The Red Cloud chief., 1896-12-25
POWER TO RECOGNIZE
Secretary Olney Talks Positively on ths
Cuban Question

W iliith 'lNNiEt III b'Nll
houses. will constitute Il direct and
formidable issue between the executive
and Legislative branches of the gov
Crnmvnt. This is clearly indicated by
The following interview given out by
secretary Olney to-day: IL have no
objection to stating my own view of
the resolution respecting the indepen-
dPncc of the so.callcd republic OF
Cuba. Indeed, as there are likely
to be serious misapprchcnsions re-.
garding such resolution, both in
This country anu abroad. and as such
approximations may have injurious re.
suits of "A grave character, it is perhaps
my duty to point out that the reSolu.
ton. if passed by the Senate, can be
regarded only rs an expression of opin
ion by the eminent gentlemen who
vote for it in the Senate and. If passed
10y the House of Representatives, it
can only be regarded as another cX-
preston of opinion by the eminent
gentlemen who vote for IL in the
House. The power to recognize the
so-callcd republic of Cuba a. AN indie
pendent state rests exclusively with
the Executive
"A resolution on the subject by the
senate or by the house or by both bod
les, or by one. whether c]oncurren or
joint, is imperative As legislation and
is important only aS advice of great
weight voluntarily rendered to the ex-
ccutiyc regarding the manner in which
he shall exercise his constitutional
functions. The operation and effect
of the proposed resolution, therefore,
cv>n If passed by both houses of con
grc.s by a two-thirds vote. are per-
fcctly plain. 1t may raise eXpecta-
ton in some quarters which can
never be realized. 1t may inflame
popular passions both in this country
and elsewhere, may thus put in peril
the lives and property of American cit
liens who are resident and travelling
abroad, and will certainly obstruct,
and perhaps defeat, the best efforts of
this government to afford such citizens
due protection. But except in these
ways and unless the advice embodied
in the resolution shall cad the Execu-
tive To revise conclusions already
reached and officially declared the res
olution will be without effect and will
leave unaltered the attitude of cnis
government towards the two contend
ing parties in Cuba.
SENATOR FRyE's COMMENTS.
senator Frye of the committee on
foreign relations. after reading Sccre-
tary Olncy'S statement, said: IL have
no doubt that n ma iority of the com
mittcc believe that If the resolution is
passed by a two-thirds vote over the
veto of the president, il would then
become Il law and that the executive
would he compelled to execute it as
he is any other law on the statute
books. | think. too. that the ma jority
pf the members of the committee
a"C of the opinion that the Sec
rrtary of State is wrong in his
opinion that the recognition Of the re-
public rs an independent state rests
exclusively with tn" executive. As
one member of the committees, ! have
beer inclined to think he is right on
this uoint, and have not fully deter
mined what the effect would be if the
resolution should pass notwithstand-
ing the Presidents veto. | am so
strongly impressed that it is the duty
Of the United States in some way to
put "A stop to the horrible slaughter
and barbarous brutality in an island
almost in sight CT our shores, that
am disposed to give the insurgents the
benefit of all doubts
The advocates Of the resolution cX-
press their willingness to forego
spccchmaking in order to facilitate
action by the Senate, say that 50
far as they can have any influence the
opponents of the resolution will be al
lowed to do the talking. The oppo-
ncnt of the resolution do not hesitate
to express their purpose to prevent it's
passage by any means in their control.
Senator Hale of Maine will lead the
oppositition in case Senator Allison
shall be unable to resume his seat after
the holidays. Mr.. Hale will he acting
chairman of the committee OF appro-
priations and this position can be used
by him to great advantage in opposing
the Cuban declaration. He will be
supported by Senators Pettigrew,
Aldrich. and others.
The opposition count upon hearing
from the conservative business inter
ests of the country during the recess
In Il way to materially weaken tn,
chances for the resolution.
CUBAN ADVOCATES CONFIDENT.
The supporters OF the resolution are
confident of its success If a vote can bS
reached. Senators Davis, Frye, Lodge
and Horgan, all members of the for
eign relations committee, express con
fdence in the passage of the resolu
ton. They cite the adoption of the
} Cuban amendment to the immigration
bill as an indication of the feeling %
the Senate on the Cuban question, ant
say they will have n two-thlrdS ma
iority ON both sides of the chamber l
, the votc shall be reached.
CONFLICT OF POWERS POSSIBLE,
!. OF curse Secretary Oiney's state
l ment indicates clearly that if the join
resolution shall ever pass bot
{, branches of Congress and be sent t
. the President, the latter will veto II
/ not only ON the ground of impolicy
: but also because it constitutes an in
! fringcmcnt of his own ~prerogatives
. A.. .a.,.,, l.. H.. -