River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-24
oLNEY,s OPINION.
foreshadows Possible Conflict Between
President and Congress.

President and Congress.
Washington, Dec. 2i.-The Cameron
Cuban resolution, If pressed to final pas
fage in both houses, will constitute
direct and formidable issue between the
executive and legislative branches OF
the government. This is clearly indi-
Gated by an interview given out by See
rotary 0lney. Secretary olney being
asked his opinion as TO the nature and
effect of the proposed resolution recog.
nizing the independence of the republic
of Cuba said:
81 have no objection to stating my own
view or the resolution respecting the IN.
dependence of the sc-called republic OF
Cuba which. II Is reported. is TO be laid
before the senate on Monday. Indeed, as
there are likely TO be serious misapprehen-
sfons regarding such resolution. both In
this country and abroad, and as such
apprehensions may have injurious results
of a grave character. II is perhaps my duty
TO point out that the resolution. If passed
by the senate. can probably be regarded
only as an expression of opinion by the
eminent gentlemen who vote for 1t in the
senate, and If passed by the house OF rep
reA-ntatives. can only be regarded as an
other expression OF opinion by the eminent
gentlemen who vote for II in the house
The power TO recognize the so-called re-
pubic OF Cuba as an independent state
rests exclusively with the executive.
resolution on the subject by the senate
or by the house. or by both bodies. OF
by one. whether concurrent or joint. Is
imperative as legislation and is important
only as advice OF great weight voluntarily
,enuereu 10 the executive regarding the
manner In which he shall exercise his
constitutional functions
"The operation and effect of the proposed
resolution, therefore. even If passed b.
both houses of congress by a two-thircs
vote, are perfectly plain. Ii may raise
expectations In some quarters which can
never be realized. IL may infiame 9opu.
lar passions both in this country and
elsewhere, may thus put In peril the lives
and property of American citizens who are
resident and travelling abroad, and Will
certainly obstruct and perhaps defeat the
best efforts of this government to AFFORD
such citizens due protection. But, except
in these ways and unless the advice en-
bodied In the resolution shall lead the
executive to revise conclusions already
reached and officially declared, the reso-
luton will be without effect and will iraYe
unaItered the attitude of this government
towards the two contending parties In
Cuba"
OF course. Secretary Olney's state
ment indicates clearly that # the joint
resolution ever passes both branches OF
congress and is sent to the president
the latter will veto it, not only on the
ground of impolicy, but also because it
constitutes an infringement of his own
prerogatives. Moreover, the secretary
in his interview goes beyond this point,
and in almost as many words says that
no attention will be paid to the will of
congress in this matter, even il the
resolution is passed over the presidents
veto. In this case u grave conflict of
powers of two branches of the govern
ment might be expected to follow,
though just how the issue may be made
up so that it can be reached by the SUI
preme court, the arbiter OF all ques-
tions of constitutionality, is not clear at
present.
1t is suggested. however, that If the
issue goes to that length congress may
achieve its purpose indirectly by the
exercise of power certainly contded
to 1t exclusively by the constitution,
namely. by declaration of war, which
is, after all, in the judgment of many
authorities, only what the recognition
of the independence of Cubn under ex-
isting conditions would mean.
Madrid, Dec. 21.-The explicit an
nouncement is made that Senior Dupuy
de LONE, the Spanish minister at Wash
ington. has telegraphed to his home
government here that he had a con-
ference with Mr.. Olney, the secretary
of state, in the course of which the lat
ter assured him that Spain might rest
tranquil until March, at least, since.
despite the attitude of congress, Presi-
dent Cleveland would not recoonize the
independence of Cuba.