The sun., 1901-04-17
Surprise at Mr.. Oiney's Sentiments.

The views Of Mr. 0LNEY," writes a cor
respondent Mr. EDMUND r. DopdE. pub
lshed In The Sun to-day are astounding
His disregard OF the Teller resolution reads
like bad faith"
What Mr.. OLNEY said In March OF last
year. in carefully considered article writ
ten for the AHdntic Monthly nearly two
years after tho so-called Teller resolution
had been adopted by Congress. was this:
II may be thought at rrst blush that to speak
OF the acquisition Of cuba by the United States
as fact accomplished Is inaccurate. But the oh.
lection Is technical and the expression conveys the
substantial truth. Notwithstanding resolution OF
Congress whcs ilIadviSed and futile at the time Of
its passage. II now influential at ALL Is simply preju
dicing the interests Of cuba and the United States
alike. No such resolution refue the logic Of tho
undsputsd facts or should be allowed 10 impede the
natural march Of events"
Further on in the same article Mr. OINEY
again speaks Of our acquisition OF Cuba :"
as the inevitable result OF the Spanish
war" He asks his readers 10 realize
that during our entire national existence
foreign Powers have had clear notice
that. while Spain would be allowed TO play
out her hand in the Island. no other Power
than the United States would be permitted
10 absorb It,"
Our correspondent. Mr.. DODGE. proceeds
20 ask us series Of questions apparently
based on the supposition that THE Sun, and
not the Hon. RICHARD 0INEY. Is respon-
sible for the sentiments above quoted
We think that such questions had better
be left 10 Mr. OrNEY TO answer. He is
able to take care Of himself and Of his opin-
ions. He Is not supposed TO be destitute
either Of the moral sense or Of legal
perception. The statesman who declares
that this Governments disclaimer Of in
tention 10 acquire Cuba constitutes only a
technical obstacle TO such acquisition.
and that II must not be permitted to stand
In the way OF annexation. Is no vaporpr or
lightweight. lie held the Office Of Secre-
tary Of State In Mr.. CLEvELANDs Admins
tration. and he had been out OF that ex-
alted office only about fourteen months
when the so-called Teller resolutions were
passed by Congress and the war with Spain !
began.
We have not made use OF Mr.. OINyY's |
u'terances 10 express indirectly our own
views OF the subject Mr.. OLNEY's ideas |
have nothing to do with the questions with |
which President McKINLEY's Admiuistra-
ton Is concerned. The duty Of the Ad-
ministration Ia to carry out the purposes
of Congress as declared in the form Of law.
The Teller declaration which Mr.. OLNEY |
pronounces TO be ill-advised, futile and |
prejudicial TO the interests Of both Cuba
and the United States is part of the law
governing the policy Of the Executive.
The Platt amendment to the Army Appro-
priation bill, imposing certain conditions
upon Cuba, In the interests Of both that
Island and OF this milton. is another part
OF the law which the Executive is bound TO
obey President Mckinney can no more
waive the conditions prescribed in the Platt
than he can ignore the decla-
ration contained in tho Teller resolution
so called. Even il the two were obviously
inconsistent. which Is not the case. II would
not be within his power to set aside the
later enactment by Congress and TO pro-
coed entirely under the terms OF the earlier
resolution. II the President had that right.
namely, to make his own choice between
earlier and later legislation. and TO follow
the earlier, II he preferred It 10 tho later,
The power OF repeating It's own acts woul1
thus be taken from Congress.
We observe that many. II not most Of
the comparatively few critics Of tho Ad- {
doinGs with regard TO Cuba
are citizens who view with particular adj !
niration the doctrines and deeds OF Mr.
IL.
appropriate, therefore. 10 invite their at
ention 70 the distinctly and intrli,.hly I
'tated views OF the Hon. RrCutRD OlNrY !
Nr. CLEvELAND's Secretary OF State and I
oremost Cabinet adviser. {