Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-10
scnnto's "Adyico and Consent"

D EPUBLICAN Senators hayo vchcmcntly
~ denounced the President because he was
dfsinclined to make the Senate as whole
party to the negotiations of the treaty OF
peace with Germany. They have declared
with loud voice that the Constitution pro-
Vfdes that treaties be made only with
the advice and consent Of the Senate; that
the President has utterly ignored this fact
and has not even confided tho progress Of
negotiations on in Paris TO the Senate,
in executive session. All this. it is charged,
is violation Of law and louting of tho
Constitution itself.
1t seems that, in SO far as Republican
Senators concerned, the question of guilt
in this connection depends upon whether or
not the President who does the negotiating
is Democrat Republican. If he is
Republican. his act is not only lawful but
emnently proper. If he is a Democrat, he
has violated his oath of Office and no doubt
should be impeached. That is the way the
record reads.
Hark back, for example. to 1906 The
Alseclras conference was then being held in
an effort to solve the Moroccan problem.
Henry White. who is now a member OF the
peace commission, was ambassador to France
theodore Roosevelt President, and he
designated Mr.. White to represent the United
States at the conference. There was criticism
OF this act at the time Some OF it came
from Democrats. but as much OF 1t came
from Republicans. John c. Spooner, of Wis
consn, was in the Senate then and was a
member of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Of Massachusetts, also
was Senator and member of the same
committee Both were ardent Republicans.
and at least Lodge was an ardent follower
OF President Roosevelt.
Senator Spooner, going to the support of
said: The Senate has nothing to do with
the negotiation Of treaties or the conduct of
our foreign relations save the exercise of the
one constitutional function of advice and con-
sent which the Constitution requires as a
precedent condition to the making of a
treaty. From the foundation of the govern
nent 1t has been conceded in practice and in
theory that the Constitution vests the power
OF negotiation and the various phases of the
conduct OF our foreign relations exclusively
IN the President The words advice and con-
sent are we'll translated by the word .ratif
CATION
senator Lodge Immediately supported Soma
TOT Spooner in these declarations, using al
most the identical words in a later speech
In concluding his address he observed that
1t Is the policy of the United States to he at
peace; but more than that, the policy and
interest Of the United States alike demand
'he peace OF the world, and it is not to be
supposed Tor moment that we arc never
% exert our great moral influence or to use
our good Offices for the maintenance of the
worlds peace"
Nothing could show more clearly the abso
iute lns1ncerity of Republican Senators in
thelr indignant protestations against being
leil on the outside while the peace treaty ia
being made They should know. If tser do
not mat they have no voice in foreign re-
lations until concluded treaty is brought
pefore them for ratification. They then be-
come the supreme court OF foreign affairs
From their decision there is no appeal e1
ccpt TO the people themselves