The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-06
Here Is Full Text of President
Harding's Address to Congress

Il
the congress follows:
Mr.. Speaker and Members OF the
Congress:
1t is a very gratifying privilege
to come to congress with the re-
public at peace with all the nations
Of the world. More, ii is equally
gratifying 10 report that our coun-
try is not only free from every I'M
pending menace OF war, but there
are growing assurances of the per-
manency of the peace which we so
deeply cherish.
Ten Years of War.
For approximately 10 years we
have dwelt amid menaces OF war
or as participants in wars actual
tiles, and the inevitable aftermath
with its disordered conditions, has
added to the difficulties of govern
naent, which adequately cannot be
appraised except by those who are
in immediate contact and know the
responsibilities. Our tasks would
be less difficult il we had only our
selves 10 consider, but so much OF
the world was involved, the: dlsor-
dered conditions well nigh aniyer-
sal, even among nations not en-
gagged in actual warfare, that no
permanent adjustment can be et-
fected without consideration of our
inescapable relationship to world
affairs. in finance and trade. In
deed. we should be unworthy Of our
best traditions II we we're unmind-
full of social, moral and political
conditions which are not Of direct
concern to us. but watch do appeal
to the human sympathies and the
very becoming interest of a people
blessed with our national good for
tune.
No World Program.
Il is not my purpose to bring to
you q program of world restoration.
In the main such a program must
be worked out by the nations most
directly concerned. They must
themselves turn to the heroic rene
dies for the nenacing conditions
under which they are struggling,
then we can help. and We mean TO
help. We shall do 50 unseliishly
because there is compensation in
the consciousness Of assisting, sell
fishly because the commerce and
international changes in trade,
which marked our high tide of for
tune advancement, are possible only
when the nations of all continents
are restored to stable order and
normal relationship.
In the main the contribution Of
this republic to restored normally
the initiative of the executive
branch of government but the best
Of intentions and most carefully
considered purposes would fail ut
terly if the sanction and coopera-
ton of congress were not cheerful
ly accorded.
Asks Cooperation
am very sure We shall have no
conflict of opinion about constitu-
tional duties or authority. During
the anxeties of war, when neces-
sify seemed compelling, there wert
excessive grants of authority anC
an extraordinary concentration oil
powers in the chief executive. The
repeal of wartime legislation and
the automatic expirations which at
tend the peace prOclamatiOns have
put an end to these emergency eX-
cesses. but / have the wish to go
further than that. / want to join
you in restoring, in the most cordial
way, the spirit of coordination and
cooperation, and that mutually of
confidence and respect which is
necessary in representative pOpu-
lar government.
Entertainment upon the functions
of congress or attempted diCtatiOn
of it's policy are not to be thought
of. much less attempted, but there
is an insisteut call for harmony of
purpose and concord of action to
speed the solution of the difficult
problems confronting both the leg
islative and executive branches OF
this government.
Against Partisanship.
It is worth while TO make al
fusion here to the character of our
government. mindful as one must
be that an address to you is no less
4 message TO all our people. for
NShom you speak most Intimately.
Ours IT'S popular government
through political parties. We di-
vide aloIRs political lines, and I
would ever have it so. | do not
mean THAT partisan preference
should hinder any public servant in
the performance Of a conscientious
and patriotic ohgiCial duty. We saw
partisan lines utterly obliterated
when war impeAiled and our faith
in the republic @as riyeted anew.
We ought not f bad these partisan
lines obstruCtinE( the exncditious
solution of the urgent problems OF
peace.
Granting that WI are fundamen-
tally & representative popular gov
ernment with political parties The
governing agencies, / believe the
political party in power should as
sumo sponsibliIy. determine upon
policies in the conference which
supplements conventions and cleo
tioas. And then strive for achieve
ment through adherence Of the &c
cepted policy.
Believes in Party Lines
There IS vastly greater security.
immensely more OF the national
viewpoint, much larger and prompt
er accomplishment where our dtvis-
ions are along party lines. in the
bread and loft:er sense, than 10
divide geographically, or according
TO pursuits or personal following
For a century and a third. parties
have been charged with responsible
ity and held to strict accounting.
When they fail. they are relieved OF
authority; and the system has
brought us 70 a national eminence