Middletown transcript., 1896-12-26

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\M,A will be entirely
- y SWAES overlooked in the
Y NFM wrangle that is
W HllhA likely to follow
Dd IA the extraordinary
II "A W position taken by
! ~ ! Secretary Olney,
that Congress has nothing to do with
the recognition Of new state, the
power being vested in the Pres
ident alone. Mr. Olney first
publicly took this position in a dis
cussion with the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations, before that CON-
mittee had decided to report the Cam
eron resolution for the recognition of
the independence of Cuba. After
the Committee had decided to re-
port the resolution to-day, Mr.. Olney
went a great deal further, by making
statement through the Press Associa-
tions, saying in effect that the Presi-
dent would veto the resolution if it
was adopted and that even if it were
then readopted by the constitutional
two-thirds of both branches of Congress
he would ignore it and treat it simply
as the personal opinions of those who
voted for it. If it were not that this
administration had such a short time
to run there is reason to believe that if
Mr.. Cleveland dared to maintain this
position, the country would see
another impeachment trial in the U. S.
Senate, and even as it is it may lead TO
serious trouble. This question is higher
than party politics or than the Cnb,.n
question. If the President has the con-
stitutional right to override two-thirds
Of Congress, which may be conside cred
as fairly representative Of the people,
it is time that the people knew it, in
order that this enormous power,
greater than that possessed by the
crowned heads of most of the worlds
limited monarchies, may be curtailed
by constitutional amendment before
some unscrupulous President uses it to
destroy our Government.
1t is hardly probable, however, that
this this question will get before the
U. s. Supreme Court for settlement in
connection with the Cameron resolu-
tion, for the very simple reason that
the Cameron resolution is not likely to
be adopted by both branches of Con-
gress, Notwithstanding its having re-
ceived the endorsement Of the follow
ing eminent gentlemen, Who compose
the Senate Foreign Committee: Sher-
man, Of Ohio; Frye, of Me-; Lodge of
Mass; Cameron, of Pa; Davis, of
Minn.; Cullom, of ILL.,; Gray, of DEL;
Turpie, of Ind. Mills, of Texas; and
Morgan, of Ala. Daniel, of Va, is
also member of the committee, but
he was not present at the meeting and
says he has not made up his mind
whether he will support the resolution
or not. The resolution will almost
certainly be adopted by the Senate,
probably by more than a two-thirds
vote, if it be seriously pushed that far,
but if expressions of leaders of the
House count for anything, it will
never reach a vote in that body. Gen.
Henderson, Of Iowa, voiced this senti--
ment whtn he said: 1--WE are not
going to have war. The Cameron reso-
luton has not passed, and don't be-
lieve in encouraging this war talk. We
have had enough agitation already,
and we don't want our business inter-
ests again interrupted by talk of war
or by actual war;" 1t is the impression
in Washington that by the time Con-
gress reassembles, the country would
have made it SO plain that it wants
neither war nor war scare that the
resolution will not be pushed.
1t was brought out by questions of
Senators during Secretary ,Olney's un-
successful attempt to persuade the
Senate COMMITTEES into following Mr..
Cleveland's policy towards Cuba that
the administration has received much
credit to which it was not entitled, by
reason of misstatements in the news
papers as to demands it has from time
to time made on Spain in behalf of
American citizens. For instan ce, Sec
retary Olney admitted that this Gov
had made no demand upon
Spain in the case Of the alleged filihus-
ter Competitor, and Others of a similar
,h aracter, beyond mere requests for in
formation. This will doubtless greatly |
shock the individuals who only q short
lime ago stopped over to the extent Of |
writing communications to the paper
advocating Olney's appointment as |
President McKinley's Secretary Of |
:tate, because of his intense Ameri- |
,anism. His "intense America nism''
seems to be, like Lii Hung Changes con-
7ersation, mostly interrogation points.
Among the bills passed by the
House was one appropriating S100, 900.
for Government participation in the
Tennessee Centennial to be held at