" However assailable this statement may be
from the standpoint of traditional legal theory, it is
indubitably the principle to which American politics conform in
practice. The people instinctively expect the President to guard
their interests against congressional machinations.
There was a prevalent belief that the Senate's profession of
motives, of constitutional propriety, was insincere and that the
position it had assumed would never have been thought of had the
Republican candidate for President been elected. A feeling that
the Senate was not playing the game fairly to refuse the
Democrats their innings was felt even among Senator Edmunds' own
adherents. A spirit of comity traversing party lines is very
noticeable in the intercourse of professional politicians. Their
willingness to help each other out is often manifested,
particularly in struggles involving control of party machinery.
Indeed, a system of ring rule in a governing party seems to have
for its natural concomitant the formation of a similar ring in
the regular opposition, and the two rings maintain friendly
relations behind the forms of party antagonism. The situation is
very similar to that which exists between opposing counsel in
suits at law, where the contentions at the trial table may seem
to be full of animosity and may indeed at times really develop
personal enmity, but which as a general rule are merely for
effect and do not at all hinder cooperation in matters pertaining
to their common professional interest.
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