The San Francisco call., 1904-11-03
PRESIDENT COULD FORCE WAR.

This is only an initial attempt to dominate
public opinion in behalf Of the Government
But there viii be more OF 1t. II the imperialis-
tic spirit is permitted to prevail
IL this respect We must not fail to keep in
dent IN the conduct OF foreign relations
The Constitution provides that only Congress
within the power OF the President. II he de-
sfreS war, 10 create, by his conduct OF our
foreign relations. situations which make war
inevitable II may happen that on such an
occasion Congress having opposed war. would
not consent 10 II IL consulted beforehand; but
Il may be confronted BY things already done,
from war exceedingly difficult. Il not iInpos-
The President may then force a war upon
the country in spite Of the adverse opinion or
Congress He may do this. keeping, as TO the
exercise OF his powers within the letter OF the
constitution although nsgrantly violating its
spirit and intent. And he may do this, almost
OF the subsequent approval and support
o. Congress. which, when an accomplished
fact has put cur country IN an attitude more
or less hostile TO a foreign power. IS usually
very reluctant TO disavow Government
We have an illustration Of this in the his
tory Of the Panama Canal. ii being very doubt
fsIi whether Congress-even the Republican
nsyt - itGwouid have approved the policy
pursued By the administration. while the &C
complished fact easily commanded the accept
snce OF the majority. ,.,.
very dangerous one-dangerous TO the peace OF
the country. well as 70 the integrity OF our
institutions-unless the President cnerlsnes d
conscicntfous respect for the constitutional lin
ftstions OF his power and an overruling desire
veil IS the letter OF the constitution. well
as an innate love OF peace ana iair oee.Ihs
You may fudge for yourselves no" .t %.
perialistic tendency. with the lust OF eohquesl
and dominion, its love OF adventure ana mill
tary achievement ana us pIoeress - '"''1-
sive action and dramatic display
GREATER ARMY AND NAVY.
tt. irnperialistIc tendency, armed with that
power win be all the more dangerous when
II is at the same time armed with an ample
supply OF fighting material ready Tor aStlon.
I-nth a very recent period We enjoyed the
priceless blessing Of living In perfect peace
and security without bearing the burden OF
large army and navy costing 1nto1a nit,tTsr ntSsr
a year-a unique privilege OF Wnien otneI
nations sroaning under heavy military ano
naval expenditures, envied Us most nearby.
Our imperisiists now tell Us that tnls must
cease TO be 50 According to them, We must
have much larger army in proportion tnan
before, and Secretary Of the Navy as
sures US that we must have the biggest navy
in the world whatever the cost.
Have you ever seen anybody able 10 give
YOU an intelligent and satisfactory reason
why we must have those things? Some say
we must have them TO protect our commerce
1 ask. then, has there ever been single mo-
rneut since the year 1910 when our commerce
suffered IN the least from the want of big
navy to protect it2 Others say we must have
Il to enforce the Monroe doctrine Was there
ever before since Civil War. a single
occasion when the Monroe doctrine was, so
TO speak. unable 70 enforce itself without
big army or navy? Our worthy Secretary OF
war. in a recent speech before the Union
League Club. illustrated-without thinking Of
it-hor unnecessary a big army and navy
are 10 Us for any OF these purposes He said:
Under the second Cleveland administration
we were by President Cleveland's message on
the Venezuelan boundary question. brought to
the brink OF with Great Britain Now.
how many guns do you think there were on
the cosst2 There was just one modern gun
mounted
After the laughter called forth by that re-
mark had subsided Secretary Taft continued: !:
THAT taught the Republicans a lesson"
Now what was that lesson? That more
guns shouid be mounted2 But did Il not
occur TO the Secretary that the real and far
more important lesson was very different
one7 Only recall the circumstances under
which the incident took place.
Great Britain. engaged in a boundary dispute
With Venezuela urged her contention with