New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20
~ rr1rsRAPu TO THE TRIeuNE.l

CONSTITUTIONAL 0UES-
TlON RAISED.
,v rr1EsRApu TO THE TRIsuNE.l
,,-to, Dec 19-The action of the Senate
-,,,,os on Foreign Relations yesterday in
, % renort the Cameron resolution in spite
r.~s+arv Olney's vehement and forcible pro-
..;o,s seems TO have been taken by the Al
liberation as a direct challenge OF its exclusive
",rer and competency 10 conduct the foreign
..,o,ons OF the United States; and Mr.. Olney
.o.aav in speaking unquestionably after con-
srat,on by telegraph With the President, VINO Is
.,m engaged shooting ducks In South Caro-
~. ,ssued a counter challenge of contempt and
y s.so,ca 20 both Houses Of Congress, which. out
ISr,sa the stormy period of Andrew Johnson's Ad-
n,,,,s,ration has probably no parallel in Ameri-
can politics
dropping his usual manner of official reserve
nd diplomatic reticence. the secretary OF state
\ go 70 the press this afternoon the following
ev,raordinary interview in which the purpose
- the President to disregard any and all efforts
., the part of Congress TO commit the Govern
mont to a policy OF intervention in Cuba and
,ogri,,on of the Cuban Republic is asserted
.,b the utmost candor and emphasis. Even Il
.ssed and again repassed by two-thirds ma
,or,tv in each House, the Cameron resolution Is
n he held by the President says Secretary Vi
,ev as no more valid i'll law or binding IN erect
than q declaration by Congress of its private
,,ows on a subject wholly without its sphere or
legislative jurisdiction.
SECRETARY OLNEY'S STATEMENT
Here is Mr. Olneys statement:
81 have no objection TO stating my o"" VIZ"
q, the resolution respecting the independence oi
,he so-called Republic Of Cuba which. II IS re-
nored is to be laid before the Senate on No"-
1av Indeed as there are likely to oe serious
,nsanprehcnsions regarding such resou'ioh' oo'''
IN This country and abroad. and as such apP'e
h.ns;o,s may have injurious results of grave
character It is perhaps my duty 10 po'"' 'u'
that the resolution ii passed by the Senate can
rrobably be regarded only as an expressio" VI
on,nion by the eminent gentlemen who vote ior
I, IN the senate. and If passed by the House OF
representatives can only be regarded as an
other EXPRESSION Of opinion 10y the eminent gen
uenlen who vote for 1t in the House
THE power to recognize the so-called fepuDl'
Of cuba as an independent State rests exclusive
~ with the Executive. resolution on the SUD
isct by the Senate or by the House, ny po''
bodes or by one. whether concurrent or JoNh''
IS .sinoperatlve as legislation, and Is important OH!
as advice of great weight voluntarily rendered 10
the Executive regarding the manner in when
ne shall exercise his Constitutional functions
''Ine operation anu tHcNt VI l'ir b4'i'H~N 49,
luticn. therefore. even II passed by both houses
Of Congress by a two-thirds vote. are perfectly
plain 1t may raise expectations in some quar-
,ers which can never be realized 1t nay nfame
nonular passions both In this country and else
where may thus put in peril the lives and prop
ertv Of American citizens who are resident
and travelling abroad. and will certainty op-
etruct and perhaps defeat the best efforts OF th's
Government to afford such citizens due protec-
ton But except in these ways, ana uniess 'he
advice embodied in the resolution shall LEAD inc
Executive TO revise conclusions already reached
and officially declared, the resolution VIII De
without effect and will leave unaltered the atti-
tude Of this Government toward the two con-
tending parties in Cuba"
THE ISSUE SHARPLY PRESENTED.
No more direct and pointed issue could be
raised with Congress 10 its right TO comm,
the Government to any given course OF olpio-
matte policy: nor could the denial TO the iegls-
letve branch Of even the smallest participation
In the management Of the country's foreign re-
laons we'll be blunter or more offensive. mat
theyirnit to Congressional jurisdiction ana au-
thority summarily set by Secretary .olhey VIII
be accepted by Congress itself without serious
oppdhton seems hardly likely Yet Congress
has inrecent years submitted TO so many pointed
and shown so few signs Of either the capacity
or the spirit TO avenge repeated affronts put
lupon:t by the Chief Executive. that 1t may not
evensnow be able to screw its courage TO the
sticking point long enough to test the validity
Of the principle laid down by Secretary Olney
that Congressional opinion on any matter OF
foreign policy even II embodied In the form OF a
Joint resolution is hardly worth the parchment
is engrossed upon.
That Mr. Cleveland should promptly resent
the Indirect condemnation Of his own CUBAN
policy implied in the adoption OF the Cameron
resolution, and hasten to express his indiHer-
ence TO the wishes views OF Congress, coufd
not be surprising TO any one who has noted the
attitude of the present Chief Magistrate toward
the legislative branch ever since he uttered his
historic complaint about having Congress on
bic hands" In Mr.. Cleveand's eyes Congress
has never been anything but body OF In
tactable. self-see1ing and hopelessy unpatri-
oic politicians whose sole design was to frus-
rate the benefcent plans Of a virtuous and
enlightened Executive.
OPEN BREAK WITH CONGRESS.
Congress, has had neither his confidence nor
his regard His foreign policy has been a secret
and furtive one from the Hawaiian episode |
down; and from the earliest stages OF the de-
velopment OF his tariff and financial programme
he has failed TO seek or to find any but per-
mnc;ory and half-hearted support from his own
party In either house. That In the end ne shoud
break entirely with the legislative department.
ana announce that It's declarations OF Foreign
policy would be bruJhed aside as OF absolutely
no Official weight or value. whatever form they
might take whatever majoritles they have be-
nnd them. shows that only the occasion was
needed to push the assertion Of mis- unconceaied