The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-20
0LHEY CALLS A HALT.
Says Congress Has No Right 10 De-
clare Cuban independence.

independence Oh Cuba would he inODeru-
tive on the executive.
The Secretary's declaration is in effect
notification to Congress that the exec
utive will not be influenced by the action
of that body in its policy toward the
Cuban affair. ii also gives rise to the
bellei that so far as the present cxecu.
tive Is concerned there is no hone of the
recognition of the Independence of the
insurgents during the term of the pres.
ent administration. 1t also constitutes
direct and formidable issue between
the executive and Legislative branches of
the Government.
In the course of his statement, the Sec.
Rotary says:
II have. no objection to stating my own
view OF the question respecting the indie.
pcudencc, socalled, OF Cuba which it
is reported, is to be laid before the Senate
on Monday. Indeed, as there are likely
to he serious misupprchensions regarding
such resolution both in this country and
abroad, ami as such, apprchcDsions may
nave Injurious results of II grave chnrac-
ter, it is perhaps my duty to point out
that the resolution if passed by the SEN
ate cnn probably he regarded only as an
expression OF opinion by the eminent gen
tlcmen who vote Tor it in the Senate and
II passed by the House of Representa-
tivcS, can only be regarded rs another ex-
preston of opinion by the eminent gen
tlcmcn who vote for it in the House.
The power 30 recognize the so.called re.
PUBLIC of Cuba us an independent State
rests exclusively with the executive. \
resolution on the subject .by the Senate
or by the House. or by both bodies or bv
one whether concurrent Or joint is in
operative rs legislation ana Important
only rs advice of great weight voluntar.
lily rendered to the executive rerauliu,,
the manner in which he shall exercise.
ms constitutional functions. The oprr-
alton and effect of the proposed resolu-
tioil, therefore, even if passed by both
houses of Congress by Il two. thirds vote
are perfectly plain. Ii may raise evpec.
tntions in some quarters which can ne yer
he realized. 1t may inilnmc popular mas.
sonS both in this country ANA elsewhere.
may thus put in peril the lives and nrop.
crty oi American citizens who are resi-
dents ana travelling ubroati, and will Ger
ttlhiy obstruct and perhaps defeat the
best efforts of this Government to afford
s'cl citizens due protection. But cxcept
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 rcso..
luton will he without effect ana will
leave unaltcrcd the attitude of this Gov.
ernment toward TIE two contending par
ties in Cuba
The impression here is that Secretary
Oiney's statement pointing to the lack of
legal enect of the passage % the Cam.
croh resolution was called forth by a de-
sire to minimize the danger of an out.
break III Spain on the part of the eXcita.
bic populace which is, perhaps, more i'm.
minent than is generally realized by the
citizens in this country Nothing less
than some such emergency, it is argued.
would induce the Secretary to DEPART so
widely from his usual practice OF rcfus
ing TO comment publicly on foreign rela.
lions, particularly during the absence
from Washington of the President. or
course, the latter is committed by the
declaration of the first officer of his cabinet
to the view that Congress has no constitu.
tiohal authority to recognize the ndepen.
dence of Cuba, for anything more than
ehiS assertion OF power on his part would
he construed rs IL population of the nc.
ton OF the Secretary and would probn.
bly cause disruption of the Cabinet
or course, Secretary Olney's statement
indicates clearly that il the joint rcsolu-
zion ever passes both houses of Congress
anu is sent TO the President the latter
Will veto it, not only on the ground of
lmpolicy, but also because il 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
dc paid to the will of Congress in this
matter even if the resolution is passed
over the Presidents veto.
In this case grave conflict OF power,
of two branches of the Government might
DE expected to follow. though Just how
the issue may be made up so that it can
DE reached by the supreme court, the
arDiter OF I'LL questions of constitutional
10y, IS not clear at present. 1t is suggest
Ell, however, chat if the issue goes to that
iehSth, Congress may achieve It's pm.
pose indirectly by the exercise of Il powe.
certainly coniided to it exclusively by the
namely, by IL declaration of
war.
The pointed way in which Secretary OF.
ney expressed himself and the half sar.
castlc.tone of.his language rather took the
breath from many of The Senators and rep
resentatives and gave rise to endless dis
cussion.
Senator Chandler said that the state.
ment by Secretary Olney was cxtraordi-
nary.
Before resolution is reported from n
committee he said. before it is pass-
ed y.the Senate, before it is passed by the
House, the Secretary issues Il statement
saying if you passssit by both houses it
will be vetoed, if passed by two. thirds
majority over the veto it will be denied.