The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-29
a GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO-
GETHER THROWN AWAY.

the IAOuSh why
one should hesitate to vote against tbs
treaty before them is past our under
standing if they believe the President
was guilty of usurpation and that he viz
tually seeded Panama. But they did
get together and voted for a resolution
calling for "all the facts It was well
enough to vote for the resolution and to
get all the information possible, but the
truth is there is not an intelligent twelve
year old boy in America who does not
know that the whole disgraceful Panama
affair shows more than any other single
thing Roosevelt's reckless disregard OF
the constitutional limitations placed upon
the executive. He virtually declared war
without the consent of Congress. He
showed that he was willing to plunge this
country into war to carry out his own viii
which he opposed to an act OF Congress.
What was the duty of Democrats?
Clearly to make it plain to every voter in
America that Roosevelt is a dangerous
man in the White House, who would run
rough shod over Congress just as Crom-
well adjourned Parliament if Congress
opposed his will They could have en-
rhaszed the usurpation and recklessnes.
of the President without endangering the
canal. 1t was their duty as the party OF
the Constitution and in defense of nation
al honor to vote solidly against the
treaty. Mr. German showed wise leader
ship in the position he assumed, and Wis
dom would have dictated that the min
ority Senators should defer to the views
of the majority of their party and the
Judgment of the man they have selected
as their leader.
S Senator Stone has drawn a strong in
dictment against the President and Sena-
tor Simmons has made a strong speech
proving that Mr.. Roosevelt's conduct
shows he is an unsafe man to be chief
executive And then both of these Sena.
tors will vote to ratify the treaty which
is before the Senate only as a result OF
executive usurpation.. They are honest
In thinking they can vote for the treaty
in order to get canal and then denounce
the President for his dangerous policy,
bat they are mistaken. The minute the
treaty is ratified, the crime is condonea,
Good men thought the Paris treaty could
be ratified and then the Filipinos could
be given liberty. Events have shown
their mistake Democratic Senators. with
that recent case before them, need not
expect to make the people believe that-the
President has done reprehensihle act il
they vote to obtain the fruits of it. The
fear that the defeat OF the treaty would
prevent the construction of any canal il;
based upon the idea expressed that the
President will construct the Panama
canal or permit no ditch to be dug-that
he will disobey a solemn mandate OF
that, then that constitutes another rea-
son why the Democrats should refuse to
condone his revolutionary act in seeding
Panama But he will not dare to refuse
to construct the Nicaragua canal if the
treaty fails. The law is mandatory and
he would not disobey the plain statute,
for, reckless as he is and dangerous to
the national peace, Mr.. Roosevelt would
not dare defeat this great enterprise be-
cause thwartcd in the particular route he
prefers.
The Democrats have lost a splendid OPP
portunity upon a high moral issue to pre-
sent an unbroken front in defense OF the
constitutional limitations imposed upon
the executive. 1t was an opportunity
fraught with no danger to the commerce
of the country or to party success. We
hear much about getting together" for
a victory in November. Ii the Senators
in the party cannot get together" upon
plain issue as to whether the grossest
piece of executive usurpation in history
shall be condoned by ratifying the treaty
If the leaders of the party cannot "get
together to preserve the constitutional
division of the powers Of government.
how can we expect men not so astute ana
wise to sacrifice their individual views to
secure party harmony?
In accepting reelection to the United
States Senate, Senator Daniel, of Vir-
ginia, made a brief address to the Leg
islature of that State. In the course Of
his speech he made clear-cut and brief
explanation of his opposition to the
treaty. He prefaced his remarks by say
ing that his reasons ''are not actuated IN
the slightest degree by any partisan
judgment" and in a brief statement sums
up the argument against ratitying the
lease in a concise and mastery manner.
Senator Daniel said:
1.-THE United States in 1916 entered in
to a treaty of peace with the government
of Colombia 1t is a treaty winch pro
vides that notice shall be given before
any hostile attitude is assumed towards