The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1914-04-04
oLNETs STRONG LETTER.

Democratic party today is Hchard
Olney of Massachusetts, secretary of
state In the cabinet of President
Cleveland, aud more recently tender
ed the post OF ambassador at the court
of st. James by President Wilson.
When the members of congress were
thinking out the Panama canal tolls
matter the other day, Congressman
Peters wrote Mr.. Olney asking how
he would vote were he in congress.
This is the answer Mr. Peters receiv-
ed:
My Dear MIR. peters, have your
favor OF the 25th instant, asking my
views as to how representative in
congress should vote on the bill TO
repeal the free tolls provision Of the
Panama canal act.
IF ] were in your position ! am
very certain | should feel that | ought
to stand by the President.
The situation is peculiar. Here is
a treaty unquestionably obscure and
susceptible Of two opposite interpre-
tations, as conclnsively shown by the
conflicting views of two Presidents
of the United States, and by the ir-
rerec0ncilabie differences CT opinion
among eminent lawyers without re-
gard to their political affiliations
Recognizing this situation, and though
he might have proposed arbitration,
The President, in effect, declares that
the merits of the issue are immater-
ial and that the repeal of the act
which raises the Issue is absolutely
essential TO our good standing with
The great powers of the world, and
to the proper conduct OF our foreign
relations.
He makes this declaration as Pres
ident, and as the branch of the ma
tional government especially charged
with out foreign relations. and takes
the responsibility Of assuring congress
md The country that as compared
VIII Tie results to he gained by
pad all CT or mattuts involve are
tf Sigh. tcGaunt Ntw this de"'sra-
len c. theprosident :. ust be accept I'd
as made in good faith with absolute
and with an intimate knowE
edge of foreign relations that con.
2ress cannot pretend to.
What else, therefore, is there to
do but follow the Presidents lead
upon matter upon which he is enti
lied TO lead, both by reason of super.
lor acquaintance with the subject,
and because our form of government
requires him to lead?
IT must be borne in mind that
Tor congress not to support such an
urgent appeal as the President has
made In this instance Is not merely
to defeat measure which may be,
and which he deems to be. required
by the honor and we'll being of the
nation IL is to discredit him for the
future~-it Is to weaken him and to
prejudice him In his subsequent Iii,
terceurse with foreign nations-it is
to give them notice that he is rather
a ilgurehoad than real faoter In the
national government, ard that deal
ings with him are hardly to be re.
gardsd as very serious affairs.
Other pertinent considerations
leading to the same result might be
mentioned. But in the precise situa.
ton now confronting congress they
may. ! think, be safely passed over.
because those already given are to
DO regarded as decisive.
tsignedl Very truly yours,
RICHARD OLNEY,"
Mr. olney is clear and distinct in
his belief that in such time congress
should stand by the president. 1t is
well to observe that Congressman Pc.
tors voted To snsfain tho nrnsidnnt