The Washington herald., 1907-10-05
Wisely Snoken nv Foraker.

Senator Foraker gave some wise and
timely counsel in a recent address dep
recating the undue Importance attached
in many quarters to the public utter
ances Of the President, AIr. Foraker re-
marked that Il was without precedent
that mere announcement that the Presi-
dent was TO make a speech should be
seized upon by his critics and enemies
as an occasion for exciting the appre-
tensions Of the business community. Not
only was it without precedent. but il
was ridiculous and harmful The Presi-
dent may propose, but other departments
of the government dispose; so that #
he should suggest a course Of action
which would prove injurious TO the pub
lie welfare he could not carry it out
without the cooperation Of Congress. Mr..
Foraker reminds US that it is the duty
OF the President to study conditions,
have opinions, and make recommenda-
tions." and error in his judgment or his
recommendations should frighten nobody.
for we do not need to adopt his views
unless we approve Of them." and at all
events, under our system Of government
there comes in short time an end OF
all official power and authority for Pres
idents, as well as Senators and all other
public servants"
Great as the authority Of the Execu-
tive is under our form Of government,
It has its limitations. as Mr.. Foraker
suggests. One Of the most important of
! these is public opinion. and another IS
the coordinate authority of Congress
and the judiciary. Yet much current
comment on Mr.. RooseveIts legislative
and other proposals seems to take it
for granted that he can override these
formidable barriers to the successful
| prosecution OF any course Of action. It
| appears TO be assumed that his resolu-
! ton is equivalent 10 execution. That IS
/ true enough in matters Of executive
! duty, but even there the most strenuous
/ Executive would hesitate to take action.
| however clear his right to do so. II he
| felt that It would incur the disapproval
/ Of the country When the President
! enters the field Of legislative discussion.
! he IS upon wholly different ground. Ha
/ may propose, he may argue, he may
| even threaten. but he cannot enact law.
The most he can do is to create a pop
ular sentiment that may force from an
/ unwilling Congress the legislation he de-
! sires. II by so doing he misleads the
/ country into the adoption OF measures
| that are wrong. the people cannot alto
| gether escape responsibility for It was
/ within their power to withhold approval.
1t may be admitted that much of the
/ fright diligently cultivated in Wall street
has owed its origin ostensibly to Mr..
! Roosevelts perslstency in asserting his
! purpose to enforce certain statutes for
/ bidding wrongful business operations.
/ The President, Of course. is On his own
/ ground here. His duty It is to enforce
the laws. He may do so vigorously or
/ leniently, or he may neglect his duty
altogether. Mr.. Roosevelt having deter
mined on his course some time ago. II
IS rather queer that every time he as
/ severates his adherence to that course
cold shivers should run up and down our
| financial spinal column. It IS about
time, as Senator Foraker says, that such
foolishness should be frowned upon. Mr..
| Foraker attributes much OF it to the
Presidents enemies, whence undoubtedly
most Of Il arises. There would be much
less of 1t II people would reflect that
the President, after all, is but the chief
officer in a constitutional republic, that
his opportunity for doing harm is less
extensive than his critics would have us
! believe and that his career iS porrna ll,,
brief, unless the people will otherwise.