New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-14

The incident ia tlc Senate Which was opened
by Mr Bacon on Tuesday and was closed for
the present by Mt. Hale yesterday gave rise to
some Interesting reflections upon the conduct
Of foreign negotiations. Tho proUrctv, or the
profit OF town meeting diplomacy in general
may well be called u'e question even though
the town meeting bo SO important and capable
n body as lie United States Senate. The max
tx Of treaties. a." appointment and reception
Il foreign ministers md the general conduct Of
the external relations OF the country are Presi-
dental functions. In some ci these functions
the advice and consent Of The Senate are ncces-
sarv. That has usually been Interpreted 10
mean That Tie Presidents action, 10 be valid
must DE ratified, after the fact by tie Senate
the initiative being left to tie President There
have been, no doubt, cases in which the Senate
has taken The initiative, by suggesting certain
actions 10 the President which suggestions lie
was free 10 accept OF 10 reject II pleasure; and
there IS ~ least one well remembered case il
which a President asked tie advice II the Sen
ote concerning a treaty before he concluded the
latter But Tor obvious reasons it is desira-
bic that diplomatic business shall be generally
conducted by the Executive.
Granting, however, hy way Of argument, the
nronrictv Of Senatorial or Congressional sl,-
Sestion TO lie PRESIDENT 80 advance concern
INK foreign affairs, such propr.ery is surely con-
diuoncd upon The character Of the suggestion II
would he deIlOrable, 81 might be miscellaneous
tCr the Senate u suggest 10 the President an
ret Of disqualification. In the present case.
Tor example, Il would be difficult 10 imagine
anything more improper than for the Senate TO
ask the President TO adopt policy which would
practically admit wrougdoinc by the United
States toward Colombia That would be ,aa.,-
ing one department OF our government the ad-
vocate and champion OF a foreign power against
another department OF our government The
fate OF a house divided against Itself IS pro
verbal It is unLappiy true that on more Than
one occasion individual officers Of the govern
ment have, FOR partisan or personal purposes,
striyen 10 eInAarrass the President or tie Socra-
tary OF State in his negotiations with FOREIGN
power and TO give the foreign power victory
over the United States FOR the sake Of discralit.
Ing q rival or putting him into hole" Such
conduct on the part Of individuals has been re-
garded with reprobaiion Performed bv rbe
whole Senate, il would be difficult 10 descri,e
IN words OF moderation.
We DO not intimate that such was t5e -n-on+
OF Nj. BacOn's resolution Of TUESDAY rhero q,
however, reason TO think IL might, If adoutad
have had such an effect But even If II yvouId
not have been so mlschlevous rs that II & dtp
DcClt 20 see tie desI-ability Of asking the Prast
dent 10 enter into negotiations for an amIcalle
settlement with Colombia, when IN fact orr
relations with that country are now amIcafla
and there IS no threat Ot their becoming, other
wise. and when, moreover friendly negotiations
for the transaction Of all pending business he
tween the two countries are actually in uroe-
ress sun more questionable would be the wis