The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-10-10
THE PRESIDENT AND rAE CONGRESS.

The disposition to exaggerate is very
common and remarkably so among poll
ticians. Statesmen, however, particu-
larly United States Senators, should keep
their statements within the bounds Of
reason and accuracy. Senators Morgan
and Butler, both experienced legislators,
earnest and sincere men, in their eager
ness to proclaim their independence OF
executive authority, inveighed against the
idea that the President had the right to
take any more interest in the action OF
the Senate than a private citizen. they
went so far as to assert that the opinions
of the poorest negro are deserving OF as
much respect by the Senate as those OF
President Cleveland.
This is carrying the idea of senatorial
independence beyond reasonable bounds.
The necessity OF preserving to each
branch OF the government its peculiar
rights and functions, so that neither shall
in any manner encroach upon the others,
is recognized by all parties and par
ticularly SO by the Democratic party.
That the legislative, the judicial and the
executive departments of the government
should and must be kept distinct that
they should yet be in harmony-a po-
litical trinity in unity-is simple Demo
cratic principle and one that is of univer-
sal recognition.
But under the provisions of the Consti-
tuition the President IS so far associated
with the Congress-the executive with the
legislative-that he is required to recon-
mend to their consideration from time to
time such measures as he shall judge
necessary and convenient; if they disagree
as to the time of adjournment he may adj
iourn them to such time as he may think
proper, as he may convene them in ex-
traordinary session; he also holds the
power of veto which constitutes him one
OF the essential features of the legislative
department. In addition he can make
treaties with the aid of the Senate and by
and with the advice of that body make
official appointments.
For these reasons the President must,
of necessity, take more interest in the ac-
ton of the Senate than private citizen.
And the Senate must take more notice of
hisopinions than of those of an ordinary
negro or white citizen. This is not say
ing that either Heuse is bound by his
recommendations, or under any obliga-
ton, to adopt his views. But they are
both bound to consider them and to treat
them, not as they would 1.-THE poorest negro
in Alabama, - but as the official recon-
mendations OF the chief officer of the gov
eminent in the discharge OF a sworn duty
under the Constitution.
1t is well to avoid one extreme as much
as another. Subservience to the dictum
of the President, whether for lear or for
patronage or any other unworthy motive,
would be highly reprehensible in any
member of Congress. There is no proof
that anything of the kind has happened
during the special session, although there
have been many charges and hints and
insinuations to that effect. On the other
hand it is just as wrong and as great an
extreme in another direction to class the
views of the President on important pub
lie questions TO which he has officially
directed the attention of the Congress,
with the opinions of an uneducated
negro or those of any private citizen of
the United States.
Consistency shines with as much lustre
when exhibited by q Senator as by an
ordinary person, and we naturally look
for its possession by the legislators of The
land more than by people in the every
day walks of life.