Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-06-11
80
GOING TOO FAR

GOLNG -IOO FAX
1t is hard to believe that the United States senate will
carry its fight against the President to such an extreme as to
pass the resolution introduced by Senator Knox, of Pennsyl-
yanial Yesterday. AS much as they hate Woodrow Wilson and
as great as may be their desire to embarrass and discredit him,
they surely will not carry their madness so far as to endanger
The peace of the country and destroy the friendly relations that
the United States now enjoys with the leading powers of Eu-
rope.
Never before in the history of the nation has the senate
assumed such an attitude entirely exceeding the prerogatives
given that body by the constitution. Never before has there
been such a reckless disregard for everything excepting the
one desire to beat the President. Yet never before since this
government was founded has there been a greater need for
wise leaders, calm and deliberate judgment, and broad states
manship.
At a time when the country calls for men---big men
-~--capable of steering this nation through the greatest crisis
in the history of the world, we find those to whom we have a
right to look for such leadership STOPPING to the narrowest and
rankest kind of partisanship, thinking more OF wreaklng their
vengeance on the President than anything else.
Granting that the President made a mistake in not APP
pointing a member of the senate on the peace commission ana
that the senate has been sighted on occasions by the Presi-
dent, it cannot be pointed out in any instance where the ffesl-
dent has exceeded the authority vested in him by the eonstltu-
ton or by act of congress. AT the same time the senate has
not been backward in showing resentment and Delttlh8 use
in its effort to show its contempt for the President. Ihe I'LL
buster conducted by the senate during the closing hours Oh me
last congress when most important legislation was pending is
only an illustration of the pettiness to which the senate can
stoop.
the GALTGUutN u WHICD Jc oCudlc udo SohOi III '~ hON
ton is realized. What heretofore has been a more or less bit
ter fight between two branches of the government suddenly
looms up fraught with all kinds OF dangers not only to the ma
ton itself, but to the peace of the world. 1t is bad enough to
disrupt and throw into confusion purely home affairs, as was
done by flibuster just referred to, but when our foreign
relations are threatened and delicate questions are being de-
cided by the assembled statesmen of all nations it is time for
sober judgment. 1t is carrying the war against the President
Il5iAass apfaRRE ussaf~r-
The American people look to the patriotism Of the great
majority of the senators to stand against this most unprece-
dented resolution offered by Senator Knox. IL is, as the NE"
York Times says this morning, $50 hagrantly improper ana IN
pertinent that the country will regard with deep concern the
existence at Washington of a spirit which could prompt q us
tinguished senator, who has held the great office OF secretary
of state, to prepare and present for adoption such a resolution
SO shocking in its violation of the customs ana "a proprie'e9
observed by nations in the conduct of foreign affairs"
Truly, the United States senate is not so entlreY DeSiue
itself that it should allow its disGkes for The executive 10 carry
il TO such extremes. This was not Americas war alone,
neither is this nation the only one involved In the making VI
ipeace. 1t was a world divides affair, and America having been
drawn in IS an associate power has got to conform to the new
order of things as shaped by the leaders of all the nations TO
whom has been entrusted the great and difficult task OF bring
ing about an adjustment as nearly satisfactory TO the greates'
number of the nations as is possible.
No longer can the United States stand apart and view
with indiHerences what is going on elsewhere in the world.
The nations of the earth are today drawn as closely toge'ner
as were the states of the Union in 1880. We have got to play
our mart and t is within our power to play a leading part, as
indeed. under the leadership of President Wilson at Paris, we
are doing, but we can no more dominate the world than could
Germany when she set out to achieve that very ambition.
Let the members of the United States Senate come to-
their senses before it is too late. In their effort to discredlt
and embarrass the President they are only dscrediting them
selves in the eyes of the nation and by this Knox resolution
they are discrediting the nation itself
People who desire the quick restoration OF peace and a
final ending of the war should write without delay to Senator
Joseph S. Frelinghuysen and Senator Walter E. Edge, at
Washington reminding them that while they may oppose the
President for partisan reasons and do all that they can to del
feat hin and the Democratic party in the coming election, that
the Knox resolution, in carrying the fight beyond the borders
of the United States, is going entirely too far and that it should
he defeated for the sake of the honor and respect Of the ma
ton and in the interest of a prompt and lasting peace.