Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-23
EXECUTIVE rnEnoGArrvEs


EXECUTIVE rRERoGNTINES.
Kansas city star Mr. Garland, attorney
gencr9l during the first administration OF
President Cleveland, and MIR. Miller, at
turnCy general under CN-prCsidCnt Harrison,
support the view Of Mir Olney that the right
to recognize the independence Of Cuba rests
with the executive and not with congress.
II may be said that MIR. Oucy did not
manifest as much discretion as might have
been desired in giving out his interview,
but his position seems to be supported by
! excellent authority.
Chicago Tribune The inspired interview
sent out by Secretary Olney, in which he
takes the position that neither he nor the
! president will take any notice of the Cam
/ er0n resolution, even II II should pass
! both houses and that the relations between
the Spanish and United States governments
| will remain as thcy are now, is an Insult TO
| congress. aud should he treated by that
| body with the contempt and scorn 1t de-
serves II Cleveland intends to play the
! role of c2ar he should be mpcached, ani his
| premier also This country is not ready yet
to be ruled by a king or emperor The
people are not in a mood for monarchy
Chicago Times-Ucrald: The probability
| is that the secretary of state has gone a
| step further than his calmer judgment WouIi
! Justify His indignation over the unWiso
! and puerile delvsrance of the iortlEn a.
The country shares that Indignation. No
| doubt he is dsgusted with this congress as
| a whole. The country shares that disgust
! lie recognizes that congress Is playing with
| fire and naturally tries to minimize the
| danger by assuring The country and the world
that the executive will not lose his head
| because congress does, His purpose is good,
although his methods may be mistaken.
indianapolis Journal: The truth is, the
present claim of congress is an attempt to
! arrogate to itself a power not conferred ny
| the constitution and which is clearly eN-
! ecutive in its nature. II is not to- be sup
posed that congress means to be guilty oil
usurpatiun of authority, but its present
| attitude is none the less one OF aggression.
! The sphere and functions of the executive
| department of the government are as clearly
| defined as are those Of the legislative, and
| congress has no more right to interfere with
the functions of the executive than the presi-
| dent has to interfere with those OF con
gress. The journal is of the opinion that
Secretary Olney Is right.
Cincinnati Tribune: As the situation eN-
lists at present. we have the executive deny
ing the plain authority Of congress IN one
of the most monertous duties which may
eyer deyolve upon it, and we also behold
the spectacle of the executive asSurlnh
another nation that no matter what DEGREES
may he uttered by the sovereign congress
he will see that they are not put into ehect.
c,cb condition can not endure The
question of the recognition OF cuban inde,
peudence may be debatabie, but the denial
by the executive Of the powers OF congress
aud his threat to nullify and make them
imperative must not go unanswered. Con
gress with all due propriety, must assert
ani maintain its rights
Chicago Post: AS to the merits of the
case. enough hes already been said on the
subject by eminent scholars to indicate that
wide differences of opinion exist and that
DFThaul 1Oum1tip announcements are
unwarranted. The courts have never dI-
rectly dealt with the point, and constitu-
tiOnal writer's are at variance. We are
inclined to think that technically the sec
rotary is right but we do not fail to recog-
nize the force of the claim that the priyil-
ege TO recognize beliSerency or inde-
pendence is included in the broader right
to declare war. At all events there is no
occa SION for any excitement, and there Is
no evidence that anybody is excited out
side of little circle OF martial politicians
at Washington.
St. Louis Republic: But as Judge Cooley
| points out, the recognition of beiligeTencG
! is impossible unless there is governments
| in existence. maintaining itself aud enforc-
| ing its authority. AS the means of gaining
| Information with regard to such govern
| lCnt and OF Judging Of its validity are
wholly within the province OF the eN-
| oautive, it is practically true that the
| power of final action rests with him. Tc
| mpeach him for dsrCgarding joint resolu-
! tions OF congress passed over his veto II
| would be necessary to clearly prove that hu
| had ignored the existence of an effective de
| lacto government. As long, therefore as
the Cuban Insurgents lack a stable govern
muut with which the president can establish
! relations congressional resolutions will be
mere expressions of opinion and advice.
Cacago Inter Ocean There can be ony
| Cne Interpretation of this clause When
joint resolution is passed 1t has the effect
| OF law by direct approval Of the president
| or by Tepassage over his veto by a twO-thirds
| majority of bath houses We are loath to
| believe that Secretary Olncy is willing to
risk tho consequences of placing the presi-
| dent in exactly the attitude toward congress
| hat the late King Charles |. of England
| held to Parliament. II is more probable
| hat the secretary is "thunderng in the in
| deX," with intent to fright-n certain losisla-
| ,ors. If this be true his act simply is i'm
pertinent. If it is true that his stand i.
hat of an officer Of state who advises tie
president TO act as a dictator regardless OF
| the provisions OF the constitution, th5n hia
| position is heinously criminal
Minneapolis Tribune: If congress is de-
,5rmned upon a fight il has one recourse
- can declare war. That is It's unquestionsd
| constitutional prer0gative. And II would
| be tha more manly course to take II v,
| are going 10 fight we should not bring il
| about by nagging Spain and giving her he
| CptiCn of choosing her own time for IN.
precipitation Of The conflict, but we should
! choose our own tine and be in a position e
strike the first blow. King John, when hc
sent his defiance to France, said to the
French messenger:
BE thou as lightning in the eyes of France;
For ere thou cnnst report | shall be there.
The thunder of MY cannon shall bc heard;
So hence!
That would be the businegsike way for
congress TO declare war. But why declare
war? At this junCture there appears to
| be no reasonable justification for it,
THE NOBEL FARMS.