Norwich bulletin., 1920-09-18

Marion, Ohio, Sept. 17.-Again assail- I ing the Versailles league of nations Senator Harding declared in an address | here today that the paramount issue of | the campaign was whether the nation would choose to stand by the American | Constitution or abandon 1t for the league covenant.
 The Constitution and the covenant. he asserted, are ''irreconcilible" because the one authorizes congress to decide ques- tions of peace or war, while the other would transfer that prerogative to the league. To follow Wilson. he said, would be to desert the teachings of Washington.
 The largest front porch audience ad- dressed by the republican nominee dur ing the campaign cheered the speech and gave the speaker a prolonged dem onstrstion when, in conclusion, he re- peated solemnly the presidential oath to preserve, protect and defend the Con- stitution." It was 'only by being true to itself" said the candidate, and by serving the purposes for which ii came into being that the United States could play it's part in the world. Senator Harding also attacked the administra- tion's policy toward the smaller Ameri- can republics and declared the execu- tive had overridden the Constitution by
 
 make war on Hayti and San Domingo.
 He reviewed the circumstances sur rounding the making of the Constitution and outlined his conception of the bal snced powers Of the executive. legisls- tive and judicial branches of the gov ernment Only by preserving that bal ance.. he said could =. United States fulfill its greatest destiny
 '"The Constitution never had failed America" he continued. -and despite needless. assertions to the contrary. America never has failed the world. And now as never before, she stands ready. and, let us hope. soon will be in a posi- tion. through earnest cooperation of all branches of our government. 10 lend a helping hand, but she herself must point the way.
 How can we. then, in reason and with confidence make sure of fulfilling our mission on earth? The first step is plain. We must strictly maintain and scrupulously observe, in letter and in spirit. the mandates of the Constitution of the United States We are not doing [ so now. We are at war, not alone tech nically with Germany, but actually wiif T the little. helpless republics of our owr hemisphere. The wars upon our neigh bors 10 the south were made and siil are being waged, though never declared through the usurpatioI by the executive of powers not only never bestowed upor him. but scrupulously withheld by thu Constitution.
 "Of the fact there can be no question It is admitted. even .boasted. of by th' democratic candidate for vice president between whom, if elected. and the presi dency itself would be but single life You know he said to the people O
 Montana, as his words were quoted D!
 the press. T have had something to d
 with the running of a couple of little re . publics The fact is that l wrote Hay
 trs constitution myself and. if l do sa' it. I think it is a pretty good constltu U , tion. Until last week l had two votes I the league assembly; now Secretar Daniels has them
 ITO the best of my information this inc first official admission of the rape c , Havti and San Domingo by the presen | administration To my mind, moreovel
 if is the most shocking assertion ths y ever enanated from a responsible mem Der of the government of the Unite c States.
 True, We know little of the condus . of these wars Of occupation and tn ', = imposition of laws upon our helplei ; neishbors The censorship is no lef . strict than it was during the secret COT : ferences and conspiracies in Paris. Pra' : tically all We know now is that tnoui
 ands of native Haitians have been Kill | ed by American marines and that man r of nor own gallant men have sacrihce
 their lives at the behest of an execl
 tive department in order to establis
 laws drafted by an assistant secretai - of the navy. to secure vote Tn n league and to continue at the point
 the baoonet a military domination whic
 at this moment requires the presence a no less ..han 5000 of our armed men Q that foreign soil.
 Vastly more important and far mo- l. | menacing to our own popular institution
 than even this distressing example 7. the proposal to transfer by indicatio f the chief prerogative of one departmel "a of the government to another. As 2 d are well aware, the Constitution vests If congress, exclusively the power to d n clare war. but it also declares that f duly executed treaty shall be the Q e preme law of the land
 'JJnder Article x of the Versaill
 covenant, now being subjected to SC
 emn referendum, it would be the a pointee and representative of the prei
 dent, not of congress nor of the peop V, who would either acquiesce in or reje y a proposition in the council of the leag . to uphold by force of arms the cause d one power against another.
 h "The Constitution of the covenant - that, my countrymen, is the paramou l. issue The. two are ,irreconcilable. V ,- cannot be governed from both Gene )i and Washington. We. cannot follow O l. present chief magistrate without fe s. saking the. father of our country Q cannot pin our faith to hazy visions
 lf .,af,