The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-24
What Will Congress Do About Cuba

Some time before Congress adjourned IL
pissed a concurrent resolution declaring
that, in the Judgment of both Houses, the
time had come to recognize the Cubans as
belligerents. 1t was pointed out Mt the
time hat the resolution, being concur,
rent instead of g" joint" in form, would
probably elicit no response from the Presi-
dent, inasmuch as 1t has become a sort of
custom to treat y concurrent resolution as
Que that does not necessarily require notice
on tie part OF the Executive. There is no
warrant to- such a distinction in the Con-
stitution, which says CART. l, sec. z, clause
81: Every order. resolution, or vote TO
which the concurrence of the Senate
ant House of Representatives may be neces-
asy, shall be presented to the President of
the United States and, before the same shall
take effect, shall be approved by him; or,
being d~isapprovcd by him, shall be repassed
by ~two-thirds OF the Senate ana House OF
Representatives according to the rules and
Limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. -
We ourselves believe that the distinction
made by Mr.. CLEVELAND and some of his
predecessors between concurrent and joint
resolutions is unwarranted, and that, in
making it, he and they nave violated the
Constitution which they swore to observe.
BE that as it may, the resolution in favor
Of recognizing the belligerency of the Cuban
revolutionists was passed by very large ma
j~orities in both Houses of Congress, and it
undoubtedly reflected the wishes OF the
American people. Except upon the ridicu-
lous assumption that Mr.. C~LEvELAND's
wishes and opinions are OF more conse-
quence than those of the nation who's SER
want be is, it is difficult to account for his
refusal to heed the resolution. The silent
contempt with which he has seen fit to
treat it is an insult to the Federal legisla-
:ure, and, unless in his annual message he
gives a satisfactory explanation of his con-
duct in the matter, it will be the duty OF
Congress to bring him sharply to book.
That is n duty which Congress owes to
Its own Dignity, and the American
people will expect 20 see it discharged.
1t is also a duty which Congress owes in
the name OF humanity to tie Cuban repub-
lie, which, against the whole power of Spain,
has made good its title to an independent
existence. More than eight months have
now elapsed since the senate and House of
Representatives averred that the Cuban
revolutionists had fought we'll enough and
long enough to deserve belligerent rights.
What was true then Is doubly true to-day.
The Cuban generals GOMEZ and GARCIA
move at will through the western and
central parts of the island, and Gen.
ANTONIO MACEo holds his ground in
Pinar del Rio. With the exception of
the force now led by Captain General
WEYLER against the last-named Cuban
commander, no Spaniards dare to show
themselves outside of the scaports and IA
few fortified places in the interior. There
are as strong reasons for acknowledging not
merely the belligerency but even the indie
pendence of Cuba, as JAMES MONROE had
for acknowledging the independence Of
Peru, for. when he performed that act, the
Spaniards held possession of Lima, OF
Callao, and Of all the principal towns on the
Peruvian coast. There are stronger grounds
than Franc had for assisting the United
States in that dismal winter when WASH
IEGToS, with the remnant of the CONT
mental army, lay half famished and half
frozen at Valley Forge.
IL is barely possible that Mr.. CLEVELAND
can give satisfactory reasons for the gross
Lack Of respect for Congress OF which he has
Been guilty in the matter of the Cuban reso-
luton. 1t will he we'll for him II he can do
this, for otherwise the American people will
demand that lie be fittingly rebuked. 1t
will be the business Of Senators and Repre-
sentatives to teach him that he cannot in
suit the Congress with %impunity.