Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-08
THE PRESIDENT ON HIS OWN
RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOR
EIGN POLICIES

1
i dent of Princeton University, pub
lished Constitutional Government in tn
United States" and therein he include,
an analysis Of the historical evolution o
the presidential office, which has recent,
appeared by itself under the title, "Th
President Of the United States"
The work is almost prophetic in on,
particular. We quote:
One OF the greatest Of the Presidents
powers | have not vet spoken of at all;
his control, which is very absolute of
the foreign relations OF the nation The
initiative I'm foreign affairs which the
President possesses without any re-
strctlon whatever is virtually the
power to control them absolutely.
The President can never
again be the mere domestic figure he
has been throughout so large part Of
our history. The nation has risen TO
tho first rank in power and resources,
The other nations of the world look
askanco upon her. half in envy, half
In fear, and wonder with deep
anxiety what she will do with her vast
strength. our President
must always, henceforth, be one of the
great tOWeIS OF tDe WOTlu, whether llt
act greatly and wisely or not, and the
best statesmen we can produce will be
needed to fill tho office of Secretary Of
state. We have but begun to see the
presidential office in this light: but 1t
Is the light which will more and more
reat upon IT,, and more and more de-
tr'nine its character and it's effect upon
the politics of the nation. We can never
hide our President again as n mere do
mestic officer. We can never again SEQ
him the mere executive he was In the
thlrties and forties. lie must stand al
ways at the front of our affairs, and the
office will be as big and influential as
the man who occupies It
"The best statesmen we can produce
will be needed to fill the office of Secre-
AIRY of State"-and he appointed to that
,tIlce William j. Bryan, of Nebraska.
But tho prophecy of the historian lies
n his sharp forewarning of the very sit
lation which now exists in American
politics. 1t is the Presidents control Of
oreign affairs which is more and more to
determine the character of the presden-
al office and it's effects upon the politics
If the nation. 1t is on this great issue
hat Mr.. Hughes has centered his pre-
iminary campaign. How ridiculous,
hen, is the charge Of Mccormick and
Lewis that it is treason to criticize the
President on account of his conduct of
oreign affairs Here we have that very
President himself declaring that it is on
In Issue OF this sort that the politics of
he nation must inevitably center, yet the
irst time such thing happens his fol.
overs are the ones to cry against it.
Without considering whether Mr.. VIII
ion's conduct of foreign affairs has been
wise or unwise. good or bad, strong or
the fact remains that the
period has come in our history when for
he first time foreign relations are of as
intimate and immediate Importance as
domestic affairs. In domestic affairs,
however, the object of criticism may be
no Congress ana lHe administrator as
whole. In foreign affairs it is the Presl-
lent alone who must be held RESPONSE
lie, for he is endowed with the power
to control them absolutely"
The present President and every Presi-
ent to follow him must assume this per-
onal responsibility for foreign affairs.
t is an issue which must hereafter al
rays be brought forward in every cam
align. No longer can it be evaded It
essentially a proper line of attack to
ring before the judgment Of the voters
he conduct of our foreign relations, for
My in a campaign have the people the
rivilege Of determining what policy
hall dominate in those relations, and only
hen through the promises and per,
onality OF the candidates.
Treason to the United States Just now
'ould lie only in supine acceptance of
oreign policy as it exists. 1t is true
atriotism TO examine that policy and
lsist that the voters record specifically
leir opinion of it.