The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-18

The real point at issue Is not arbitra- tton, but the attempt of the ExecutiVe to usurp functions that belong exclus- lively to the legislative body. This is the situation when stripped of all verb iage.
 the United States which Is given at the head of these observations puts the stitution the final power of making treaties with foreign governments de- wolves upon the Senate, not upon the President or the State Department or any other branch of the administration. It Is explicitly laid down that the Pres ident Is authorized to move in such matters only 'by and with the advice and consent of the Senate" This pro- vision of the Constitution Is not to be |evaded by the bubble of substituting the word agreement" for the word treaty" No matter what name be given to the diplomatic instrument in an undertaking entered into by the United States and a foreign power. The difference, then, between such an agree ment and an ordinary treaty Is the diff ference between tweedldum and twee- dledee-
 It may be President Roosevelt's hid den purpose to disguise the document as an agreement or compact bond, arrangement, covenant, contract, un- Idertaking or to make any other Mach iavellian distinction without a differ cree that he pleases, but this cannot alter the fact that it is an international treaty. And if he were to make such an agreement or treaty without talk ing the advice and obtaining the con- sent of the Senate the President would infringe the constitution and expose himself to impeachment
 It is well that this matter should be plainly stated, for to the people of the United States the maintenance of Re- publican principles of government is far more important than the academic advocacy of arbitration. Those prin- aced, though, thanks to the patriotism of the Senate, the danger has been ayerted for a time. The framers of the Constitution realized that the clear ly defined separation of the legislative and the executive bodies is a vitally essential requisite in government by the people," and every provision was made in the Constitution to keep them separate. It Is by the insdious en- croachment of the Executive upon the legislative power that governmental control is concentrated in one branch and ultimately in the hands of one man and thereby republic is transformed into a dictatorship.
 It Is begging the question to cite MT. Roosevelt's good intentions" and patriotism as G idence that there Is no danger to the Republic in his usurpa- tion of the Senate's prerogatives. Cae- sar was a patriot animated with good
 intentions, but he destroyed the Ro-
 man Republic. Cromwell was a well
 intentioned patriot, but the Common
 wealth under him became a protector ate-which differed from a dictatorship as little as President Roosevelt's fn- ternational agreement" differs from an ordinary treaty-became a protec- torate that paved the way for the Res
 toration. Napoleon was a patriot and
 we'll intentioned, but he metamor- phosed the young French Republic into an empire after preliminary stages as
 a directorate and a consulate Each of these men was ambitious of power, so Is MT. Roosevelt; was self-confident so is MT. Roosevelt; was dictatorial and impatient of restraint. so Is MT Roosevelt: had imperialistlc aspirations, so has Mir Roosevelt.
 In fact, genius apart, wherein does MT, Roosevelt liffer from these great prototypes? Certainly not in his re- srect for the opinion of the people
 witness the Crum ease; nor in his re- spect for the law-witness this attempt
 to substitute himself for the Senate in making International treaties nor in his pacific inclinations for 1t Is an open secret that powerful squadron of American warshipj fifteen or eigh-
 teen, we believe-is under orders for service in Caribbean waters to en- | force not the policy of the United Sttaes, but the policy of President Roosevelt. He has just received from
 the Senate sharp reminder that he is | not yet dictator, but is First Magistrate of the United States-a far more mag nifcent and noble title. He needed the 1 lesson badly. This is the general opin- ! ion of the public. It was this consid- | eratiOn that secured such unanimity in ! the Senate's vote. Even Senator Lodge. l the Presidents stanch friend, deserted
 him rather than sacrifice the interests | of the Republic. President Roosevelt
 might have completed his resemblance | to Caesar by crying "Et tn I,odgal"