The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-01
ROYAL PREROGATIVE
II What Cleveland u Now
Reaching Out For.


- &t~0uU - ADD -
WsaAbeasy - - Cshaa ousseasa
- Rei1r1saa Hsassas.
Washsagtsc. Nay H-eenatsf M1rKan.
q the committee 81 foreign relations. and
author Of the tclat resolution recogrsEng
the existence d . state cf uay in Gaia.
and declaring the neutrality Of the United
States, vas asked today concerning tie
probability OF securing action on the reso-
luton before aetoz-cnenf. and IN reply
said:
Unless the house should act upoa Mr.
Hyce's resolution, which - Identical With
the resolution offered by me In the sen
ate. that II nov held Up IN the committee
Ga foreign relations. congress VIII prcha-
bly, d.sperse before any further action
b possible. TIE responsibility vsl doubt
less hasten the dispersion Of some sena-
torA The disposition Of the majority Of
president = responsibility that he Is evil
Gently eager 70 assume Congress has
practically ceased TO be . factor In the
government. except IN the case 81 . veto.
when the constitution permits act.oa final
" BY two-tAir1s vote Ersn this frnc-
tsoa - denied when applied 10 our foreign
political relations
For . government with coordinate DE-
partmenfs. OF which re boast, we arc max
frg . strange and rapid movement toward
re-estzhish1ng the royal prerugattvs IN the
names Of our executive a. one unccn-
troilabie power. II any British conssstu-
tfonai power was destroyed In America by
the revolution Of IFS !. was the preroga-
tive Of the crown II the president acting
alone. can substitute the entire bodv Of
the laws OF war fer the laws OF peace,
which nov govern our relations with Cuba.
ana II he can make this total revolution
OF our legal stafua. as citizens and as q
naron- binding upon Us By his prociama-
sson. II - IA vain that we abolish the pre-
negative In cur FEDERAL constitution
II the president, without the corcur-
renee Of congress. should proclaim mat
war existed In Cuba and the United States
assumes the relation % q neutral power
toward tie recognized besiiSerenrs under
the law OF nations. be would asurp a pcxer
OF the NEST dangerous character. In the
moment OF their enthusiasm for q decree
tnat would be just and humane. the peo-
pie would forgive the usIrpat.on. but the
shock II would give to our free govern
mens would lead In time to great eisas-
ter.
In the present state OF political axtta-
non In the country. II Is dangerously
apparent that q declaration of war unon
spain. or declaration OF the existence Of
. state OF war IN Cuba. made on the sole
authority OF the president. vould create
. fever OF excitement that would rsrnoy.
an other questions now under anxious dis
cussion from the minds OF the people. ana
would control the presidential election near
at hand
Il am firmly convinced the nr.s,a.,,
VII not venture on 20 DANGEROUS 4 courss
"nen congress disperses- Leaving our
resacons to this subject in their presen,
eQuivecd situation. Spain win be Al In.
erty. so Tar as our government is con-
cerned, TO pursue its accustomed course =,
obstruction OF the rights. properfv .oa
lives Of our people
war exists in Cuba and the whole woria
knows 1t; and while Spain admits its az
istence IN every act. but denies il on paner
ano IN aipiomauc way. our government
ana people are required to fndorse mi.
faisehood and TO admit that peare ~
saiis In that island They punish on,
people FOR treason. Instruction and n,r..v
with the death penalty because thew az.
charged with disturbing the penc. ara
breaking laws that are intendasf - -
serve the peace in Cuba. while peace does
not exist in the island To make the cas-.
stiii more obnoxious TO reason and puhIic
Jls'ice. spain violates her treaties with
the United States by forcing our CITIZEN,
to trial for these ofYenses before uIri.s-v
tribunals. organized to convict ana DE-
priVe them OF defense by counsel ana OF
the right TO summon witnesses In shai-
oehah, in this alleged time OF reaes 7,
the government of the United sta.ss
should declare a state Of war erfsfs !,
Cuba would use the only means that Is
legally possible 10 prevent Spain from this
insulting conduct. unless We declare war
and fight It out
After the almost unanimous declar. .ion
OF both houses OF congress that be,lieeren,
rights should be accorded to Cuba. ana
tnat war exists there, IL we disnerse WITH
out giving relief 10 our people from ,hss
situation. we can ind no excuse for aha,-
doning them 70 this dreadful fate. excent
tnat We are ready TO abdicata our power
IN favor OF the supposed power or wishes
OF the president The presidents powers
are not increased by our refusal 10 eyer
else powers that rightfuily belong 70
congress alone. or Jointly to both depar,-
ments OF the government So far as An
concerned. this Will not be done through
any want OF effort on my part.
For more than seven weeks the nrex,-
dent has known the Will OF the peonra
II that declaration is not sufficien, to give
our people security against Spanish viola
ton OF our treaties. or to impress n.
president with its soiemnity, we shouIs
not. and cannot. IN justice to Ourselves
omit to present the same facts and rom
vietfons 10 the president In a definite form
OF sctioa that he cannot refuse 10 con-
slider.
Neither Spain nor the president with
the armies and navies Of both countries.
and the aid Of the civil power given the
president under our laws, with the terrors
OF Spanish cruelty or the aid OF onr
police and the Spanish police ana III.
Pinkertons In our ports, have been shis
TO prevent the carrying of men and MS,
nsficns Of war from the United States 70
Cuba This effort has been prosecuted
with a faithfllness ard vigilance worthy
Of q better cause
Spain fully understands the cause OF our
resentments and the justice OF the ini,g-
nation OF our people. and boasts in
speeches from the throne tina. the pres.-
dent IS not In sympathy with congress or
the people; for this cause she adheres the
more savageiy to her resolution that this
shall be a war OF determination and tina,
We shall be compelled to call Il peace,
and shah refuse on that false declaratio
TO give the shelter Of the laws Of war to