Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-05


By far the most Interesting question
now receiving attention az Washington
relates ~ the right of congress 70 pass
upon the constitution framed by the
Cuban convention. 80 other matter is
being quite ~ earnestly discussed and
there is wide divergence Of opinion In
regard 90 H.
Perhaps the most important deliver
ance on the subject thus far j. that of
Senator PlBtt Of Connecticut. chairman
Of the committee on relations with Cuba.
who j. believed 20 reflect the views Of
the administration. Mr. Platt expressed
the opinion that congress has not the
power 70 deal directly with the Cuban
constitution. Cuba being foreign
country. 20 declared by the supreme
court of the United states congress
cab neither approve, reject nor in any
way amend or modify the Cuban con
stitutiOn. Cuba IL privileged to estsb.
lish her own government without let or
hindrance But be thought that the
United States having intervencd 10
secure freedom for cuba gave this cOun-
try certain rights and privileges in the
Islands and created mutual obligations
which may be defined in q way yet to
Do determined lie also thought that
congress may declare upon what terms
and conditions military occupation OF
Cuba shall cease and In doing that
might express It's opinion as 70 what
fsE .
lations should be embodied In It's con
stltutlOn. Other republican senators
are said 70 be IN substantial accord
with the views Of Mr.. Platt
on the other hand there are some
who contend that congress has the
this government In the Paris treaty. to
pass On the Cuban constitution and 70
require that IL shall make specific pro-
vision for the relations hereafter 20
exist between Cuba and the United
States. These insist that the basis Of
our dealings with Cuba in law Is not
the resolution Of congress pledging in
dependence for the Cuban people. but
the treaty. They urge that the
treaty implicitly IL not directly put
upon congress the responsibility Of
seeing 20 II that the obligations which
the treaty entails upon this country
with respect % Cuba are recognize d.
They say that the United States being
by that convention compelled TO do Ger.
tain things after stable government
- fz.gF.1rzH.aI sI.r.fLra -y,Fs
States must be the judge az 10 whether
stable government has been provided
for or not. The obligations OF the
treaty, IT II argued. are conditions pre-
cedcDt % the Independence of Cuba
and We must be satisfied that these
conditions have been fully met. This
position certainly finds no authority or
warrant in the decision of the supreme
court declaring Cuba 20 be foreign ter
ritOry, held In trust for its inhabitants,
"to whose exclusive control II will be
surrendered when a stable government
shall have been established by their vol
untary action Obviously any inter.
ference on the part of congress with the
Cuban constitution would be an in
tringement Of the right OF the people 10
establish n government by their yolun-
! tary action. Yet It would seem that
congress might without improperly Of
fer suggestions or recommendations re-
specting that instrument without max.
/ ing any demand as to It's provisions.
! The question is manifestly Of the
greatest importance and the present in
dications are that 1t will be settled witt
proper regard for the rights Of the
! Cuban people.