The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-20
SEATTLE. SUNDAY. DEc. go.
oun CUBAN RESPONSIBILITY.


Congress has not taken in twenty years
q step Which may lead 70 such grave con
s>sus,rcss "a that authorized In the Cam
sron resolution. whea the United States
formally declares that The independence
o. fhs republic OF Cuba be ana the same
IL hsrsby acknowledged" there can Ia no
rseealng. The adoption OF the resolution
b. tie COMMITTEES on foreign relations
would In ths usual course Of affairs be
equivalent 70 the passage Of the rosolli-
ton by the house TO which It belonged.
aad there is every reason TO believe both
houses viii concur In Il. The only posi-
blnty OF preventing iss adoption lay 10 thu
strength OF the representations Secretary
olasy could make 10 the members; and
since he has evidently failed with the
senators ne Is scarcely likely 10 bs more
fortunate with the representatives.
The declaration is IN the form Of Joint
resolution, but IL never tAeless needs 70
be submitted 20 the president, and II he
shall not approve II then It must receive
. two-thirds vote Of each house.
There are many people who would have
preferred TO see the second part OF the
resolution adopted alone az this sime.
namely. that "ths United States VIII use
It's friendly Offices with the government
OF epsin 20 close the war between Spain
and Cuba" This would give time for the
new administration 10 become well extao-
nshed and In thorough command OF the
s9tuat.on for whose results " must as
sumo responsibility. II Is not entirely be-
oomgrg taat Senator Cameron. who is now
retiring from Office. should seek TO saddle
the Administration with q task In which
he win bear no share.
such o resolution Is the exercise OF sn
executive function by declaring thu indie
psndsnes hereby recognized" bat that
10 not mors OF an executive function than
is involved In q declaration OF waE-an
ao, explicitly within the turistlction OF
.hs legislative branch OF the Federal gov
srumsnt
rise pubic statement made ey Secretary
oinsy yesterday suggests sa interesting
inquiry which would become much more
important Il tho president were not within
/. few weeks OF tas close Of his ;erm- Be
fore G. couid make any serious differ
enes Whistler the Joint resolution was
put sBto eject or not, President Cleve-
lard win have ceased to exercise shs
power Of determining TIE matter. no ap-
rrshsnslon need be felt. under the eircum-
stances. OF any opan conflict or authority
The weakness OF Spain Sc a factor which
makes declaration or war extremely doubt
fui. even u recognition Of Cuba was con-
siaered BY Spain as a casus bsllL The con-
scious tuapotencs Of the offended nation Is
almost certain to eloss It's eyes 20 the prov
ocsuan. II IL very doubtful II Any other
uatioa would so 70 spaln's assistance.
The Lanson CArenicls saoss a better ap-
probation % tho conditions IN this coun-
cry than most 81 is contemporaries. when
d acknowledge mat the assuming BY
other powers OF hostile Atctude would
only Intensity American determination and
'seal sse ra,s e Cuba" meaning. no
doabt. iss Inevitable seauss,rstloa from
spanish ru'A
rails Is one ~ ths sxlSenclss IN The life
Of natlon when gt is wiser 20 lock for
ward oaly 70 the consequences than hack
ward Tor presidents. There IS TO strict
parallel q conditions within the knowi-
sdze ef modern races as those existing
between tals country ard sll other powers
tn she same beuat sphere. No continent has
ever set Is authority upon the doctriao
thst the people wlshta - shore Tines
shah - fres srom the dominion az a
power eentered Or another continent; and
na wrea, nation has ever expressed SIS
ftuplacaele. relentless and persistent an
tAsanisng 60 ether ,ssa a republican fern
% government 70 serves 70 purpose.
therefore. 70 attempt 90 rnahe ear conduct
spPear treensisseat witA our sclfoa IN
more cv iesa d'estnfsr cfgcuu7e,1 aces.
TIE ca}sf corsI1e-sHaes Ger thts conn
try bs.ors recorHlFiar ths ta3e-eadaaca
90 C,,ba 50 tnis 4taEc e Watcher that T.
bsst ~ her eva Interests. and whstnar
W. may not aeteay cug oun ges5 purpose
Ths recognition - i1se}s does not ass't
- srstYs al 60 80 CuSans. sut en- tae
contrary. py az tas rules ~ 3stsrnatI,raI
tSw wo9}I oatai ARTIST rru .ratsy. mere
srs Ter7soslaUi1as IN the futars. tee
Whites usy have 30 - szrs-,si ~ st4s
coaa;ry esssA mtsht se sv1.3ea oy post
pantng era terasl fseesnl,ian urta Gaia
sad = ussFs tseziis en3 rsspsnslais gov
eyrmeui.