New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-26
THE TREATY.
combination

There is nothing strange in the refusal OF
Democratic Senators to consent'to public DIS
cussion of the Fisheries Treaty. If the Admins
tration had not whispered its orders, they would
have had sense enough to realize that an open
discussion would be damaging to the Treaty
and 70 the Administration. For the President
bargain with representatives OF Great BRITAIN
involving a sacrifice of the sacred trust WIN
which he was invested on behalf OF the United
States. cannot be publicly considered without
n popular verdict against the President and
against Mr.. Bayard, his eminently British Sec
retary of State. In the discussion the fact
must come out that Mr.. Bayard sought from
the first to make this negotiation means OF
breaking down the policy OF his own Nation, Tor
the benefit of British and Canadian interests
Let it be granted that he did this because ne
thoroughly believed in British theories OF Tree
trade. The fact remains that he deliberately
stroye to defeat the established policy of this
Nation. and to secure victory for the estab-
isbed policy Of Great Britain, in negotiation
in which he was only authorized to act as the
AGENT and defender Of interests Of the United
States
There need be no hesitation in formulating
this charge because Mr.. Bayard himself eyl-
IDENTIFY thinks that treachery to the policy OF the
Nation he represents was in this particular
praiseworthy. His Mugwump and other Tree
trade admirers doubtless have the same impress
sion. To him and to them, no doubt, 1t Will
seem that he was in the best sense patriotic IL,
honcAly believing protective duties harmful to
his country, he endeavored to break them down
through the negotiation of a foreign treaty.
Yet it is not difficult to see that the very es-
sence of disloyalty inspires this reasoning and
governed his action.
For the policy Of the Nation in this respect Is
fixed by law. The laws every officer of the
Government is bound to respect, to obey, and to
carry out with scrupulous zeal and hearty
fidelity, whether he thinks them wise or not.
Even more than any private citizen, the ofli-
cial in high place Of trust is solemnly bound
! to be faithful to the laws as they stand. He
has right to recommend alterations of the law
to advocate different policy with all earnest
ness. and to labor personally to bring the law
making power to act in accordance with his
convictions. That is not only his individual
right as citizen but part Of his duty as an
official, if he believes the change in question
for the public welfare But it is Just as clear
that he is most solemnly bound, so long as the
law stands unaltered to accept, obey and faith
fully enforce it, with as much care and earnest
ness as if he believed it wise. That is the
fundamental condition of his acceptance of a
public trust. If he cannot enforce the laws as
they stand, and carry out the established pol
icy of the Nation with fidelity, until the Ma
ton through its law making power sees fit to
change that policy, he has no right to take the
oath of office or to retain his trust single hour.
To do so is moral treason.
This distinction makes evident Mr. Bayard's
infdelity. He had a perfect right to advise
Congress to change the policy Of the Nation.
But he, had no right to conspire with Great
Britain to defeat the policy of the Nation
through the negotiation Of treaty. That was
an act of faithlessness, a breach of trust a sac
rifce of the interests committed to his sworn
defence. What would it be thought Of the
general in command of an army who, thinking
the Nation wrong in making war; should con-
SHIRE TO end the war by surrendering his force
or fortress? He would be branded Benedict
Arnold. Mr. Bayard, and President Cleve-
land himself, since he appears to have fully as
sented to the pending treaty have to exculpate
themselves for conspirng with British ennis
saries TO break down and defeat a National
policy embodied in acts Of Congress. The
President has repeatedly asked Congress ia
change the tariff. but he is bound to obey and
faithfully enforce existing laws while they re-
main the laws of the land.
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