The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-24
ono vie,r of congresxmcnl.

Apparently the Augusta Chronicle
doesn't have a very high opinion OF the
average congressman. In an article dis
cussing the difference which has arisen be-
tween the President and congress, as to
the right of congress to recognize the in
! dependence of Cuba, it says: It is prob
able that those members of congress (both
senator's and representatives. who are an
! tagonistic to the administration viii be
melted to bitter utterances on the floor,
and viii vote for the Cameron resolution
more obstlnately since Secretary Olneys
deliverance than before
From the foregoing the inference is that
senators and representatives who are an
tagonistc to the administration will op-
pose the position taken by Secretary Olney
that it is exclusively the prerogative Of
the President to recognize the independ-
ence of Cuba, even if the weight of au-
thority should be greatly against them.
In other words. they will oppose the Pres
ident whether he is right or wrong. The
question OF right or wrong cuts no figure
with them. Their sole purpose is to de-
feat the will of the President.
We do not say that the Chronicles opin-
ion OF the senators and representatives who
are opposed to the administration is not
correct. If it is correct there are senators
and Representatives who are unworthy of
the high positions they hold.
Men are not sent to congress to express
their likes and dlslllzes of those who iii
the positions in other branches Of the
government. They are expected to legis-
late for the best interests of the peop.e.
1t is their duty to do what they believe to
be for the public good, even to the extent
of supporting the views of those for whom
they entertain the most hostile sentiments.
A congressman who obstinately persists in
pursuing a course which he has reason to
believe is wrong. simply to antagonize
some one holding a different view, is not
fit to hold any public trust.
The question which Secretary Olney has
raised by saying that the recognizing of
a new state is an executive function is a
very serious one. and ought to receive the
most careful and conscientious considera-
ton. There is room for a difference of
opinion in respect to it. Secretary Olney
made no mistake in bringing it to the at
tention of congress. In fact, it was his
duty to do so. He did not want congress
to act blndly. He wanted it to under
stand exactly what the executive depart
ment thought of its proposed action.
And how was his announcement receiv-
ed? In the same spirit in which it was
made? 1t certainly was not. Some of
the senators spoke of the secretary ana
what he said as if he were an enemy of the
government and had been guilty of an i'm
pertinence. There was even talk of inn
peaching the President. Was that the way
for the representatives of the people to
approach a great public question?
There may be senator's and representa-
tives who will support the Cameron resolu-
ton for no other reason than that the ex-
ecutive department thinks congress has
no right to pass it, but there win be very
few of them probably. They will find on
mingling with their constituents during
the holidays that the administration has
fully as much of the respect of the people
as congress has.