The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-16
PRESIDENT AND SENATE.
The American system OF Treaty Making
More Important Than ANY Treaty


10 rHr EplToR or THE SuN-Sir: The dii"
ference of opinion between an overwhelming
majority OF the Senate on the ono hand ana
The presidept on the other In regard to their
respective rights and duties in the conduct
of our foreign relations brings to tho 'front.'
quite dramatically an interesting but perhaps
not very perpexing question.
From time immemcTial II has been tho pre-
roratiye Of the King to assume exclusive
control In conducting negotiations and con-
Guiding treaties. protocols and agreements
OF oil kinds affecting the external relations
OF his own kingdom with those Of other Pow
ers The reason for this was twoiold; hrst,
because originally. In monarchloal form oil
government. great authority was naturally
lodged in the hands OF the King. aud secondly,
because even with the rise OF democracy,
diplomatic conditions In Europe constantly
require both secrecy and despatch. The
result has been that while. as IN France and
England. the external form has changed the
essential conditions nevertheless remain
For instance. the Jaunty trip OF Henry VILE
in the first half OF the sixteenth century,
across the Channel TO settle on the fleld OF
the Cloth OF Gold with his friend Francis J.
the international relations Of England ana
France differs in no essential way from Dis
rael's famous coup when England awoRe
one morning 10 find, without the slightest
warning. that she was the owner OF the Suel
Canal. with all the startling and tremendous
Internal ona obligations incurred by the
purchase.
In our country. however, the situation ~
very different. The trainers of the ConStl-
tuition very properly recognized that there
was no one thing more likely to get us into
trouble than the making OF treaties. or ia
fact Internal ona agreements OF any klhd.
on free and easy Henry VIII basis. lhor-
oughly familiar with the workings OF the
English system. under which they had been
bred they wisely provided. therefore that al
treaties that word being presumably USED
In the broadcast sense, should be submitted
to the great deIiberative body of the nation,
end in their anxiety 20 avoid complications
they even went so far as TO provide thata two
thirds vote of the Senate should be necessary
to launch the ship OF State into untried intcr-
national waters. ! his X evidently the
spirit and intent of the treaty making clause
in the Constitution. and 80 comfortable to
the reasonable requirements OF our own time.
that IL would seem wise 20 exercise great care
In constituting that clause in favor of the ex-
tension of Executive power, even IN matters
OF comparative detail.
II is und ouhtedly true that the English
system Is much more prompt and effective in
dealing with emer gences which are SO likely
to arise among the complications necessarily
incident TO European international condl-
lions. ON the Otner mana our foreign Teih-
lions owing to our recognized power and
isolation. are practically free from emergen-
cies and this fact, combined with the natural
and proper desire of Il democracy to be con
suited through its representative body on
matters OF supreme Importance, makes our
present system one TO be very jealousy
guarded, both in letter and in spirit
More particularly ~ this the case now. hen
complications with our southern ncighbors
nd ipNpaudfur oh / N the relations of
the world Powers toward each other will OF
necessity bring the United States very much
to the front.
Doubtless the present incumbent OF the
Presidential office with his present able adj
visers. would be entirely competent to con-
duct our International relations to the com
pete satisfaction of n vast majority OF
the American people. and certainly with
greater celebrity. without any assistance from
the senate However. our written Constitu
ton and political habit al mind COM
bne in competing MS or the one hand 20
respect and on the other To prefer the Sena-
torjHl school OF town meeting diplomacy
II is therefore respectfully submitted that
the American people should sustain tho Senate
in the construction of its own rights aud
duties under the Constitution 80 properly and
vigorously insisted upon by IL on Saturday.
Feb. H. Though the Senatorial system may
he lacking in elasticity. IL would at least seem
to more than make up for that defect by is
solidity, rs representing in definite form and
to a very appreciahlc degree the considered
Judgment oftho American people.
The preservation OF the equilibrium OF the
coordinate powers OF our Government under
the Constitution should certainly be held OF
more Importance 10 us than the expedition Of
any treaties. however mcritorious in them
selves $. l., +.
WASHINGTON. D. C.. Feb. IL