New-York tribune., 1900-05-22
BOERS EXCLUDED FROM THE SENATE.

BOERS EXCLUDED FROM THE SENATE.
The Senate of the United States yesterday
declined 10 admit the Boer political agents in
this country to the floor of the Senate Chamber.
In that ii did exactly right The only adverse
comment to be made upon its action is directed
upon the fact that the vote was not unanimous,
it should have been No less than twenty
one Senators voted in favor of admitting the
Beers. Why they did so we shall not pretend to
say. 1t is, however. significant fact. which
will doubtless he sufficient TO most minds as an
explanation of their votes. that they were, all
of them. political opponents of the present Adj
ministraion. We shall not them of
playing politics or trying to put the Govern
ment into hole but If such construction is
popularity put upon their action we do not know
who but themselves will be to blame
The reasons why it would have been highly
improper for the Senate thus formally and Off
cally 10 recognize these ENJOYS have hitherto
been set forth. Senator Davis repeated them
and added TO them yesterday with his accus-
toned lucidty and force AS a part Of the
treaty making power and therefore Of the
diplomatic branch of the Government the SEN
ate is under the strongest obligations TO main
tain correctly neutral relations with all foreign
Powers. That is the consideration which should
inhibit ii from expressing sympathy with one
OF tll8 DeIllgefentS III a 1Orelgn Strl1e Wnen the
other beliigerent is "A Power friendly to the
United States with which the United States
wishes TO remain on terms of friendship Bat
in the present the argument is still
stronger If these Boer gentlemen are only
with their cause and TO provoke enmity toward
a Power friendly to the United States. the Off
cial reception Of them by the Senate would be
offensive TO diplomatic taste and to interna-
tional amty. If. on the other hand, they are
purely diplomatic agents, then. as Senator Davis
well says they have acted in an irregular and
improper manner. Instead of at once laying
their credentials before the Government In a
diplomatic manner, they have first conducted q
political stump speech campaign. 1t may well
be held that such course has forfeited their
right to be officially regarded as diplomatic en-
voys Upon that ground alone their exclusion
from the Senate Chamber was not only ad-
visable, but necessary.
Such exclusion is not Incompatible with such
private recognition. hospitality and even sym
pathy. as individual Senator may see fit to give
to the Beers. The Secretary of State. who is
even more fully identified with the foreign rela-
ti0ns of the country than is the Senate, has
seen his way clear TO meeting the envOys in
purely informal and unofficial manner and it
is intima ted that the President himself NAV do
the same. Such personal attention is not to be
construed into official action. 1t is merely
courtesy to a foreign visitor of some distinction
in his own land. which is paid TO him In spite Of
such errors of department as he may have COM
mitted, and in spite of the maladrot efforts
further TO mislead him which have been so in
dustriously made by domestic partisans for
selfish purposes. Between personal courtesy
and official recognition there is a distinction
with a difference.