The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-27
MONARCHY AND REPUBLIC.
Great Britain and the United states
Exchange Places as to Forms OF Gov
IN
Especial to Baltimore SUM-

Especial to Baltimore SUM
Washington. February 20.-Ffles of
London newspapers of late dates re-
ceiyed here have been read with ex-
ceeding interest by members of both
houses Of congress, as showing the
marked difference both the
theory and the practice of the excel
tive departments of Great Britain and
the United States.
In theory Great Britain is a mo-
narchical government and the United
States a democratic government. In
practice precisely the reverse appears
to be the case. The contrast is made
most striking in the conduct of the
two governments in the Philippine.
and the BeOer wars.
From the first it has been worse than
extracting eye teeth to obtain any in
formation from the administration or
President Mckinley as to the motives,
imposes n policy Of the government
in the Philippine war. The president
in speech and in writing has again and
again declared it is for congress TO
prescribe the method of conducting the
war and the policy to be pursued.
PRESIDENT SUITS HIMSELF.
Yet he goes right on managing ev-
erything to suit himself, and taking
progressive and radical steps with con-
temptuous disregard of the views of
congress or OF public opinion. Every
effort to obtain intelligence throwing
light on the action Of the administra-
ton is met with determined opposition
from it's henchmen in the two houses.
Resolutions of inquiry which have
finally been pushed through are an
swered partially or completely ignored.
Weeks ago the president was asked
by the senate to send in certain docu-
ro- ~
the Philippines, and he earlier cordial
| and cooperative relations with Agui-
naldo.
This could have been answered in "a
hours, but it is still unanswered. Mem
bers of gre are constantly clam>
oring for his intelligence.
, The public press of the United States
daily calls on the administration In
vain for the instructions issued to
| General Merritt which caused such a
sudden change in his attitude.
NO SUCH SECRECY IN ENGLAND.
AS these london show,
it is so different on the other side or
| the water. Columns and columns are
Ike up with the report of the replies
made by cabinet ministers in the
house of lords and the house Of COM
mons to all sorts OF inquiries as to the
causes which led to the war, the con-
duct of it and the plans and purposes
OF the government. So fire" and pu-
restrained have been the statements
of Lord Salisbury and his associates
that the newsperS have taken them
severely to task for it and insisted
they should refuse to disclose so mucn
Inf0rmation-
And yet there are. yellow Journals
in Great Britain just as in this COIN
try. Under our constitution congress
only can declare war, but after the
declaration has once been made there
seems no restriction OF the absolute
power of the president to carry 1t on
just as long as it pleases him and in
whatever manner it suits him.
In the house of lords and in the
house Of commons the cabinet minis
tiers have explained and defended and
palliated in response to the badgerlna
of the most obscure members
ANSWER QUESTIONS FREELY.
Asked why they did not do this or
that, they nave replied they were fear
full of trenching upon the British con-
s%titution and were in doubt as to thelr
lawful authority. We have heard nf
such talk as this from the executive
branch of our government.
1t is almost incredible, but it is 6
fact, that the influential press of Eng
land is berating Lord Salisbury anC
his government for being Overscrupu-
lous.
The example of the United States il
held up to him. and he is advised IL
so many words to follow American
precedent One of the oldest of the
London periodicals ard one of com
handing influence tells him what hi
United states has lone, and insists IA
shall go and do likewise.
He is admonished that had he fol
lowed American practice he woult
have taken responsibility, not wasted
precious time in discussing constitu
t;cnaI and legal technicalitieS am
made his explanations after it was al
over.
But the people of the United State
don't even get explanations after it /
all over. The president of the Unite;
States and his cabinet are infinitei
more removed from the Legislature an
the people than are the Queen of Grea