New-York tribune., 1896-12-27
PHELPS SUSTAINS OLNEY.
HE ASSERTS THAT RECOGNITION is AN
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION
HIS OPINION ALSO is THAT THERE Is no Gov
FRNMENT IN CJ'BA EXCEPT THAT WHICH
SLAIN Is TRYING To MAINTAIN

HIS OPINION ALSO is THAT THERE Is no Gov
rRNMrNr IN crBA ExCErr THAT WHICH
SPAIN is TRYING To MAINTAIN.
burlington, VT, Dec. 26.-E. ]. Phelps ex-
pressed himself last night on the Cuban ques-
ton as follows:
Il have no doubt that the position of Secre-
tarv Olney. as recently published. is entirely
correct. The question what Govern ment shali
he recognized in a country where an attempt at
revolution is in progress is certainly for the
Executive to determine. and not for Congress
No legislation by that body can. under the
Constitution. decide 1t They can OF course
pass resolutions upon the subject if they please
But they in no respect control the discretoh
or the action of the President.
Resides no Government be recognized
until ii exists The Government recognized by
other Governments when a dispute IN respect
70 II exists is always the dc facto Government"
The recognition by other nations or GOVERN
,nent once in existence must always continue
until it is actually subverted and a new one
mt in its place. When it is overthrowh an"
another established. that becomes entitled TO
recognition
The rebels in Cuba have no organized GOV
eminent. and not even an abiding place which
tho can call their own They are merely d
euerilla force which would speedily be anhlh-
1otea if II allowed itself to be drawn into a
c,,oral engascmcnt wiki the much superior
snarish army. 1t preserves It's existence "y
So dcxtoritv IN avoiding such an engagement
7, would be absurd 10 say that such iorce
Constitutes a Government. or that the spanish
Government in Cuba has been oNerthro"h "'
that any diplomatic relations could exist pe-
,veen these rebels and the Government or the
United States 1900 +, that
~ this country interferes by arms IN ,"a' az
contest il must be by assisting The rep"iioh u,
cuba to displace the Spanish Government EN- anu anu
"a set up another. This would ne Gee 1'l'"
- war against Spain. a country WIN Ni'iCn w
ere and always have been at peace ana rom
which we have received no injury ana no prove
cation II would be q gross and utterly uhJuSu-
Nahle violation Of international law "hlch no
country can afford to perpetuate IN 'he 'Hc'
Of the world. ,., 80 .ha+
IT would in my Judgment, he fatai 10 ina,
restoration of business prosperity Wnlch IL 'oN
our most vital necessity. and which haS peeh
so long postponed that il cannot pe huch lo"sci
delav,d without the most serious consequences
We cannot afford to 20 to war with any coun-
IVY at This time unless war should be lorced
mon us in self-def ence. which would Ire grave
calamity and OF which there is happily no oah-
Ger we need above all things. rest ana pea''
and opportunity to attend TO our own aI.@.i an
ithOllt the interruption OF constant i'ai'i' an"
alarm set on foot and kept up 'y reckless '%ol- %
rressional and political astators. me 'nle
has come in my opinion, when neeuS 10 "0
da,ernoined whether the interests OF TINS couil-
trv are TO he controlled by the men VINO make
its noise or by those who do its work.