Evening journal., 1919-04-30

which has brought us TO nothing more
satisfactory than the present illustra-
ton. in the Adriatic situation Of the
futllity OF an attempt to remake hui
man nature and national Characters
tics by means 81 high sounding words
proves the wisdom and eminent pro-
priety Of that which Senator Knox
proposed 70 the Senate twenty weeks
ago.
Manifestly the right thing for the
Senate TO do when II Is called In ses-
sion is 10 accomplish this separation
of subjects. notwthstand ng President
Wilson's obstinate efforts TO prevent
that separation. We say President
Wilson's efforts. for he personally
and individually has been the pro-
moter OF the ENHANCEMENT lie has
repeatedly and openly threatened to
tie up the question Of peace with the
question Of a League Of Nations. Not
longer ago than March 5, when he
was in New York, he denantly told
his hearers in The Metropolitan Opera
House that "when that treaty comes
back, gentlemen on this side VIII nnd
The covenant not only In IL but so
many threads Of the treaty tied 20 the
covenant that you cannot dlssect the
covenant from the treaty without de-
stroyng the whole vital structure In
all The record OF his various mani-
festations or autocrat.c procEvlties
there ls perhaps nothing which sur
passes this.
What we do not know yet. and what
h.. faNf ~ IN 10
general treaty becomes public property,
Is how far the Presidents influence
and exertions have manazed TO inter
wine the two different subjects In such
way as TO make the necessary busi-
ness Of concluding peace through his
personally conceived peace league no
tion as an nseparable rider. II he has
succeeded in any considerable degree
ne has added to the difficulty OF the
task ahead for the American Senator'S.
But the duty Of the Senators and the
constitutional power 81 the Senate are
the same with reagd to the general
treaty as with regard 10 the covenant.
The responsibility for unfortunate re-
suits proceed ng from the political
trick OF combination win be with the
ueeotlator OF the treaty. not with the
iudzes Of its acceptablllty to our gov
eminent.
Twice In our history the Senate has
prevented a fatal infringement Of the
United states in European affairs
The earlier occasion was when that ex-
allied body az representative Americans
ratified the FIRST and second set OF con-
veniions for the pacnc settlement OF
international disputes, but attached
thereto the reservation or glnally pro-
posed by our delegates to- the Hague
conference, as follows.
Nothing contained IN this conven-
ton shall be so construed as to re-
qure the United States Of America TO
depart from rs traditional policy Of
moi intruding upon, interfering with or
entanglng itself IN the political ques-
tions OF policy or internal admnlstra-
ton Of any forein state; nor shall
anything contained in the said conven-
tlon be construed 10 IMPLY a relin-
quishment by the United States OF its
traditional attitude toward purely
American questions"
The second occasion was when that
same American Senate ratified the gen
eral act and protocol drawn at The Al
gec'ras Conference Of 1906 with the
subioined reservation:
Resolved further. That the Senate.
as a part OF this act Of ratification. un-
derstands the participation OF the
United States In the Algeclras Confer