Evening star., 1896-03-09
The President and Congress.

The Presidents attitude in the matter of
Cuba is. at least, i'm doubt. In declining to
state it himself. he repudiates a statement
that had been made for him. This testif1es
as we'll to the Presidents desire to blow his
own trumpet as to the Importance of the
note to be sounded. When we hear from
him, therefore let US hope that the note
may be loud and true.
1t cannot be denied that those who expect
action or non-action in effect antagonistic
to Congress in the premises find their au-
thority in Mr.. Clevelands whole career as
an executive, beginning in the city hall at
Buffalo and following to the White House.
His whole experience as public man has
been as an executive. He has never been
a member of any legislative assembly. but
has carried himself always in office as If
called upon to hold lawmakers in check-in
plain words, to manage them. He tried his
prentice hand town council in Buffalo.
He applied himself next, with little firmer
hand. to the legislature of the state of New
York. and. advanced from the office of gov
ernor to President. he brought from Albany
to Washington with him this spirit of a
man desirous of moulding everything 20 his
own will. His seven years in the White
House-the seventh mile post has just been
passed-show the longest string of vetoes
on record. and extending all the way from
the formal veto of i pension bill for an in
valid soldier. to what, in effect, was the
veto of the desire of the people of this gov
ernment to extend their dominion to the
Hawaiian islands.
1t is TO be said to the credit of all the
Congresses that have sat during Mr.. Cleve-
lends residence in the White House, that
they have treated him with the highest
considers ton. 1t became, indeed almost a
reDroach against one that 1t seemed 70 defer
too much to his wishes and opinions. He
was accredited with having too potent a
voice in its deliberations. That was a
democratic Congress, and the explanation
offered in justification of it's attitude vas
that as the legislature and the executive
were Of the same political faith, it was de-
sirable thai conceSsionS-even great con-
cessions-be made to insure concert of view
ard acticn. But the present is a republican
CCngress-at least in one branch--and there
has been manifested by it toward the Presi-
dent, In respect CT all matters of the high
est Importance all reasonable Difference
1t supported him in the Venezuelan case
With fine American loyalty. and followed
that up by proposing low-rate bond for
the maintenance OF the national credit.
The defeat of that proposition was due to
Mr. Cievelands own party friends in the
Senate
But the point has been reached hen the
Importance of Congress must be conceded
or must lie denied. If Congress- elected by
the people, speaks for the people i. ought
rot to be baked. 1t has spoken in the case
OF Cuba, and the people, through The news
papers. the pulpits. ana all The other
agencies registering patriotic sentiment.
have applauie1 the deliverance That de-
hverdnce must stand. and become effective.
10 describe it as mere claptrap expression
of sympathy is botn to insult Congress ard
beiittle the patriotic character of our gov
ernmental machinery. Nothing in our whole
system makes, or was intended to MAXI
Tor the one-man power and such a power
IN the last analysis of any question with
us VIII never he applied
TIE President is entitled to his opinion in
this business, and when 1t is expressed it
VIII be received and treated with due re-
srect: but If it shall be anita gonis,ic to thar
OF TIE people, as delivered through Con-
gress, 1t will Lot for long be permitted to
stand in the way of what the people really
U1 sire