Hutchinson gazette., 1901-02-28
by WHAT AUTHORITY,


that tho Cuban constitution may be
ratified" or rejected" "
by what authority does the Ameri-
can congress presume to pass upon tne
Cuban constitution? Unless the United
States has sovereignty, jurisdiction OF
control over the island OF CUBA, no
such authority exists, And 1t will DO
remembered that the war resolutions
distinctly stated that the United states
would not exercise Sovereignty, 1uris-
diCtlon or control over said island ex-
cept for the paclncation thereof"
Wi1h the adoption Of these resolu-
tlons congress delivered the CUBAN
question over TO the executive VINO u
charged with the disposition or that
question according to the terms OF the
war resolutions,
Since the Spaniards were driven out,
all authority in the island OF CUBA mas
been exercised by the president, or by
men deputized by him, The people OF
that ISLAND were able to choose mem
bers OF a constitutional convention nj
an orderly election; II that constitu-
tonal convention adopts a constitu-
ton nodded on tho lines Of republican
form Of government, and an improve
ment in some respects over our own
constitution, it certainly must be ad-
mitted that "pacihcation' has taken
place,
The Cuban people alone have the
authority to adopt or modify Their
constitution. When government IN
compliance with that constitution iS
organized 1t will be the duty Of the
president to withdraw tho military
forces of the United States from that
island, and leave its people 10 work
out their own destiny, overcoming oO-
stacleS in their own way exactly rs
other peoples have been required 10
do.
The withdrawal Of the United states
from Cuba and delivery Of power there
to t!Fg constituted Authorities OF that
island, Is purely an executive act The
question of pacihcation involves a very
simple fact. The executive knows, as
the world knows, that Cuba has been
pacifed. But IL congress should as
sumo the authority to approve, reject
or modify the Cuban constitution, tae
United States would be assuming SOW
erelgnty, jurisdiction and control over
the island Of Cuba, things which the
United States expressly disclamed.
1t is contended by some friends or
the administration that 1t is essential
that the United States shall be given
suzeraln powers in that constitution
that the Cuban people shall obligate
themselves not to enter into treaties
with foreign countries without the
United States consent.
It Is further claimed that II Ia neces-
sary. that the constitution shall de-
clare that there shall be no interfer-
ence with "vested rights In the island
Of Cuba.
In the first place, the claim to suzer-
ain rights Is distinct violation OF our
disclaimer that the United States
I would not seek to exercise sovereignty,
Jurisdiction or control over said island,
EXCEPT for the pacincatlon thereof. 1t
is distinct violation Of our pledge
thaS after pacihcation is accomplished
IL 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 or legally as vested
rights" in the island OF Cuba accruinS
during our military occupation OF that
isiGnd.
1t Is true that since our military
forces took possession there, syndl-
Gates having the favor Of the admins
tration have rushed in and have OBJ
tained valuable franchises, but those
fraschlses are the property Of the peo-
pie of Cuba. Our military forces were
there for the purpose OF aiding In paci'
fication, and we're not given authority
to vest any rights III administration
favored syndicates.
The anxiety of these syndlcates TO
maintain possession Of valuable fran
chises is perhaps the explanation OF
the disposition manifested by the ad-
minstration politicians to violate tho
solemn pledge Of this nation with re-
spcct to the island Of Cuba.
1t may be that congress will insist
upon passing upon the Cuban consti-
tuition, but this will be mere assump-
tlon. 1t may be that congress will
seek to modify that constitution ac-
cording to the whims Of admlnistra-
tion politicians and for the benefit Of
administration syndicates, but con-
gress will be treading on dangerous
ground In law and in morals 1t VII
he acting without authority In fact
IL will be tritling with people whose
\ history repudlates the presumption
that they will submit to imposition at
the hands Of American syndicates and
American politicians any more will
ingly than they would submit to M
position at the hands Of Spanish tyr
ants.
The president has been very quick to
eneroach upon congressional preroga-
tive in the selection Of Philippine
commission empowered by him with
authority to make laws and to collect
and disburse revenues in the Philip
pine islands. He now seems to be
equally ready to surrender plain and
exclusive executive prcrogatiyo in car
rying out the war resolutions with re-
spect to Cuba.
The Morgan-R Rockefeller Hartman
railroad synulcate Is prepared to show
the evils that would follow the control
of all the railroads by the government
The first evil they would point out is
that of having such an immense power
given into the hands Of few.
A large number Of gentlemen who