Evening journal., 1917-01-05

The Hitchcock resolution. for the
passage OF which by the Senate the
Administration has shown itself so
anxious, approves and strongly en-
dorses the action taken by the Presi-
dent I'm sending the diplomatic notes
of December 49, to the nations now
engaged in war, suggesting and rec
onmending that those nations state
the terms upon which peace might
be discussed
II Will at once appear to the close
observer that this is sterile form
OF approval or Endorsement. 1t seems
to be intentionally 50 phrased as to
give the impression that the Senate is
formally ratifying the sentiments ex-
pressed or the promises made by the
Executive in his communication to
the Governments at war.
Yet an analysis Of the language OF
the resolution shows that all it does
is to approve and indorse the "ac-
ton" Of tho President in sending the
notes; not to approve and indOrso the
specific contents of those notes. The
distinction may seem metaphysical,
but It is important
There was only one sentiment OF
proposal or pledge i'm the Presidents
note which concerned the Senate of
the United States as a coordinate de-
partment of the Government. with
the exception Of that single proposal
or pledge the Senate has no more tC
do with the Presidents recent over
lures to the belligerents than it ha.
to do with the reply Of the Allies tC
the Overtures OF the Central Powers
| The Senate may express approval oi
| disapprOval of the Presidents actor
I'm sending the notes. it may record it,
! Endorsement or population of tn,
sentiments expressed in these com
munications; but in so doing the Sen
ate is merely exercising it's brOa,
right TO register an opinion on an
subject whatever: not performing
| prescribed and clearly defined func
tiOn devOlving upon it. as a part o
our system Of Government A Senat
resolution approving and indorsin
Mr. Wilson's action in sending sue
notes and making such suggestion
1 means no more in the strict govern
mental sense than would a Senat
resolution commencing similar actio
and similar suggestions by Mr.. Brya
or Mr.. Jacob H. Schiff, or EXPIRES
dent Eliot, Of Harvard, or any pr
vate citizen
But the case is different when W
come to this passage in Mr. Wilson
note dated December rs and publishe
on December 2t:
In the measures to be taken to g,
cure the future peace Of the world tl
people and Government Of the Unite
States are as vitality and as direct
interested as the Governments now
war. They stand ready and eve
eager to cooperate in the accon
plishment Of these ends when the W;
is over with every influence and r.
source at their command"
II this means anything 1t is a DEF
mite pledge in the name Of the peop
and Government Of the United Stat
to participate to the full extent Of 1
moral and physical resources in a +
ure league or international police sy
tenn designed to enforce peace. saf
guard the independence Of certain +
ropean nations and guarantees the
tegrity Of certain European frontie'
In an editorial article which W
e of the Senate. The Sun tried TO she
{ that this means the abandonment
. the Monroe Doctrine. formally
clared by our delegates at The Hag
as the expression of our tradition
policy with respects to participate
in the affairs Of European politics a
also of our traditional attitude
ward purely American questions.
Q Mr.. Wilson's note to the belligerer
e were Of itself valid and effective
p would annul the declaration at T
!, Hague and release the conventio
there negotiated from the Nom
a Doctrine proviso or condition impos
upon those treaties by the consti
a tional vote OF the Senate.
o or course President Wilson has
power to annul our treaties that
o conditioned upon the Monroe ID
Il trine He has no power to co
IS NIT the people and the Government
- so complete a reversal Of the ira