The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-23
POWERS OF THE PEEsIDENt \

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
This is republic. The president nom
inally is not its ruler but its servant and
agent. His constitutional powers are
carefully defined and on all ordinary oC-
Casions and questions congress is watch
full, often critical in reviewing and even
determining the scope of his policy. But
when "a great crisis confronts the GOV
crnment, by common consent the prCsi-
dent exercises enormous powers.
O.
The necessity for the concentration of
these powers and of responsibility during
serious emergencies in the hands of one
man has always been recognized in this
country. Washington was practically a
dictator in the war of the Revolution He
had enemies and his measures and move
ments We're bitterly assailed at times,
but he was sustained by the great body
of his Countrymen. In the war of 1872
and that with Mexico the executive pow
er entirely overshadowed that of con-
gress. In 1861 President Lincoln sum
moned first 5000 men and three weeks
later ordered the enlistment of "a, 900 sol
dierS and $1,000 seamen for three years
service when congress was not in session.
That body did not meet until July of
that year, and it was then summoned in
special session simply for the purpose of
raising money to carry on the war then
in progress The enormous responsibility
of beginning the war rested upon the
shoulders of the president though his
duty was so plain and imperative that he
would have been crimlnaly remiss in il
If he had not done what he did. Through
out the war for the Union there was
plenty of work for congress and Mr.. Lin
coin was always sCrupulously careful to
respect that body's constitutional rights
| and powers, yet 'hc executive department
| Of the government necessarily exercised
| autOCratiC powers. 1t was no time to
| hold popular conventions and consult
| congress whenever an important order
| was to be issued or a battle fought Cen
cral Grant in civil life showed that he re-
| spcCted constitutional and civil institu-
| tons and rights, but while i'm command
| of our armies he never held a council OF
war. lie knew the responsibility rested
| on him and he was not the man to shtrk
| it.
The good sense of the American people
has never been more strikingly displayed
| than in the almost universal aCquieSCenCo
| with which the action of congress i'm put
ting 600 in the hands of the presi-
dent to be used at his discretion has been
| received. If war is to be carried on our
people know it cannot be done through
mass meetings or even congressional de-
bates. Some one person shall he left free
to make plans and issue orders without
the intermeddling of others. The prcsi-
| dent, by virtue OF his Office, Is the man
and, fortunately, he Is such by virtue OF
his experience, sagacity, patience, hon
esty and courage. Under our republican
| institutions often there Is complaint OF
sowness and nefficiency because toe
! many cooks are making the broth }u
in such n crisis as that with Spain there
Is one chief cook and his word is going
To be the law so far as the manage
ment of our relations with that power
are concerned. The autocrat of Russia
could not demand greater confidence anC
acquiescenCe than congress and the peu
pie have displayed in the course anC
measures adopted by President Mckinley
and his department chiefs.