The sun., 1918-11-20
The Call for the Abandonment Of
Autoerstic Government.


Have we at last started back to-
ward the resumption OF American
government7
Venezuela has long enjoyed Tin
theory a republican form Of gov
eminent. It's constitution was closely
modelled after that Of the United
States. The distribution of coordi-
nate powers between the Legislature
and the Executive Is as clear and as
well balanced as the stoutest up
holder of democracy and the sternest
hater Of autocraey could possibly de-
sire. What else could be expected of
q fundamental law built upon the
plans and specifications which our
own Constitution provided
Yet whenever a particularly strong
and self-assertive personality. has oc-
cupied the executive mansion at Ca
racas 1t has been demonstrated that
the governmental system Of yenezu-
Ella might just as well have been pat
termed after that OF the Syracusan
tyrants, so far as the safety Of de-
mocracy was concerned. Take the sim
gle example of GUzSAN BLANco,
dictator from 1870 to 1873, con-
stitutional President Of the repub-
lie from 1873 to 1892. For about a
score of years President BLANco used
70 contemplate with patriotic salts
faction the regular assembling of the
Venezuelan Congress. closely mod
elled after that of the United States.
The procedure of the legislative de-
partment of the Venezuelan republic
never varied during his illustrious
and protracted Administration. IT
was simplicity itself. The legislators
proceeded to exercise their annual or
biennial function under the constltu-
ton and likewise under GUzMAN
BLANco's awful eye. They promptly
and unanimously passed resolution
delegating to the Executive their leg
islative authority. and then went back
TO their homes to pursue such voca-
lions or avocauons or diversions as
commended themselves to their indi.
vidual consciences or tastes. Politics
was always adjourned in Venezuela
In President BL4Nco's time.
What never could have occurred at
the Venezuelan capital with BLANco
ut the head of the Executive depart
ment of the gepublic actually came
TO pass yesterday In Washington.
Perhaps there has been no more sig
nificant or momentous incident In
American legislative experience since
American history began than the ac-
lion Of the caucus of the Republican
Senator's calling upon Congress, by
formal resolution. to assert and ex-
erclse It's normal and constitutional
functions, including legislation neces-
sary for reconstruction" This is
neither more nor less than demand
that the extraordinary concentration
of power In the Executive, encour-
aged by the emergencies of war
that Is over, shall cease with the COM
Ing of peace; that our free people,
while engaged in helping to make the
rest of the world safe for democracy,
shall not forget TO make the United
States likewise safe for democracy,
safe In the immediate future as in the
long future of glorious peace won
10y victory.
In other words, 1t Is the direct and
fOrcible declaration, by the Republl.
can party in the Senate, that the
mandate of the people at the Con-
gress elections Of a fortnight ago
shall be obeyed by the REPRESENTATIVES,
of the people in the Sixty-fifth Con.
gress as we'll as in the Slxty-slxth.
The immediate assertion by Con
gress of its full functions under the
Constitution. The absolute terml-
nation Of executive government; that
is to say, government of personal will
and individual decretals; that is to
F1sm