Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-12-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
A Newsy Epitome From the Seat
of Government.

great danger that the merits of the
Cuban question will be entirely
overlooked in the wrangle that is
likely to follow the extraordinary
position taken by Secretary Olney,
that Congress has nothing to do
with the recognition of anew state,
the power being vested in the Presi-
dent alone. Mr. Olney first publicly
took this position in u discussion
with the Senate Committee on For
eign relations, before that committee
had decided to report the Cameron
resolution for the recognition of the
independence of Cuba. After the
Committee had decided TO report the
resolution today, Mr.. Olney went a
great deal further, by making n
statement through the Press Asso.
Citations, saying in effect that the
President would veto the resolution
if it was adopted and that even if it
were then readopted by the consti-
tutional two thirds of both branches
of Congress he would ignore it and
treat it simply as the personal opin-
ions of those who voted for it. If it
were not that this administration
had such a short time to run there
is reason to believe that if Mr.. Cleve-
land dared to maintain this position
the country would see another inn
parchment trial in the United
State Senate, and even as it is it
may lead to serious trouble This
question is higher than party poll
tics or than the Cuban question. If
the President has the constitutional
right to override two-thirds of Con-
gress, which may be considered as
fairly representative of the people,
it is time that the people knew it, in
order that this enormous power,
greater than that possessed by the
crowned heads of most of the
world limited monarchies, may be
curtailed by a constitutional amend
ment before some unscrupulous
President uses it to destroy our
Government
1t is hardly probable, however,
that this question will get before the
United States Supreme Court for
settlement in connection with the
Cameron resolution, for the very
simple reason that the Cameron re-
solution is not likely to be adopted
by both branches of Congress, not
withstanding it's having received the
endorsement of the following emin-
ent gentlemen, who compose the
Senate Foreign Committee: Sher-
man, of Ohio Frye, of Me-, Lodge,
of Mass, Cameron, of Pa, Davis,
of Mimi, Cullom, of ILL.,, Gray, of
Del, Turpie, of Ind, Mills, of Texas
and Morgan, of Ala, Daniel, of Va.
is also a member of the committee,
but he was not present at the meet
ing and says he has not made up his
mind whether he will support the
resolution or not. The resolution
will almost certainly be adopted by
the Senate, probably by more than
a two-thirds vote, if it be seriously
pushed that far, but if expressions
of leaders of the House count for
anything, it will never reach a vote
in that body. Gen. Henderson, of
Iowa, voiced this sentiment when
he said 1--WE are not going to have
war The Cameron resolution has
not passed, and l don't believe in
encouraging this war talk. We
have had enough agitation already,
and we don't want our business in
terests again interrupted by talk of
war or by actual war" 1t is the
impression in Washington that by
the time Congress reassembles, the
country will have made it so plain
that it wants neither a war nor a
war scare that the resolution will
not be pushed.
1t was brought out by questions
of Senators during Secretary Olney's
unsuccessful attempt to persuade
the Senate Committee into following
Mr. Cleveland s policy towards Cuba
that the administration has received
much credit to which it was not en-
titled, by reason of misstatements in
the newspapers as to demands it
has from time to time made on
Spain in behalf of American citizens
For instance, Secretary Olney ad.
mitted that this Government had nc
demand upon Spain in the case of the
alleged filibuster Competitor, and
others of a similar character, be-
yond mere requests for information.