The Washington times., 1916-03-02
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS

ThE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS
In his controversy with Congress,
or more properly with the House Of
Representatives, the President mas
all the advantage on his side. In
the first place the business of conduct
ing foreign relations is confided to
the Chief Executive. It is not only
his right but his duty 10 attend to
this momentous part of national af-
fairs. This is an absolutely neces-
sary assignment Of responsibility,
properly made by the Constitution.
1t is manifest that foreign relations
could never be handled by commit
tees of Congress or Congress itself;
there would be utter inability to
adopt and adhere to consistent
course. If there were need to cite
precedents they could be found in
plenty in the pitifully incapable man
agement of foreign relations under
tie Articles of Confederation. One
of the powerful reasons which urged
adoption of the present Constitution
was the proved need for a more
workable system of dealing with
foreign nations.
This is not all. The President is
the one officer under our Govern
ment who in virtue of election by
all the people represents all the peo--
pie. Senators are the ambassadors
from the sovereignties of the States;
Congressman represent their vary
ing constituencies. Some Of them,
| indeed, rise to a truly national char
acter; but the great majority do
not, and never will. II needs only
to consider the. wide variation among
the viewpoints of Congressman
about the present international sit
uation, to make this plain. A mem
ber from a strongly German con-
stituency will be found to tinge mis-
Americanism with German sent;'
ment, while one from strongly pro-
ally community will take the reverse
attitude. This has been SO otter
demonstrated in individual cases
that it has made perfectly clear that
a great proportion of Congressmer
are utterly incapable of adopting the
broad and truly national view.
Yet, despite these limitations OF
the capacity of Congress, especial!
the House, this nation is a nation
it is more than a group Of forty
eight sovereignties loosely held in
confederation; it is something yer!
different from an aggregation of 4S'
Congressional districts, pulling il
various ways as merely local inter
ests may dictate, trying to com
promise differences on matters o
general concern. The United State
is a nation; a unity, a solidarity,
purpose, an aspiration, a power
That national quality must have
voice, which shall be able to speal
with no uncertain tone and with tn
assurance that differences existing
in the background shall be hushe'
when this national voice speaks.
Members of Congress, swayed b
, consideration of sentiments so nal
row and local as to be little NOR
than personal, will err greatly |
they mistake the national tempe
and purpose of the nation. Afte
, all, it is more than willing, it
/ anxious, it is determined, to &C
b with unity and effectiveness a
2 against the world outside. It ha
accepted the scheme under which
chooses, once in four years, th
: leader in these world-relations;
; awaits the call of thss leaders voic'
, with full conviction that in thes
matters it must act together. Coz
: gress, to the extent that it is al
tempting to break the grip and powe
: of the Executive in dealing with fol
: eign affairs, is enervating the n;
: tion, dissipating its authority in tn
!, world, distracting its true, corre'
4 and constitutional leadership, an
: bringing sure disaster. The Pres
t dent will win in his controvers
with Congress, because he ought
win, because it would be calamitor
for him not to win, and because ii
nation as a whole knows the;