The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-06-01
TWILL SUIT GROVER
Congress Will Disrsrse Before the Gu
ban Question Can Be Acted Upon,
SENATOR MORGAN SPEAKS
He Says We Are Making Rapid
Strides Towards Establishing a
Royal Prerogative War Does
Exist on the Island.

Washington. May si.-Senator Nor
gan was asked to-day concerning the
probability OF securing action on the
Cuban resolution before adjournment.
He said: Congress will probably dis
perse before any further action Is pos
sible. The disposition of the majority
Of the senate commission is to devoive
upon the president a responsibility that
he Is evidently eager to assume. Con-
gress has practically ceased to be a
factor In the government. except In the
case OF veto when the constitution
permits " to act finally by two-thirds
vote. Even this function is denied
when 1t Is applied to our foreign poll
tical relations.
For q government with coordinate
departments OF which we boast, We are
making a strange and rapid movement
towards reestablshing a royal prerog-
ative In the hands Of our executive as
one controllable power. II any British
constitutional power was destroyed In
America by the revolution Of 1II6 II
was the prerogative OF the crown. IL
the president acting alone. can substi-
tute the entire body OF the laws OF war
for the laws Of peace. which now gov
ern our relations with Cuba. and II he
can make this revolution OF our legal
status as citizens and as nation.
binding upon us by his proclamation,
II Is In vain that we abolished the pre-
rogative In our federal constitution. III
the president, without the concurrence
Of congress. should proclaim that war
existed in Cuba. and the United States
assumes the relation OF neutral power
towards the recognized belligerents
under the laws of nations. he would
usurp a power OF the most dangerous
| character In the moment OF their en-
| thusiasm for a decree that would be so
| lust and so humane, the people would
| forgive the usurpation. but the shock II
would give to our free government
would lead In time to great disaster.
| In the present state of political agita-
| tion In the country II Is dangerously
apparent that declaration OF war
with Spain, or a declaration Of the ex-
istence Of a state Of war In Cuba, made
| on the sole authority OF the president.
would create fever Of excitement that
would remove all other questions now
under discussion from the minds OF the
people and would control the presiden-
! tial election near at hand. ] am con-
| sinced the president will not venture
on so dangerous a course when con-
gress disperses. leaving our relations
to this subject In their present equivo-
cal situation.
war exists In Cuba and the whole
world knows II, and while Spain admits
| its existence In every act. but denies II
on paper and In a diplomatic way. our
government and people are required to
endorse this falsehood and to admit
that peace prevails in the island. They
punish our people for treason. insur-
rection and piracy with the death PEN
atty because they are charged with
disturbing the peace and breaking
laws that are intended to preserve
peace In Cuba. while peace does not
exist. After the almost unanimous
declaration OF both houses OF congress
that belligerent rights should be ac-
corded to Cuba, II we disperse without
giving relief to our people from this sit
uation we can find no excuse for aban-
doning them to this dreadful fate. ex-
cept that we are ready to abdicate our
power In favor OF the supposed power
or wishes of the president. The presi-
dents powers are not increased by our
refusal to exercise powers that right
fully belong to congress alone or joint
ly TO both departments of government.
For more than seven weeks the
gress which expresses constltutionally
the will of the people. II that declara-
tlon Is not sufficient 10 give our people
security against Spanish violation OF
our treaties, or to impress the presi-
dent with Its solemnity. We should
not and cannot In justice to ourselves.
omit to present the same facts and
convictions to the president In a defl-
mite form of action that he cannot re-
fuse to consider. Spain fully under
stands the cause OF our resentments
and the Justice OF the indignation OF
our people and the boasts In speeches
from the throne that the president Is
not in sympathy with congress or the
people, and for this cause she adheres
the more savagely to her resolution
that this shall be a war of extermina-
tion and that we shall be compelled to
call IL peace, and shall refuse on that
false declaration to give the shelter OF
the laws of war TO those who are
moved by humanity to help the Gu
bans.
"The president has refused to inform
congress Of the attitude of the execu-
tive department as to the conviction
and sentence of death Of our citizens
captured on the Competitor. The plea
is urged for the delay of further action
by congress that q recognition Of bel
ligerency, morally, Will give rise 10
new complications, and IL we do any
thing. " is wiser to recognize the inde-
pendence of Cuba and leave 1t to Spain
10 declare war for that course. II she
resents such course, That ground is
taken with no expectation or Its result
] - nn