Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-03-17
He CRITICISES.
Pres. Cleveland Says Congress-
Course Is Dangerous.
Diplomacy Of Nation Should Be
Handled by Diplomats Alone.
Ne Is Much Disturbed Over Congress inte est
in International Matters.

WashingtOn March -(SpeciaD -
President Cleveland has very radical ideas
concerning the impropriety of congress at
tempting to interfere in foreign matters
The president has SO often expressed him
self on this subject to members Of his cab
met, to senators, representatives and other
callers that his views have become well
known. They are interesting even to
those who do not agree with him. Mr..
Cleveland says he, as president of the
United States, is charged by the constitu-
tion with the management of our affairs
with other countries. The makers Of the
constitution were wise in imposing this
duty upon the executive branch of the gov
ernment Diplomacy, unlike legislation,
does not thrive on publicity. In all gov
ernments there is recognition of the neces-
sity'of leaving the conduct OF negotiations
with foreign powers to the head of the
state, because he alone can throw about
the business those safeguards of secrecy,
prudence and skill requisite to success.
Diplomacy must be attended to by diplo-
mats and legislation by legislators, and
the two functions are apart and distinct.
Nothing but trouble is bred by any eiTorG
to mix them together. Diplomacy by town
meeting is failure and always has been
Liable to Precipitate War.
To recent caller President Cleveland
said our congress was adopting a very
dangerous course. Its eagernesS TO have
something to say about every foreign affair
which comes TO the surface, its desire to
,,eddlc hv resolution or suetches or bills
or Investigations viii, II carried on much
longer, involve the country in serious din
culfv It. will h-iDs, on war and uorn.us
hr;,,,, IT. nv, II, s,-oF yya5- tina. tIe riolt win
no, 10 ~, an, eide I5rasf,inot cleveland
e,,o1-o ,,,,, ,.,,.,,,.ai, ana added tl,4t ever
eincn co,,,,,,aes asser,13lrl laer Da.,o,uhar his
c,rootost foar head beo, 4h9s s,Ige action of
ti,4 ,,,,j-. ,ouIa ,,-.irsf+o+. i,,Ie-,l,,t i1ial
,na,,,,i, ,y.,;ot o-r,s,,,.i i, ,,,i.-ne NJ. ,.a-47
prosi,7nnt f,io,-aItt,7 s,ias-4 r.ltita. us ,,.-
rbaticallv oe.ainst tba b,,l,it cors.r.ss h.s
follen into of makinf. snceohcs On intarra-
tional ouuestions while they are rcnd!n4
In other countries the impropriety and
DANGER of such sDeechmakipg are clearly
recoonized Tho trouble is that the words
snol,en in debate by members of legislative
bodies are irritable abroad. They convey
an imnrrssion tbat is NOT warranted by the
facts Sometimes they NAV be too belic-
erent and Mt others too much for peace. In
either case it is nossible tn do great harm.
Go wall il this understand that in Euro
neon countries sucb debates ore either sun
nrossed altogether or are practically limited
hv the v;shes of tho government. An illus
tration of this was afforded. and has been
sover,l times citn,j bv the nrosident in con
varsation in the house of commons when
tbe Venezuclan case came m for discussion
last month The debate went on "A little
time and no ol,iection was made. But AS
nnblic interests were threatened. or there
was dancer that they would be. the repre-.
sentativs of the prime minister on the
floor apnealed to the house to remember
the dntv II owed to another branch of
the GOVERNMENT. and the debate instantly
came +o nm end
E..rfn, Eorebod;nps.
n.o.;sa,,. CIa,o1,,,d ,,,o,,tia,,oa +bi, os
ai ,.,,,,o f,, r,,,. oa,,l. l.ross to folInyy
s..ta,,, 9 -; o,,,. cSe+,7,, 4ho ovon.,+;,,a
", o.,,,a,, ~, ,hn doo, nf oi+hor
80 ~ ~. -, -. ou vet,
e'o .'..- .-....S' H.. fa 10 ,,a.;,3n,,.
..' y w. aI, ',,1an-4aa, r. -
,. '. -: - y, ~. ~ -. ~ 49,
oy I"o ''.s ~ w l ~ .,.0
1880 "u.sns 49, ae :,,;.tan or snn.otort. C,oI,
or,aaI hn,,a han,, r., i,o Sa,,a+o h,,+
tha,, hp fn,I n,, doaf oars NJ Cloroland -
t;.d',a sney i"i that 20 .;n toda,ox, ~
-. ,radd,a ,,,;+,, faroi,.n ofr,;r, ho ,IIH,rod
to ] continne and devnlon it will unbalancr
our noy,ornnnnt and prodnce q statn of
affairs which win threaten the nation with
tho 1irest nerils The nresident did not
sne,,r viii, tho tonc of one who feels hnrt
b.causn another branch of the goyernment
is encroachipg unon his nero 9atives hrt
-. ,, ,,.,,,, ,,,'s, e;,,coro -, Iis boIiof tb,t
the tendencv constituted a menace TO opr
svstem and to o,,r noace
This !, VOW, r,ra,,n roo++or which +bo
nresidcnt has brcught forward and one
not to be disniseed witbont serious
tbnuobt Thoro j. of co,,rso ono+tor eido
tn The stcrr and I, nm, ahlo to nrovor+ +I,ot
after talls with membero Of +ho foroir,n
rotations cor,u,i++oo Of ,,o .eo,,oto ,r,era
gontlo,,o, adr1,it tho f fo,
e;ar o,y,;rs ;s - ~
Of thn ,rasidsnt r,t nIai,,, t,il fao4 daa
Vi 'i'o piea'oii.' '"o oialiii .iiis i"cd uoeS
Ours is democratic government. Con-