Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-02
Mr.. Roosevelt. U.urpa.ior.

Mr.. Ro0sevelt's Usurpation.
Mr.. Roosevelt usurped the authority
Of Congress when he inaugurated war
at the isthmus.
Material demarcation of the depart
ments Of the Federal government was
a prime and persistent object of the
fathers of the republic. They were at
infinite pains to protect the executive
from interference by either the Judi
ciary or the legislature. They bull
warked the judiciary against both the
executive and the legislature and they
invested the elected representatives
Of the people with exclusive authority
under specific heads. To safeguard
the republic against impetuosity in the
Presidents chair they reserved to the
Congress the power to lay and collect
taxes, to regulate commerce with for
eign nations, to raise and support ar
mics, to provide and maintain a navy
and to declare war. These exclusive
powers and others equally exclusive
are set forth in section 8, article /.
of the constitution Of the United States
The duties of the executive are de-
fined with corresponding precision in
article 2. Before he enters upon his
duties the President Of the United
States is required to take the follow.
Ing oath: Il do solemnly swear that I
will faithfully execute the office Of
President of the United States and
will to the best of my ability preserve,
protect and defend the constitution Of
the United States"
In usurping the war power Of Con-
gress Mr.. Roosevelt has infringed the
constitution and violated his oath.
Strict constructionists would say that
he has laid himself liable to jmpeach.
ment.
Throughout the country there is
manifested an honorable disposition to
be generous toward the man who was
not chosen President by the electorate.
but was foisted into the Presidency by
the hand Of a Socialist assassin. 1t is
generally realized that the electorate
would never have elected to the respon-
sible office Of the executive department
a man of Mr.. Roosevelt's tempera-
ment as 1t has manifested itself in nu.
merous Eighty performances. His fel-
low countrymen naturally admire dash
and enthusiasm and condone vanity
and boyishness, but when dash be-
comes usurpation and enthusiasm
threatens to embroil the country in an
unjust war, when boyishness develops
into irresponbility and the President
Of the United States becomes freak
1t is necessary for the people to read
the constitution to him and to exact
his oath.
Should an enemy appear suddenly
of our coast and begin a bombardment
the executive would have the right to
act instantly as commander in chief
of the army and navy. He should pro-
vide as best he could for the national
defense and then summon Congress to
consider the emergency.
In his wild impulsiveness Mr..
Roosevelt recognized fake State
within 100 hours of Its illegitimate
birth and began war of aggression
in its behalf-in behalf, that is, of a
stock adventure by a Panama New
York syndicate. He made war upon
the republic Of Colombia, real State
with which the people Of the United
States are on friendly terms.
With physical force he forbade that
State to use force to maintain peace
within Its own boundaries. Had he
played this bully part with any Of the
more formidable republics of South
America. with Mexico or Canada thu;
country would now be in the throes
of war and drafting would be in
progress, for volunteers Will never
wage an unjust war in the name Of the
people Of the United States.
Is Mr.. Roosevelt merely weak and
sensational and does he honestly be
lieve that he is playing a heroic part?
Chicago Chronicle.