New-York tribune., 1903-06-07

view Of tie United States. We beg his pardon; 1
We should have said United State, not States, |
as he reminds US in both Chapter and Ap |
peQdix I The term State, he tells US really |
suggests little more than q geographical boun- |
dary. Even Mr.. Bryce's description of America /
as a union Of partly sovereign States is true |
IN only q historical, but not in an actual sense.
I'VE might as well speak Of the United Counties |
Of England, or the United Departments of
France, as Of the United States of America, !
otherwise than in a purely official and nominal |
sense" Yet little later Mr.. Wilson tells us
that a great lot of highly important matters
can be dealt with only by State legislation. A |
marriage in one State is invalid in another. A |
divorce granted in one State is not recognized |
in another. New-York has stringent laws for
The protection Of society against anarchists and
Illinois practically none at all. There is a
fantastic diversity Of opinion among the forty
SIX (sic) petty States legislatures-an appalling
condition There is a general demand for ma
tioraI legislation on such matters, but that
would require an amendment to the Constitu-
ton, and that is something the States will not
permit; for ''the National Government has no
powers save those expressed in the Constitu-
ton, as interpreted by the Supreme Court"
And so the term State really suggests little
except q geographical boundary! Always eX-
ceQt3ng the State Of Obfuscation.
With such brave beginning, what may we not
presently expect? In the next chapter the
growth Of the Presidents power is discussed.
The President says Mr. Wilson, has for
some time had ascendancy over the legislative
and judiciaI'-meaning, doubtless, the legislat-
IRE and judiciary. Now the Office and its occu
pant have taken a stride further. The
President has become as powerful as any living
monarch, the autocratic ruler of hundreds Of
thousands Of people in Cuba and of millions of
people in the Spanish possessions Of the Orient
lsic) Congress seems 10 have abdicated."
There follows q fearsome catalogue Of Presi-
Dental usurpations. Thus when Mr. Cleveland
called upon Congress to provide for a commis-
sion 10 determine the TeneZuela-Guiana boun-
dry. he got his power 10 do so from outside
the Constitution. Who ever would have thought |
it, Our reading Of the Constitution makes it the |
right and duty Of the President to recommend !
to the consideration of Congress such measures |
IS he shah judge necessary and exI dent" But |
perhaps AIr. Wilson knows better, and when |
ever the President recommends legislative ac- |
ton he is guilty Of a high crime and misde- |
uleanor But then, while the President is thus !
usurping power over Congress and courts, the |
Supreme Court has been Of late steadily gaining |
ground" and we see the Senate advancing |
with impudent strides forward toward a share
of power" while the Executive often acts be- |
fine arrangement OF epitaphs." The President
IS lsurping the power Of Congress, the Senate |
is usurpng the power Of the President and
the Supreme Court is steadily gaining ground. |
Are We to consider it a sort Of triangular or
t-irartite go-as-you-please race?
Mr.. Wilson dwells much upon the enormity /
OF the Senates recent assumption Of the right /
To participate IN the making Of treaties. There /
may be room for discussion to its power to /
amend. and as TO the propriety Of its doing So
But surely the Constitution provides that the
advice and consent Of the Senate shall be |
necessary for the making of treat :. He re- /
CARDS il as an oninous sign Of the times that
the Executive should ever consider or inquire
in advance whether proposed treaty would
meet with Senatorial approval Whether or not
that is seeking what the Constitution calls /
the advice Of the Senate the ~~ectice is GER
talnly no new thing. II was followed IN at
least one noteworthy and important case-the /
Oregon treaty-rnore than half century ago
Doubtless il is awkward and annoying for the /
uulucBy foreigner who MI Wilson says, |
has been devoting his time and faith TO the
negotiation Of a treaty. to find that instru- /
raeut after being signed, sealed and delivered,
NOT worth the paper il Is written on because
tIs Senate refuses TO ratify it Yet, II We re-
member Alright this country has had preclSely /
thar experience at the hands Of a foreign power
practising good old school European diplomacy;