The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-06-01
AMERICANS IN CUBA.
Senator Morgan Discusses the
Need of Recognition.
SPANS DISREGARD OF TREATIES

She Violates Them by Forcing Our Clti-
zens to stand Trial by Military Tribunals
When, According to Spanish Contention,
No State of War Exists.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-Scnator Morgan, |
If the senate committee on foreign rela- |
tions, and author Of the joint resolution |
recognizing the existence of a state of war
in Cuba and declaring the neutrality Oi
the United States, was asked concerning |
the probability of securing action upon
the resolution before adjournment, and in /
reply said
"Unless the house should act upon Mr. |
Hyde's resolution, which is identical with |
the resolution offered by me in the senate, |
that is now held up in the committee of
foreign relations congress will probably |
disperse before any further action is pos
sible. That responsibility will doubtless
hasten the dispersion of some senators.
The disposition of the majority of the sem
ate committee is to devolve upon the pres
ident responsibility that Ae is evidently
eager to assume CongrEss has practic-
ally ceased to be a factor in the govern
ment, except in the case where 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.
For government with three co-or-
dinate departments of which we boast
we are making a strange and rapid
movement towards re-establishing the
royal prerogative in the hands of our eX-
ecutive as an uncomfortable power. If any
British constitutional power was destroyed
in America by the revolution of 1776 it
was the prerogative 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 if he can make this total
| revolution relegate statutes rs citizens and
as a nation binding upon us by his proc
lamation, it is in vain that we abolished
| the royal prerogative in our federal consti-
tuition.
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 n neutral
power towards 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 a
decree that would be so just and so hui
name, the people would forgive ;he usurpa-
ton, but the shock it would give to our
free government would lead in time tC
great disaster, In the present state of po'
litical agitation in the country it is dan
gerously apparent that declaration of
war with Spain or n declaration of the eX-
istence of state of war in Cuba made on
the sole authority of the president, would
create a fever Of excitement in the coun-
try that would remove all other questions
now under discussion from the mines of
the people, and would control the presiden-
tial election near at hand.
'I am firmly conGinced that the presi-
dent will not venture on so dangerous a
course when congress disperses, leaving
our relations to this subject in their pres
ent equivocal situation. Spain will be at
liberty, so far as our government is con
cerned, to pursue its accustomed course OF
summary destruction of the rights, prop
erty and lives of our people,
''War exists in Cuba, and the whole
world knows it, and while Spain admit
its existence in every act, but denies it OF
paper and in diplomatic way, our gov,
ernment and people are required to in
dorse this falsehood and TO admit tina
peace prevails in that island. They puntsl
our people for treason, insurrection ant
piracy with the death penalty becaus
they are charged with disturbing the peac
and breaking the laws that are intende'
to preserve the peace in Cuba, while peac
does not exist in the island.
J 'To make the case still more obnoxiou
to reason and public justice Spain violate
her treaties with the United States b.
l forcing our citizens to trial for these OF
fenses before military tribunals, organ
L lied to convict and deprive them of dc
fense by counsel and of the right to sun
mon witnesses in their behalf In this a.
: legged time of peace If the governments
y the United States should declare that
state of war exists in Cuba it would us
the only means that is legally possible t
prevent Spain from this insulting COZ
duct, unless we declare war and fight
out
For more than seven weeks the pres
dent has known the will of congress, whic
expresses, constitutionally the will of tn
people. If that declaration is not sufficien
to give our people security against Spanis
barbarity in violation of our treaties, or t
impress the president with its sOlemnity
we should not and cannot in justice t.
ourselves omit to present the same fact
and convictions to the president in ded
mite form of action that he cannot refus
TO consider"