The Washington herald., 1906-11-08
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER s. 1906.
A Countrv Without q president.

For the next three weeks or a month
the United States will be practically a
country without a President. Mr. Roose-
welt win be either upon the high seas or
energetically tramping over the route of
the Panama Canal.
Mr.. Roosevelt's administration has shat
tered many traditions and evidenced an
utter disregard for precedent His de-
parture for Panama is in line with his
other Independent actions. He is about TO
do what no other President dared TO do.
From the DAYS Of George Washington 10
Theodore Roosevelt no President has set
foot outside Of the United States. The
custom began with Washington Travel
ing toward Massachusetts. the first PreSi-
ssnt avoided Rhode Island because that
tate had not subscribed its allegiance to
Sc Constitution, and was not, therefore,
a part of the United States. Washington's S
successors continued to observe his scru-
pies. The late President Mckinley. upon
the occasion Of his famous trip TO the Pa
cihc Slope. declined an invitation to be
the guest Of the city of Vancouver. and
denied himself the pleasure of returning
by way Of the Canadian Pacific He
ould not even cross the bridge at El
aso which formed the connecting link
etween Mexico and the United States
There are many good and sufficient rea-
ons why the President should remain
within the borders of this country while
serving as Chief Executive. The Consti-
tuition does not provide for an acting Pres
Hdent. Indeed. il is doubtful whether the
Trainers of the Constitution ever antici-
pated a situation such as now presents it
. self. When the President is absent there
/ fore, there is no one upon whom his duties
and responsibilities can devolve. We can
simply hope that while be is away the
machinery of government Will continue 10
Tevolve with its customary smoOthness.
and that no occasion for executive action
viii arise. The President and the country
take this risk. II may be remote, but
none the less does it exist. Should such an
emergency present itself, il is doubtful
what course could be pursued. No one, as
we have already pointed out, can take his
place. The language of the Constitution
would not seem to meet the contingency.
Il provides that in case Of the removal
of the President from office, or OF his
death, resignation, or inability to dis
charge the powers and duties of the said
Office, the same shall devolve upon the
Vice President" A liberal Interpretation
of the word inability" might be made to
include absence from the country. but in
the minds of the trainers Of the document
physical disability was intended.
There is another reason why, in the past.
the Presidents have remained at home.
An extended journey into foreign lands
naturally increases the chances of death.
Life insurance companies recognize this
fact, and make provision against it in all
their policies. There is always peril for
those who venture forth upon the uncer-
tain sea, even If they be carried in battle
ships,
The usual expression Of hope that the
President may have a safe and pleasant
journey is fraught upon this occasion with
a deeper significance than usual II is not
likely that anything viii go amiss while
he IS away. and yet there will be feel
ing of relief and satisfaction when he
again sets foot uDOn our shores. If there
be virtue in prayer. the invocations of
many millions Of people will ascend on
high for his safe return.