The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-04-21
AN EXTRA sEssloe.. or CON-
GRESS.

az New York derald, fol d week or
10 days past, has contained leader
daily, urging the calling of an extra ses-
sion of congress Immediately upon the
of hostilities between
Russia and England. Just what the
real object of the Herald is In desiring
an extra session in such an event it is
not possible to say. The ostensible
reasons set forth in its editorials are
hardly strong enough TO Justify such
step on the part of the president, nor is
1t likely that Mr.. CLEVELAND will see
the matter in the same light with the
Herald.
1t is favorite theory, judging from
these daily utteranoes of that paper,
that conflict exists between the legis-
lative and executive branches of the
government as to our foreign policy or
tho Judgement of the power to enforce or
declare, even, any foreign policy. This
is purely imaginary, Non-interference
is the policy, as old and solidly estab-
lished as the government, and the
executive is charged by the laws and
customs OF the people with Its enforce
ment. But the Herald fears complica-
tions over the neutrality laws, and
thinks the congress should be In session
tomeet any such emergency. Thisis an
insult to tho intelligence of the president
and his cabinet, They know as well as
any gentlemen in this country tho rights
and restrictions OF neutrals and have
ample powers TO see that the interna-
tional code is obeyed, and the presence
of congress would not add TO their in
formation or relieve them Of RESPONSE
bility or action. More plausible is the
third and last proposition of the Herald.
BY our absurd navigation laws
only vessels built in the United
States can carry the American
flag. We cannot buy abroad. England
now does the principal carrying trade
between the United States and Europe.
In the event OF war, we must take her
place largely. But where are our ves-
sells to come iromS We cannot build
cheaply enough to tempt us out on the
ocean, and if we enjoyed great revival
of American shipping it could only be
in vessels purchased abroad. Call con
gress together to repeal this absurc
navigation act, says the Herald. 1t IL
getting child-like and innocent in 1T
zeal. For years, without the teas
Success, co ngress has been appealed h
70 repeal this act. tits part and par
Gel of the Now England tariff policy
and as stoutlv defended by the tarii
men, who hold the balance OF power in
the national congress, nc any other o
the absurd provisions Of the protectiv
statutes. Tho present congress nigh
be called q dozen times together to re
peal this law, but without avail, for al
the reasons that could be now urget
have been urged over and over again.
This paper can see no reason for al
extra session Of congress, and probabl,
is In line with the Democratic press o
the south in this respect. An extr,
session would only occupy the attention
of the president with details of legisla.
ton while he is yet new to the dutiel
of the executive office, and has a more
than herculean task before him IN til,
mere matter of putting his politica
household in order by the time OF tn,
regular session, in December next. Al
extra session might occasion postpone
ment of matters of Importance of an in
ternal character, in which the countr,
is vastly moro interested than in thii
coming European conflict.