The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-05
His Duty Is to Obey.

The continued re-iteration. appar-
emily by authority, that the president
will make no move in the interest OF
the Cuban insurgents because he has
given q secret pledge to the Spanish
government of non-interference pend
Ing the result of the present military
campaign in Cuba, is beginning to jar
upon the public mind. While 1t may
rest within the constitutional province
of the chief executive Of the United
States to conclude. without the knowl-
edge Of congress, star-chamber alli-
ances with foreign governments. such
q policy is nevertheless odious and re-
pugnant. 1t does manifest violence to
the principles of our government and
is entirely too suggestive Of the Gus
toms Of imperial absolutism to prove
acceptable to a nation Of peers.
1t may please Mr.. Cleveland to re-
gard this nation as a turbulent people.
which needs the curb Of a strong-willed
ruler. Doubtless the speech in which
Mr.. Bayard affirmed as much was a
welcome tribute to his self-esteem. His
actions in many episodes give plausibil-
lty to this conjecture. But If this Is
his conception of the presidential func-
tion, 1t is not the opinion which obtains
among the masses Of the people, and it
Is signally alien to the best traditions
Of the government. Whether the point
at issue be the attempted suppression
pf free government in Hawaii or the
merits Of barbarous attempt by q
relentless foreign nation to subjugate
the long-abused inhabitants Of Cuba,
the conclusion Of the people in either
case Is that Mr.. Cleveland Is their SER
want, not their master: and that 1t is
his duty to hearken to their voice and
not try to bend their wills to his.
The American people, through their
representatives in congress. have spok-
subject Of the present insurrection in
Cuba, and their practically unanimous
opinion Is that the aid of this govern
ment should be extended to the strug
Cling Cuban patriots to the utmost
limits consistent with our proper obser-
vance Of the laws of nations. This ex-
preston of opinion should have for
Mr.. Cleveland the practical force of u
command. 1t Is not his place to say
whether his countrymen have spoken
wisely or unwisely. He is their SER
want, paid by them to execute their
sovereign will. Any private contracts,
pledges or obligations which he may
have made without the concurrence of
the immediate representatives of the
people should be regarded as null and
void the moment the people clearly
and firmly indicate that different pol
icy Is their desire
If when Mr.. Cleveland sought the Of
flee Of president he was qualified for
the place, he must have accepted the
position with a full foreknowledge of
his subordination to the people, and
therefore cannot justly take 1t aniss If
the people expect him to carry out their
Spanish press and of the Spanish prime
minister that the action of the Ameri-
can congress will have no Importance
80 long as President Cleveland keeps
to his former opinions are anything
but pleasant to the citizens Of the
United States; and even less acceptable
is the ostentatious announcement Of
persons high in the presidents conf
dence that "Mr. Cleveland will pay no
attention to congress-" If Mr.. Cleve-
land will consult the history Of Eng
land he will discover that former SOW
ereign Of that country, possessing a
larger following and a wider authority
than the present chief executive of the
United States enjoys, once paid no at
tention to the voice of the peoples par
1iament, and reckoned for that temerity
on the headsman's block. Although the
times Of regicide have passed. there is
still o sufficiently vigorous undercur-
rent Of Anglo-Saxon blood in the veins
OF the cis-Atlantio descendants Of the