The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-21
BACK TO ROOSEVELT

lSprinEnold Republican,
While Mr.. Harding is bemoaning the
fate OF the Constitution under the as
saults OF Wilsonian autocracy, ono Is
reminded OF Mr.. Roosevelt's new ma :
tionalism," which. preached Just ten
years ago, became tho foundation or
heNprnolples Of the progressive party.
mr.. Harding has repeatedly asserted
that IL Mr.. Roosevelt had lived no ono
would have supported him for president
nus year with greater enthusiasm than
In Ills famous osawatomis apeecb
Mr.. Roosevelt declared,
This new nationalism. regards the
exs,, power 40 the steward Of the
II Mr., Wilson 10 an autocrat, always
partments OF the government, what
was Mr. Roosevelt who took Panama
ana let congress debate Il afterwards"
who established the reccivership for
san Domingo and was the first presi-
into the island of Hayti In order that
European creditors might not make
trouble for the United States by In
sisting upon the diplomatic support OF
. .hSIr 6 hSms gGUsrnmeSnts n collecting
Dominican republics.
i, Mr., Harding's present concern for
tho Constitution Ia most In evidence
in connection with the covenant OF the
league OF nations, He said yesterday
that the, two were "irreconciable." Mr..
TAFT and Mr.. Wiokersham. both repub-
ncan constitutional lawyers of high
rank, hold the contrary view. Mr.. Root,
another republican constitutional law
yer, has mover expressed agreement with
Mr., Harding to that effect. Senator
Colt, OF Rhode Island. formerly an
eminent federal judge, IL still another
republican who thinks the Constitution
ana inc covenant are perfectly recon-
No treaty can override the Constitu.
ton; that Is doctrine established by
the United States supreme court. In
mo case or Downes against Bidwell, the
court affirmed that ANY treaty Is void
So powers SSe of TO ssg rS SSy MSy
nant IL part of n treaty and therefore
any feature OF II that contlcted with
the Constitution would be ineffective,
so far rs this country is concerned.
Yet Mr., Harding's real quarrel is
with Theodore Roosevelt. II he sln-
eerely thinks the Constitution Is In |
peril. Reference has already been made |
TO the Rooseveltian conception OF the |
public welfare" What was the Roose- |
voltian theory OF the CONSTITUTIONS Dr. |
lyman Abbott has given an excellent |
v historical h summary" OF L in Roose-
vets BOOK The New Nationalism."
The Constitution Is not like the
hoops Of barrel that hold the slaves
together. Hoops fitted for a barrel |
OF thirteen slaves would not serve Tor
barrel OF torty-cight, II In Ike tho
DARK or tree that grows with the
growth OF tho tree and expands with |
It's expansion. Chief Justice Marshall, |
by his Interpretation OF the Cons,itu-
ton, did almost ms much TO mako Il
what IT Is as did itS original trainers.
AN the arguments against the ex-
tension Of federal power which we
hear in political addresses and read
IN political Journals, and all the fears
OF FEDERAL Capitalization witch are
used 70 excite popular apprehension
" tho latest phase of the growing ana
therefore ever new natiOualiSm are
repetitlons ~ the arguments employed
and the fears expressed In every nrc-
vlous stage Of national developncnt
from the DAYS Of George Washington
70 the present day And the answer 20
thom can he giveu almost in George
words. II ls clear Go us
ms A n { that the successive extensions
~ federal powers have made us one OF
Tho most powerful nations that ever In
hahlicd the terrestrial globe; and with
out them We should have been every
thing that is directly tho reverse"
That was Mt Booscvcts idea pre-
ciselN. n IL strange sight today to
hee tho mass ~ Mr. Rouscvclts foN-
lowers accepting what Warren q, |
Hnrdlur says about the Constitution
and the executive power as tho gospel
OF rcpubhcRnism.