The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-28
THE DREADFUL SENATE.

Judging from the promptness with
which the Senate adopted the resolutions
from the committee on foreign relations
concerning the Turkish outrages in Ar
menia it probably thought the action
wise, timely and statesmanlike The
speeches were sentimental and jingoish.
and the vote was Of that nearly unani-
nous character which the Senate adopts
when it is playing to the galleries or do
ing some great act outside of practical
legislation: but all the same the action
was OF very doubtful wisdom
To begin with, the Senate is neglecting
its duty to the country, and has been for
of December, eight weeks ago. The
Presidents annual message showed that
the national finances were in a critical
condition. The annual report of the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury, which came two
weeks later, confirmed this view. On
the 21st of December the President sent
a special message to Congress calling at
tention to the alarming condition of the
treasury and urging prompt remedial
legislation. The House, recognizing the
gravity of the situation and its duty in
the premises, prepared to act imme-
diately. The usual holiday adjournment
was omitted, and for the first time in
and means committee devoted several
hours of Christmas day to formulating
bills for the relief Of the treasury. These
measures, a tariff bill and bond BILL
were reported in the House on the Goth
of December, and the tariff bill was
that it would add $40, O00,0 900 to the gov
eminent revenues. The bond bill was
passed by the House Dec. %. Both bills
were sent to the Senate, and there they
remain. Since then the Senate has di-
.vided its time between wrangling over
a few petty offices. listening to long
winded speeches on dead or irrelevant
trine and passing resolutions denouncing
the Armenian massacres. Probably no
legislative body ever showed less appre-
citation Of crisis in its countrys affairs
or less regard for it's own duty.
= AS to the infamy of the Turkish out
RACES in Armenia, there is. of course. no
difference of opinion. They challenge
the sympathy of the civilized world, and
if mere expression Of sympathy could do
any good Congress should not hesitate
to make 1t. But not only can it do no
good, but there Is reason to fear that.
in existing circumstances, 1t may be used
as weapon against the Monroe doc
trine and thereby weaken the position
Of this government on a question where
it is important that it should be strong.
The Monroe doctrine has double signifi-
canoe. 1t commits the United States to
noninterference in European affairs as
distinctly as it opposes European inter-
ference in American affairs. In fact,
the latter phase Of the doctrine derives
it's main strength from our scrupulous
observance Of the former. Obviously,
therefore, when the United States as
sumes to protest against the action of
European governments regarding a
European question it lays itself open to
the charge of meddiing in European
affairs. Waving the discourtesy i'm
piled to other powers in assuming to
construe a treaty to which the United
States is not party and trying to fasten
on them a responsibility which they will
promptly disclaim, the least that can be
said Of the Senate action is that it is a
piece of Unnecessary meddling in affairs
far removed from the proper field of
legislation. If any American citizen
should be harmed or American property
be destroyed in Turkey the United States
should act promptly and vigorously. But
action is one thing and talk is another.
Mere resolutions of sympathy by legis-
lative body-and, by the way, no other
legislative body besides the American
Congress ever passes them-amount to
nothing, and scolding at foreign govern
ments does not contribute to the strength
or dignity of our own.