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Show THE TREATY power, by dividing aud distributing it into different depositories, and constituting each the guardian of the public weul against invasions by the others, has been evidenced by experiments exper-iments ancient and modern, some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To perserve ihem must be as necessary as to institute them. If in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular par-ticular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let i there be no change by usurpation; for though this in one instance may. be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments gov-ernments are destroyed. The precedent prece-dent must always greatly overbalance overbalan-ce in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit which the use can at any time yield. Scarcely less impressive is the historic admonition of Webster in his famous speech on the "Presidential "Presiden-tial Protest.' Mr. Webster said: Our security is our watchfulness of our Executive power. It was the constitution of this department which was infinitely the most difficult part in the great work of creating our present government. To give to the Executive department such power as should make it useful and yet not such as to render it dangerous; to make it efficient, independent, and strong, and yet to prevent it from sweeping away everything by its union un-ion of military and civil authority, by the influence of patronage, office, and favor this, indeed, was diffi cult. They who had the work to do saw the difficulty and we see it; and if we would maintain our system we shall act wisely to that end, by preserving pre-serving every restraint and every g'uard which the (Constitution has provided. And when we and those who come after us have done all that we can do, and all that they can do, it would be well for us and for them, if some popular executive, by the power of patronage and party the power too, of that over-popularity, shall not hereafter prove an over ov-er match for all three branches of the government. The spirit embodied in these striking strik-ing and solemn warnings became early in the immediate controversy, a stimulant to those who have opposed op-posed ratification of the treaty in its original form, Through tedious months an end steadily held in view by the Senate has been that of holding hold-ing in check and limiting to its constitutional con-stitutional 'sphere the authority and the powers of the executive office Very obviously the sentiment of the country has been with those who have resisted the attempted encroach ment of Mr. Wilson upon the powers of the Senate. There can be no doubt in unbiassed minds that the President Presi-dent has been wrong and that the Senate has been right. Let it be conceded that an obligation of senatorial sen-atorial duty is accepted without question ques-tion of treaties negotiated by the executive, ex-ecutive, and the part of the Senate in matters of foreign policy would automatically pass into the realm of things obsolete and of non-effect. Rejection of the treaty leaves our relations with Germany and with the countries with which we have been associated in the war with Germany very much in the air. The situation is one in which there is neither war nor peace. Presumably Congress will exercise its undoubted authority under un-der the Constitution of ending the war in a technical sense by a resolution resolu-tion declaratory of a state of peace. By the action of Mr. Wilson, the controversy between the Executive and the Senate is now transferred to the arena of domestic politics. In connection with the coming presidential presiden-tial campaign the country will he asked to decide the issue as it has stood between Mr. Wilson and a majority, ma-jority, representing both parties of the members of the Senate. There is no question as to what the verdict will be. The counsel of Washington, the admonition of Webster, Web-ster, reinforced by the practical common com-mon sense of our people will determine deter-mine the issue. The vm. p .v. I country we believe, will acclaim 1st the discretion of the Senate in declining de-clining to accept the obligations imposed im-posed by the covenant of the league of nations as originally drafted, 2nd its resistance to an obvious encroachment encroach-ment of the executive authoritv upon up-on that of the ligeslative. That Mr Wilson intends to make the issue a personal one there are many evidences. eviden-ces. In all likelihood he will seek renomination to the presidential of-i fice and will go personally before the ! country in an attempt to sustain his! course. j |