personal opin-
ions of those who voted for it. If it
were not that this administration had
c1rh n etorf f;,,,a ~ -,,., thee - -1r-,1..
to believe that if Mr. Cleveland dared
to maintain this position, the country
would see another impeachment trial
in the U. S. Senate, and even as it is
it may lead to serious trouble. This
question is higher than party politics
or than the Cuban question. If the
President has the constitutional right
to override two-thirds of Congress,
which may be considered as fairly
representative of the people, it is time
that the people knew it, in order that
this enormous power, greater than
that possessed by the crowned heads
of most of the worlds limited monar-
chies, may be curtailed by a constitu-
tional amendment before some un-
scrupulous President uses it to destroy
our Government.
1t is hardly probable, however, that
this question will get before the U.
I
S. Supreme Court for settlement in
connection with the Cameron resolu-
ton, for the very simple reason that
the Cameron resolution is not likely
to be adopted by both branches of Con-
gress, Notwithstanding its having re-
ceived the endorsement of the follow
ing eminent gentlemen, who compose
the Senate Foreign Committee: Sher-
man, of Ohio; Frye, of Maine;
Lodge, of Massachusetts; Cameron, of
Pennsylvania ; Davis, of Minnesota
Cullom, of Illinois Gray, of Della
ware; Turpie, of Indiana; Mills, of
Texas, and Morgan, of Alabama.
Daniel, of Virginia, is also member
of the committee, but he was not pres
ent at the meeting and says he has
not made up his mind whether he will
support the resolution or not. The
resolution will almost certainly be
adopted by the Senate, probably by
more than two-thirds vote, if it be
seriously pushed that far, but if ex-
pressions of leaders of the House count
for anything, it will never reach vote
in that body. Gen. Henderson, of
Iowa, voiced this sentiment when he
said; eve are not going to have war.
The Cameron resolution has not
passed, and l don't believe in encour
aging this war talk. We have had
enough agitation already, and we
don't want our business interests
again interrupted by talk Of war or by
actual war 1t is the impression in
Washington that by the time Congress
reassembles, the country will have
made it SO plain that it wants neither
war nor a war scare that the resolu-
ton will not be pushed
1t was brought out by questions of
Senators during Secretary's Olney's
unsuccessful attempt to persuade the
Senate Committee into following Mr.
Cleveland policy towards Cuba that
the administration has received much
credit to which it was not entitled, by
reason of misstatements in the news
papers as to demands it has from time
to time made on Spain in behalf of
American citizens. For instance, Sec
rotary Olney admitted that this Gov
eminent had made no demand upon
Spain in the case of the alleged fill