Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-12-25
The Cuban question in Congress.

The Cuban question, the probable ac-
tion of Congress upon it, and the possibi-
ity of a war with Spain have furnished
the chief topic of public interest and dis
cussion this week. Last Friday the SEN
ate committee on foreign relations, by a
practically unanimous vote, ordered ia
vorable report TO be made to the Senate
on Monday on a resolution offered by Sen
ator Cameron recognizing the independ-
ence of the Republic of Cuba, and provd-
ing that the United States shall use its
friendly offices with the government of
Spain to bring to a close the war between
Spain and Cuba. This action was taken
after Secretary Olney had appeared before
the committee and stated the policy of the
administration and the reasons that actu-
ated it in its present attitude towards the
insurrection in Cuba.
There was no more reason for affirma-
tive action now on the part of this govern
ment, the secretary said, than there was
ten months ago, and he warned the COM
mittee that the adoption of such a meas
ure as was proposed might be attended
with the most serious consequences to the
government and people of the United
States. 1t would be regarded as an un-
friendly act by the Spanish government,
and the people of Spain, interpreting it as
an act of hostility, might be influenced by
their passions to commit acts of violence
against the United States, which would
seriously involve both governments, and,
perhaps precipitate state of war.
But aside from the unwisdom of such
action as was contemplated in the resolu-
tion, Secretary Olney protested against its
passage upon the broad ground that the
recognition of newly established govern
ments was a purely executive act under
the constitution, and was the exclusive
prerogative of the President, to be exer-
cised at his discretion. In an interview
given out after his appearance before the
committee the secretary still further elab-
GRATED this idea, stating it as his opinion
that the resolution, even though it should
pass both Houses of Congress, would have
no weight beyond an expression of opin-
ion of those who voted for it. As such
an expression, coming from such source,
it would have great weight, but, neverthe-
less, it would still remain the exclusive
prerogatve of the executive to act in the
matter as he deemed best.
These declarations of Mr.. Olney called
out some belligerent talk in the Senate on
Monday, as was to have been expected.
After the Cameron resolution had been
reported from the committee on foreign
affairs Mr.. Vest of Missouri offered res
olution declaring that the exclusive power
to determine when the independence of a
foreign people struggling to establish a
government for themselves should be rec
ognized is vested by the constitution, not
in the President of the United States, but
in Congress. Mr.. Hill of New York of
fered substitute for the committee joint
resolution, declaring that state of war
exists in Cuba, according belligerent rights
to the Cubans, and announcing that the
United States will preserve state of neu-
trality between the belligerents. Mr.. Ba
con, Georgia, offered a resolution assert
ing that the question of recognition of
any people as a free and independent ma
tion is a question exclusively for the de-
termination of Congress, and does not ap-
pertain to the executive department.
These and other similar resolutions were
laid on the table. Mr.. Cameron gave no