Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-07
nIElELIANnoUA RLCoRn
Caucus Rule on Treatles.

caucus hulo on Irehuea.
"For the frst time in our national his
tory the Senators belonging TO one politi-
cal party have openly attempted TO
make the vote on a treaty a party ques-
ton" shrielgs the Philadelphia Press,
faithful administration organ.
But history does not sustain tho Phila-
delphia Press in this sweeping contention.
The very first treaty considered by the
United States Senate, the Jay Treaty
with Great Britain, was ratified accord
ing TO Prof McMaster, "by a strict party
vote" And that was in l795, a century
and a decade ago.
A more recent instance, and one coming
under the present administration, was
the Panama Treaty, which was made a
party issue by the Republicans. The
late Senator Hanna had charge Of the rati-
fcation Of this treaty, and he roped all the
Republican Senators 10 rs support,
whether they were pleased with il or not.
Il is told Of one Republican member of
the Senate who voted favorably upon
this treaty Of thelt-it practically stole
the State Of Panama from the United
States Of Colombia--that he protested,
when reproached for his vote, that he
could not help himself, as ho was acting
funder orders from Hanna.
a most fragrant instance Of the employ
ment Of par,isanship TO defeat an inter
national treaty was occurred in iSSs,when
the Republican majority of the Senate
rejected the Bayard-Chamberlain Treaty,
for NO other reason than the pitifully
partisan one that the treaty, which was
an admirable one, would reflect credit upon
the Cleveland administration upon the eve
OF the national election, and thus aid in
securing popular Endorsement of that
administration by the voters. Every
Democratic Senator voted for that treaty,
and every Republican Senator voted
against IT, Il was practically admitted
at the time that the opposition Of the
Republican majority in the Senate was
due TO the partisan opinion that the Re
publcans "could not afford TO allow the
administration 10 get the credit Of a great
stroke Of craftsmanship on the eve of the
elections" Only the fact that this treaty
had been negotiated by a Democratic
Secretary Of state-Thomas f. Bayard-
under a Democratic national administra-
tion, induced the Republican members Of
the Senate TO vote solidly against it, Had
these Republican Senators expressed
their real sentiments, instead of yielding
20 partisan influences, many of them
would have voted for this treaty. And
while the solid Democratic vote in support
OF il might have been influenced TO some
extent by partisan considerations also
there is no doubt that consideration ol
the treaty on It's merits, TO the absolute
exclusion Of partisanship. would have
resulted in its ratification by large ma
iority.
The santo Domingo Treaty is one that
does not appeal 10 the judgment and in
telligence of the Senate. Il bodies nc
good to this country, but trends in tn,
direction Of additional complications il
our relations with foreign countries. which
have hecn so largely our portion sine,
We entered upon our rash colonial ex
perimenis. II Is designed more 10 ge
the administration out Of the hole II
which It Is now foundering as a result @
the unwisc and unauthorized interieronc,
by the President in ssnto Domingar
afair than 10 establish mutually hene
fetal relations between the two countries
Il is only natural, therefore that Repub
hcan Senators should find themselves a
heart opposed to this treaty, but the part,
lash has whipped them into line in its sup
port, and now administration hackers an
bowling because a like application of thl
spirit Of partisanship threatens to algr
the Democratic Senators in solid opposi
ton and thus secure the defeat of th
measure.
Aside from partisanship, there is mucl
IN the situation which should incHn
Democratic Senators to oppose the treaty
1t is a poor bargain. Senators like Pat
terson Of Coloado,w who seems 20 be seekin
Federal patronage 70 aid in his reelection
may support It for personal reasons, bu
other Senators, Of both parties, may con
sisiently oppose it on principle. And
al partisanship should be eliminated
there is no doubt that Republican an
Democratic votes would heartily unit
IN efeeting It's defeat