The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-02-28
BY WHAT AUTHORITY


'fEtlHcu OK ifltcttA.
by what authority does the Amcri-
can Congress presume to pass Spon
the Cuban constitution; Unless the
United States has sovereignty, iutis-
diclion or control over the islands %
Cuba, no such authority exists. And
IL will be remembered that the war
resolutions distinctly stated that tho
United States would not exercise ''soy.
ereiguty, Jurisdiction or control over
said Island except ior the paedcatiOn
/ thereof
With tho adoption Of these resolu-
lions Congress delivered the Cuban
question over to the executive who is
charged With the disposition Of that
question according to he terms Of the
war resolutions.
Since the SpanisFds were driven
out, all authority Ia the island OF Cuba
has been exercised by the President,
~ by men depuiizcd by him. The
people Of that island were able to
choose members Of q constitutional
convention NJ an orderly election; IL
that convention adopts n constitution
nodded OF the lines Of republican form
Of government, and au improvement
IN some respects over our own Con.
sItutiun, it certainly must be admitted
that Specification" has taken place.
The Cuban people alone have the
authority to adopt or modify their
constitution. When a government IN
compliance with that constitution j.
organized II will be the duty Of the
president 10 Withdraw The military
forces of the United States from that
island, aud leave It's people to work
out their own destiny, overcoming OBJ
stacIes in their own way exactly rs
other people have been required to do
The Withdrawal Of the United States
from Cuba and delivery OF power there
TO the constituted authorities Of that
island, Is purely an executive act.
The question Of paciiication involves n
very simple fact The executive
knows, as the world knows, thlt Cuba
has been PaciRed. But II Congress
should assume the authority 90 APP.
prove, reject OF modify the Cuban
constitution. the uui,od States would
be assuming Sovereignty, jurisdiction
aud control over the island OF Cuba,
things which the United States eN.
prc.sly G!se!aimed
II /, conIeLdcd 10y some friends Of
The ADMINISTRATION that it Is essential
that the United States be given suEer-
ain powers 10 that consiilutioB---thal
the Cuban people shall obligate them.
selves not to enter into treaties with
foreign countries without the United
States consent
Il i further claimed that II Is ncc-
cs.ary, that the constitution shall de-
clare that there shall be no interior.
cncc with vested rights" IN the
island OF Cuba.
10 the dr't place, the claim 10 SUE.
Grain rights Is distinct violation of
oar disclaimer that the United State,
would not seek 10 exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction or control over said island,
except for the paciIication thereof I'll
is a distinct violation Of our pledge
that after paclfcaiiou is accomplished
It Is our intention to leave the govern
ment OF that island to The Cuban peo-
pie
In the next place, there are no such
things morally OF legally Il. vested
rights IN the island Of Cuba, accru
ing during our military occupation OF
that i.laud
1t Is true that since our military
forces tpuk possession there, syudicatrs
having the favor of the administration
have rushed In aud obtained valuable
franchises, but these franchises ate the
property Of the people of Cuba Oar
military force, were held there for the !
purpose Of aiding in pac'Gealion, and
we're not given authority TO vest any
rights in Administrations favored syn.
dictates
The anxiety of these syndicales to /
maintain possession Of valuable fra9. |
chiscs is perhaps the explanation of
The disposition manifested by the ad-
miusiration politicians to violate the |
solemn pledge Of this nation with re- |
,pect to the island Of Cubs
1t may be that Congress will insist
upon passing upon The Cuban cons,i. |
tuition, bot this will be mere assump-
ton. II may be that Congress will
seek TO modify that constitution accor-
ding to the whims Of administration
politicians, and for the benefit Of adj |
ministration snydicates, but Congress
will be lreading on dangerous ground.
In law aud In morals Il viii be acting
without authority. 10 fact, Il will be
uifling with people whose history
repudiales the presumption that They
will submit to imposition at the hands
of American syndicates and American
politicians any more willingly than
they would submit to imposition at the
hands Of Spanish tyranls.
The President has been very quick
TO eueroach upon Congressional pre-
rogatiye 10 the selection uf Philip.
pine Commission empowered by him
with authority TO make laws aud 20
collect and disburse revenues 10 the
Philippine Islands. lie now seems to
be equally ready to surrender plain
and exclusive executive prerogaiive In
carrying out the war resolutions with
respect to Cuba.
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