Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-12-08

(From the New x ork NV orld.)

When the Republi lean lead ers
a quarrel, or, for that matter, with
tised attack on the Presid ent's for
eign policies, what do they intend to
offer? ~
They complain that the President
diplomacy has been contented with
words when action was required. Ac-
ticn means war. Will tile Republi-
cans demand war?
! Tho Constitution of tie United
States vests in Congress- the power
| to declare war; Any member of Con-
gress is within his constitutional
rights when he introduces a resolu-
ton declaring war against any coun-
try with which the United States has
a quarrel, or, for that matter, with
which the United States has no
quarrel. There are no constitutional
Limitations or restrictions upon this
sovereign power of declaring war,
which belongs to Congress and to
Congress alone No President may
curb or interfere with it.
Does any Republican member of
Congress purpose to introduce a reso-
luton declaring that the United
States is at war with Germany or
Great Britain or Turkey or Mexico?
Unless he is prepared to do this,
upon what grounds can he criticise
the Presidents foreign policy?
If it be argued that diplomatic re-
lations with Germany, for example,
should be suspended in case an i'm
mediate settlement Of the Lusitanla
matter cannot be effected, here again
the power of Congress is beyond
controversy. 1t may direct the Presi-
dent to suspend diplomatic relations.
The probability that such action
would be preliminary to war makes
Congress the only branch of Gov
eminent which mcy properly assume
the responsibility for so momentous
a step. a.
Are the Republican members of
Congress prepared to vote. for re-
solution to end all diplomatic inter-
course with Germany?
And so with Mexico. What has
been. done by the President there
can be undone by Congress if Con-
gross chooses. Senator Weeks Of
Massachusetts. who is a Republican
aspirant for the Presidency, recent
ly attacked the President for refus-
ing to recognize Huerta. Huerta
happens to be in Jail at the present
time on charge of violating the
neutrality laws of the United States,
but Congress can resolve that Huerta
is and ought to be Provisional Pres
ident of Mexico. 1t can declare war
against the existing Government of
Mexico for the purpose Of re-estab-
fishing Huerta to power. Or 1t can
declare war against the existing
of Mexico in the name
OF intervention and American control.
Will Senator Weeks INTRODUCES a
resolution to send the United States
army into Mexico? !
What applies to Germany and
Mexico applies as we'll to every OBJ
jecticn that is raised against the
Presidents foreign policy. Mr.: Roose-
Welt professor to believe that undre
The Hague Convention the United
States ought to have resisted the
German invasion of Belgium. The
United States can still resist the
German invasion of Belgium If Con-
gress so chooses, and more effective
" than it could have done a year
ago. It can enter the war for or
against any of the belligerents for
whatever reason is satisfactory to- the
Congress of the United States. A
president may involve the United
States in war if he is indiscreet or
'eckless, but no President can keep
he United States out of war if Con-
,ress is determined upon war. ~~~~e
:, There can be no sincere criticism
f the Presidents foreign policies by
zen who are too cowardly to exer-
ise the power and responsibility +
1hich is exclusively vested lin them
" the Constitution Of the United
tates. If the Republican leaders
I Congress are dissatisfied with the
residents policies, let them be
cnest enough to face the alternative
f war and let them be sincere
nough to vote for war.