The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-20
OLNEY CRITICIZED
For the Stand Taken in His Publish
ed Interview.

ed Interview.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator
Frye, of the committee on foreign re-
lations, after reading Secretary Olney's
statement, said: Il have no doubt
that majority of the committee be-
lieve that if the resolution is passed
by two-thirds vote over the veto of
the president, it would then become
law that the executive would be com
PEELED to execute as he is any other
law on the statute book. l think, too,
that a majority of the committee are
of the opinion that the secretary of
state is wrong in his opinion that the
recognition of the republic as an in
dependent state rests exclusively with
the executive. AS one member Of the
committee, | have been inclined to
think he is right on the point and have
not fully determined what the effect
would be If the resolution should pass,
Notwithstanding the presidents veto.
I am so strongly impressed that it is
the duty Of the United States in some
way to put a stop to the horrible
slaughter and barbarous brutality In
an island almost in sight of our shores,
that I am disposed to give the insur-
gents the benefit of all doubts"
Senator Chandler said that the state
ment by Secretary Olney was extraordi
nary. Before a resolution is re-
ported from the committee he said,
before it is passed by the senate, be-
fore it is passed by the house, the sec
retary issues statement saying: If
you pass it by both houses 1t will be
vetoed; if passed by two-thirds ma
jority over the veto, it will be defied.
1t is most startling proposition
coming from an officer
Worse than Andrew Johnson" said
Senator Wilson, who was then sitting
by.
Yes, worse than Andrew Johnson
assented Senator Chandler, land a
cabinet officer issuing such a statement
should be subjected to the severest con-
vance that the president wiHsnot carry
out the expressed will of two-thirds of
congress is most reprehensibie.
''The secretary said Senator Nor
gan, former chairman, and sRow rank
ing Democratic member of the commit
tee on foreign relations, takes very
high grounds and he cannot maintain
his position. How he can say as he
does in his statement, that the reso-
luton which the committee has agreed
to report may infiame passion 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 GER
tainly obstruct, and perhaps defeat
the best efforts of this government to
afford such citizens due protection,
after he has neglected the American
citizens in Cuba, until the president
acknowledges that many of them have
been killed and their property destroy
ed when they were on-combatants
and innocent Of all charges, is more
than 1 can understand. His course IN
this matter, especially his acquies-
cence in the butchery of American cit
liens in Cuba scarcely recommends
him to the American people. For one
I resent and detest it,
II cannot conceive" said Senator
Blanchard, that Secretary Olney
could have given utterance to the
statement attributed to him. What,
congress without the power to order the
recognition Of Cuban independence
If this authority does not exist in con-
gress, it exists nowhere. The presi-
dent cannot declare war; that rests
with congress alone. Yet, here is q
novel contention that the power which
may declare cannot recognize sover
eighty, and the power which may not
declare war can recognize sovereignty.
1t Is prepoSterous. Suppose the situa-
ton were reversed, that the president
desired to recognize Cuba and con-
gress was opposed, and that the ex-
ecutive purpose was forestahed by a
resolution of congress declaring
against recognition. CouldSthe presi-
dent issue his proclamatioHSof recog-
milton, and. If he did, what force and