The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-18
The Senate's Purpose.

There can be no doubt that recog-
milton of either the belligerency or the
independence of a state is exclusively
an executive function Congress has a
moral right as representing the public
opinion Of the people, to advise the
president when. in its judgment, recog-
milton Is desirable. In pursuance of
this right and by concurrent resolution
which expressed the preponderating
sentiment of the nation then and now,
the Fifty-fourth congress advised Presl-
dent Cleveland to recognize the bellig-
erency Cf the Cuban insurgents but he
paid no attention to it's advice, thus
directly and deliberately insulting the
legislative branch. Later, when the
senate of the present congress repeated
this counsel to President Mckinley, his
advisers, representing on this issue
only a small minority of the people,
caused the senate's resolution to be
held up in the foreign affairs commit
tee room of the house, where it yet
sleeps in pigeon hole.
The basis of the executives represen-
made through recognized spokesmen,
was that diplomatic processes were be-
ing employed toward the end of a sat
isfactOry settlement of the Cuban prob
lem, which premature recognition of
Cuban belligerency would greatly en-
barrass, if not hopelessly defeat. In
Difference to these representations con-
gress withheld further pressure and
rallied to the executives support with
a loyalty and a unanimity Of purpose
not previously witnessed i'm American
history. 1t is important to keen this
fact i'm mind in view of the present
attempt of some Of the executives sup
porters to make it appear that congress
is now trying to overrule the president.
So far has this been from the truth
that congress, against it's own better
judgment, awaited i'm patience the end
of the tOrtuOus course of diplomatic
negotiation, which in its belief never
offered the slightest hope of satisfac-
tory conclusion, supporting the execu-
tive in each Of his steps. up to and
including the S5O,OOOOOO appropriation
for the nations defense, without a dis
senting vote. 1t was not until the presl-
dent himself confessed to congress in
his recent message that his scheme of
diplomacy had failed utterly at the
final test, and invited an expression of
the will of congress in the premises,
that congress reverted to its original
plan, now grown beyond mere recog-
milton Of belligerency into an irresist-
ible demand for immediate forcible in
tervention in Cuba for the establish
ment of absolute Cuban independence.
Let us be scrupulously fair about this
important matter. Congress stood by
the president honorably and with rare
fidelity as long as he retained the lead
| ership. But when in his message he
laid this down and asked congress Ia
point the future way does It involve
| any reflection upon the chief executive
that congress is now accepting his in
vitatiOn, not by further tolerance of
the confessedly ineffective methods of
! diplomacy but by exercise of its con-
stitutional prerogative in what amounts
in effect to declaration of war? The
| house spoke first i'm terms OF restraint
which thinly veiled its militant intent
| And it is possible that the senate would
have accepted the houses cushioned
phrases but for the indecent efforts OF