New-York tribune., 1906-06-26
THE PRESIDENT ABROAD.

The announced intention of President Roose-
welt to visit Panama next fall IS commendable-
Although the isthmus is not a part of the United
States it is the scene OF one of the most i'm
portant public works undertaken by this
or. indeed by any country. and with that work
the President is officially associated In pecu-
iarly direct and intimate manner. Moreover
the United States government sustains pecul-
iarly intimate relations with that of the Repub
lie of Panama and will continue 10 do so, neces
sarily. for all time 10 come On these grounds
alone. which are presumably those on which he
has formed his determination the Presidents
visit 10 the isthmus will doubtless be productive
of good. II will give him a more comprehensive
and accurate appreciation of the colossal work
in which the nation IS there engaged, it will
stimulate those Immediately employed upon that
work TO put forward their best efforts for its
advancement, and il will confirm tie relations Of
mutual confidence between the two governments
which II has been his lot 10 establish.
For another reason more sentimental than
practical perhaps, but vet by no means unim-
portant, il will he a fortunate episode-namely.
that il will he another step toward completely
dispeling the baseless and in some respects mis-
cbiavous deIusion that President Of the United
States is not permitted TO 90 outside the boun-
daries of this Union So widespread and strong
to-day otherwise intelligent citizens who imag-
inc there is some constitutional or statutory pro-
vision 10 that effect and that If President ven
tured 10 step a few inches beyond the boundary
Of the United states he would ipso fGCtO deprive
himself of his Office. or at least subject himself
TO impeachment As a matter Of fact. there IS
of course no such prescription. and though
custom has generally kept Presidents within the
Union and its territories. that ''unwritten law"
has not always remained unbroken. President
Roosevelt himself certainly has on one occasion
gone outside of the limits of the United States
during his term of office-on bis voyage from
New Orleans 10 Washington last fall-and it is
not impossible that others have done so. In fact.
there is reason to suspect that General Grant
did SO more than once.
We do not suppose ii will ever become the Gus
tom for American Presidents to do much trav-
elIing abroad. 1t might not he we'll for them TO
do so But seeing that We have for more than
a generation possessed important territories
which a President cannot visit without going
abroad. there seems to he very practical and
increasingly important reason why the principle
of his power thus to travel should be established.
We do not think it is a commendable thing that
We have owned Alaska for forty years and that
no President has yet visited that interesting
and valuable territory. 1t would be fitting for
him 10 visit II and the other outlying posses
sions Of the United States. Nor would il be
without value 10 establish the principle that a
President of the United States is in such mat
ters more pent up and circumscribed than the
President of France or the King of England. If
there are citizens to whom President Roosevelts
going N Panama will seem like a subversion of
the Constitution. beg them TO recall the in
cidents of thirty years ago. when not few
gravely questioned whether President Grant
could exercise the powers and functions of his
Office while at his summer home at Long
Branch. and 10 note how that question was an
Swered.