The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1919-07-18
The Senate and the Treaty

TIME man who wants to prove false proposition very
commonly tries to do by assuming that it nee
essary coroary from truth Then he brings strong
arguments prove the truth which nobody Denies and
pretends that doing he has proved his false doctrine
true The opponents of the League of Nations lay great
stress on the fact that treaty be made by this
try without the Of the Senate and bring
guments to prove the Senate part OF the
"a fact which has never been questioned.
Everybody who knows anything of history knows that
Mr. Wilson followed the practice of all his predecessors
in negotiating the present treaty, but his enemies pre-
that he has ignored and nsued the Senate by doing
So Men who descend that sort of argument only dis
grace themselves
The Boston Transcript says: "This is Senate Sem
ate of equals, Of of individual honor and personal
character and Of absolute independence. We know no
masters, acknowledge dctators. This is hall for
mutual consultation and discussion not for the
exhibition of champions" Daniel Webster)
Over desk every Senator the words of Webster
should be placed In the heart of every American they
should be treasured To these words meness attaches
because the Senate will receive the Treaty of Yer
saes and upon the Senate will devove the duty of de-
Gliding what part if any, of that engagement it behooves
them to give American effect the ruling voice in the
ratification of treaties with foreign powers Unlike the
House. the Senate is not, and not intended to be,
"the express image of the feelings of the nation,
Burke called the House of Commons Our Govern
ment is not absolute but limited democracy, and
to the Senate that part indebted for this val
liable limitation 1t is the Senate that stands like great
wall against "the hasty mpulsve movements of
public opinion and breaks the force of their blow against
the buwarks of the nations liberties. In discussing
others definition of the Senate "the most powerful
and efficient second chamber that exists American
authority government has written.
The greatest consultative privilege of the Senate-the
greatest in dignity at least if in effect upon the inter
ests of the countryis the right ruling voice in the
ratification of treaties with foreign powers.
do not consult the auditor who scrutinzes my accounts
when submit to him my books my vouchers, and writ
ten report of the business have negotiated do not
take his advice and seek his CONSENT simply ask his in
dorsement invite his condemnation. l do not
for his cooperation, but challenge his criticism And the
analogy between my relations with the auditor and the
relation of the president with the Senate by
remote.
These were the words of Woodrow Wilson, student
and teacher of government before he became president
of the United States Whatever the Senators may think
of this cocky Interpretation of the advce and consent
clause of the Constitution they will fall far below the
standard set Senators by Daniel Webster they dodge
the challenge of the president in respect of the
7nent with foreign powers which he signed and will sub
NIT for audit by the Senate-Sandersville Progress