Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-20
OLNFY On CUBA,

The opinion OF Secretary-of-state
Olney. thst the President has the right
10 ignore the Cameron joint resolution,
recognizing The independence Of Cuba,
and that s.ould he veto it. and should
Congress pass it over his veto by a
two-thirds vste. it would not have the
force and efsct Of law is Numerically
opposed to II. popular view of the sub
ject This latter view. which is shared
by many lawyers OF ability, is we take
Il. based O, clause 3 of section
Z Of the Constitution, and the am
plifcation thereof in section 2oi of the
Revised Statutes; which authorities
would certainly seem TO put all joint
resolutions in the same category with
bills.
Mr.. Olney however. contends, in effect,
that the question of recognizing the in
dependence Of a State involves an ex-
ception 10 this rule. The power, he says,
10 recognize the so-cailed Republic Of
Cuba as an Independent state rests solely
with the President.
Mr.. Olney may be right. Indeed. 1t is
fair TO assume that he is right. He is
good constitutional lawyer. and would
hardly have given an opinion publicly
on so grave a matter unless he was
certain that he was speaking by the
card. Besides, it would appear unques-
tionable that lie is sustained by pre-
cedent, seeing taat the recognition here
tofore by this country Of the indie
pendence of any State has. it is claimed
been the act Of the President alone.
Furthermore. il is earnestly to be hoped
for the business interests of the country
that Mr.. Olney is standing on sure
ground. AS much as we differ with Mr..
Cleveland regarding his course anent
some other questions. we would be glad
10 know that he has the power to pre-
vent the Cameron resolution from be-
coming operative, for the present at least.
But, whether he has such power or not
we are glad that Mr.. Olney raised the
question. The discussion Of 1t will give
the LIMOGES time in which TO moderate
their zeal, consummation devoutly TO
be wished; and the very fact that there
is a doubt about the matter, coupled with
MIR. Cleveland's Cuban policy, as an
nounced In his message. is calculated to
prevent Spain from taking any step that
would further incense the people Of this
country.
Not that we do not sympathize with
the Cuban patriots, end not that we
would not have the Uu.ted States take
prompt and summary action touching the
Cuban issue should The national honor
and the integrity of the Monroe doctrine
uemand that we do so. But we ought 10
he sure we are right before we go ahead
II seems 10 be generally accepted that
Mr.. Cleveland's Cuban policy was in
.nired by the observations in Cuba OF
General Fitzhugh Lee. our Consul-Gene-
raj at Habana. II is to be supposed that
both the Consul-GenerSl and the Presi-
6a-+ studied the Cuban situation In all
~ tfr lights. and that they did not reach
<heir conclusions hastily. Any action
on the part OF Congress that would pro-
vokc spain 20 declare war against this
country. or cause Spain to assume an at
titude that would compel us TO declare
war against her, ought TO be capable OF
thorough justification. Nothing has oc
CURED in connection with the Cuban is
sue since the Presidents message was
lad before Congress that would afford
that Justification.