New-York tribune., 1920-01-21
The Senate S Duty
Must BE No Compromise as to Prin-
ciples in Making Peace


To the Editor of The Tribune.
, Sir: / have had occasion Of late t
observe how some Of the petitions TO
J the league Of nations have been circu
: lated People have often signed merel,
. to obige some earnest friend who's,
Z judgment and character they ma,
: highly regard. A general moral coer
cion has been brought to bear in GER
tain communities where one has beer
exposed to the unpleasant charge O.
lacking in idealism and sense if he has
not been ready to sign.
To assert that the American people
have any adequate understanding OF
the precise nature of the obligations
involved in the league Of nations is
obviously untrue. Their feelings and
imagination may have been stirred; not
their common sense. There are CON
siderable number, of course, who arc
moved by their generous idealism to
gamble with the nations destiny. I
have talked with some who favor the
league without reservations who hold
that if we later incur some obligation,
we did not foresee We may then refuse
to fulfill it! There are others, like
Mr.. Taft, who hold that if we can only
"get our foot in the door" we can later
amend the covenant; this. in the face
OF the fact that amendment is possible
only through unanimous consent!
A most significant commentary on the
situation lies in the fact that much
larger number of people favor reserva-
ton. than few months ago, among
these some Of the very leaders, such as
Mr.. Taft and Nh Lowell. who have
helped largely in creating public senti-
ment for the league. This fact alone
should justify the prolonged delay in
the ratification of the treaty.
This artificial stimulus and direction
of public sentiment on the Senate at
this time is particularly reprehensible
when one considers the exact nature
OF the. trcatymaking power of that
body as a responsible agent, together
with the President. 1t was a wise pro-
vision of the Constitution that placed
the power to negotiate and the power
to ratify in different hands. Many
time has the Senate performed great
patriotic service, as we'll as a consti-
tutional one, in submitting treaties to
merciless examination and in some
cases to revision. An excellent example
OF this was the first Hay -Pauncefote
treaty, which failed to reserve the right
of the United States to fortify the
Panama Canal It's revision by the
Senate was plainly imperative.
This obligation to safeguard the in
terests Of the United States through
searching discussion and the revision
Of treaties is one that the Senate owes
to the people of tomorrow as we'll as
to the people Of too day. 1t is func
tlon which the people themselves can
not properly exercise. 1t is duty im-
posed on the Senators by reason of
their high position, somewhat apart
nom popular clamor, and by their spe
cial opportunities for q wide compre-
hension of the international interests
and responsibilities of the United
States. 1t is duty especially in
cumbent when the generous emotions
of the American people have been
aroused, and when their sober second
thought may not be ascertained until
after some trying event or disaster
they could not have forcsccn, even !
though the Senate may have sought to
ADOPT necessary precautions against
just such a contingency.
Finally, could anything be more rep
rehensible than that attitude of mind
which would compromise on principlcs
IT order to facilitate the speedy rati-
flcation of the treaty?
Compromise as to form obviously
should not be difficult; but the Senate
is now being coerced into sacrifice of
principle. On the one side are those
VINO believe in the principle of world
cooperation to such an extent that thew
are willing to pledge the United States
without any reservation whatever. writ
ten OR mental. On the other side are
those who believe in the principle that
the United States must never become
in the European system of
politics, and that it must preserve
arge measure of freedom of action on
'ehalr of vital American interests as
we'll as IN behalf Of world peace.
Ihe issue is so fundamental that. ir
respective Of personal and partisan
'rejudlces, the Senate should never be
'ragooned into an unwilling and un-
warranted surrender Of principle.
by one side or the other. Let
'lther side win; but let there be no
'hameful compromise of principles!
PHILIP MARSHALL BROWN.
trlnceton, N. j., Jan. 1S, 1920
Tk~ AlI. I