Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-01
Cuba's Case May Be Affected by
Adjournment.
SENAFCR McRGAE'5 P.IHTED VIEWS
He Hints at the Growth OF a Royal
Prerogatlve IN Amsrca.
ASONS FOR ACTION


adjournment of Congress. The resolution
has not been passed upon by the committee
on foreign relations. No meeting of tie
full committee has been held since the call
of the subcommittee, consisting Of Sela-
tors Sherman, Gray and Lodge, was made
upon the President.
The facts in regard to the interview with
the President have become known. 1t is
learned that the committee ras been I'M
pressed, in its exchange OF views with the
President and the Secretary OF State. tnat
the administration is extremely anxious
that Congress should not further agItate
the Cuban question, and that a majority of
the committee is strongly inclined to the
belief that il IS better to leave the executive
TO deal with the eX.gencIcS as they drlse
from tune to time. 1t Is also stated upon
what appears to be good authority, that
the President declared to the committee
that ne prelerreI al absolute deo.1raIlU.-
OF independence for Cuba TO a recognition
can be learned, express any intention Of
taxing such position if left to deal with
the question alone, but Indicated that if the
United States should formally assume any
attitude on the subject, this would be the
most consistent and the most effective in
promoting the interests of the Cubans.
senator Morgan Not Content.
Senator Morgan is said not to be content
to leave the question untouched by Con-
gress, and it IS believed that he will press
his resolution with persistence at the next
meeting of the committee, with the view,
If possible. of getting an expression before
adjournment.
The agitation of the question has led to
the discovery that the Cushing Callantes
protocol, under which this government is
supposed TO have claimed the protection of
the Americans on the Competitor was never
ratified by the Senate. Some of the MEN,
beTS of the committee on foreign relations
claim that this defect renders the protocol
invalid and will demand that the facts in
this connection be investigated
Senator Morgan said today, in reference
to the probability of adjournment without
action: Unless the House should act upon
Mr.. Hyde's resolution, which is identical
with mine, that is now held up in the COM
mittee OF foreign relations. Congress will
probably dispense before any further action
Is possible That responsibility will doubt
less hasten the dispersion of some Senator's
The disposition of the majority of the Sem
ate committee is to deyolve upon the Pres
ident a responsibility that ne is evidently
ca ger to assume. Congress has practically
ceased to be factor in the government, cx-
Cept in the case of a veto, when the Consti-
tuition permits it to act finally by two
thirds vote. Even this function is denied
when it is applied to our foreign political
relations.
a Royal Preroeative.
For government with three co-ordi-
nate departments, of which We boast we
are making a strange and rapid movement
toward re-establishing the royal preroga-
tive in the hands of our executive as an
uncomfortable power. If any British con-
stitutiOnal power was destroyed in America
by the revolution of 1716 it was the pre-
roeative Of the crown. If the President.
acting alone, can substitute the entire body
OF the laws of war for the laws of peace
which now govern our relations with Cuba
and II he can make this total revolution of
oUr legal status as citizens and as a ma
ton binding upon US by his proclamation
1t is ia vain that We abolished the royal
prerog1ttve in our federal constitution.
IF the President, without the concur
renee of Congress, should proclaim that
war exists in Cuba and that the United
states assumes the attitude of neutral
power toward the recognized belligerents
under the laws of nations. he would usurp
a power of the most dangerous character
In the moment Of their enthusiasm for
decree that would be so Just and so hu-
name the people would forgive the usurpa-
ton, but the shock 1t would give to our
free government would lead in time to
great disaster In the present state of
political agitation in the country 1t Is dam
gerOusly apparent that a declaration of
war with Spain or a declaration of the
existence of a state of war in Cuba made
on the sole authority of the President.
would create a fever of excitement in the
country that would remove all other uues-
tons now under anxious discussion from
the minds of the people and would con-
troll the presidential election near at hand
Congress Must Be Consulted.
Our domestic government Is not a proper
subject of control by our foreign rela-
tons, and no declaration that a state of
war exists in our country or elsewhere
should or can be made until the depart
ment that cnacts our domestic laws is
first consulted. IT, after such a declaration
by the proclamation of the President. Con-
gresS should refuse TO make appropriations
TO sustain the movement, il goes without
SAVING that state. of anarchy would
Il am firmly convinced that the Presf-
dent will not venture on so dangerous a
course when Congress disperses, leaving
our relations TO tbs subject in their pres
ent equiVOcdl situation. Spain will be at
liberty, so far as our government Is con-
cer2cd to pursue its accustomed course
OF summary destruction of the rights.
property and lives of our people. This is
the liberty that Spain has taken with orr
people in all her wars in Cuba, when any
preteXt could be found. however false or
unjust, for such conduct.
w ar exists in Cuba. and the whole world
knows 1t, and, while Spain admits its ex-
lstcnce and threatening magnitude in every
act. but denies 1t on paper and in a dip
tomato way, our government AMI peopla
are required 10 lndOrSe this falSshOOd and
10 admit that peace prevails in that island
We are required to deny 10 our people the
pro; ectiOn of the laws of nations applica-
bic 10 state of war that Spain may ex-
erc.Se over them the power OF punishment
W der municipal laws, that can only be I'm
force against them In time of peace They
punish our people for treason Instruction
and piracy with the death penalty, because
they are charged with disturbing the
peace and breaking the laws that are in
tended to preserve the peace in Cuba
while peace does not exist in the island
but the whole country is in arms and en-
gagged in universal war.
No Excuse for Non-Actiou.
After the almost unanimous declaration
of both houses of Congress that belligersnt
rights should be accC rded to Cuba and that
war exists there, If We dispense without
giving relief to our people from this situa
ton, We car find no excuse for abandoning
them to this dreadful fate. except that we
are ready TO abdicate our power in favor
Ct The supposed power or wishes of the
President The Presidents powers are not
increased by our refusal to exercise DOW
ers that righuully belong to Congress
alone or Jointly 10 both departments of the
government. So far as / am concerned
TINS VIII not be done through any want of
effort on my part.
For more than seven weeks the Presi-
dent has known the will of Congress which