, 1921-12-15
PRESIDENT DELIVERS STIRRING
ADDRESS TO CONGRESS IN
PERSON.
SYNOPSIS OF SPEECH
URGES MANY REFORMS IN ADMIN.
iSTRATIoN POLICIES BY
NEW CONGRESS.

""N ioiiCutiiuB tOulTlDutlOn WHICH
the American people must be prepared
to make toward the economic and fl
nanclal rehabilitation Of a world still
staggering under the disordered condi-
lions ~bequeathed by war, President
Harding voiced a solemn warning in
the message he delivered in person to
Congress that n permanent read
Justments can be effected without con-
sideration of our inescapable relation
ship to world affairs in finance and
trade"
w should be unworthy of our best
traditions if we were unmindful of So
cial, moral and political conditions
which are not of direct concern to us,
but which do appeal to the human
~sympathies and the very becoming in
terest of a people blest with our ma
tional sy~mpathies," the President said.
The President emphasized that in
the main the contribution of this re-
public to restored normalcy in the
world must come through the initia-
tive of the executive branch of the gov
eminent, but the best intentions and
most carefully considered purposes
would fail utterly If the sanction and
the cooperation of Congress were not
cheerfully accorded.
For the first time in years, since
the grim shadows of the World War
first began to gather over the Ameri-
can people, Congress listened to a
presidential message that was almost
entirely devoted to the grave domestic
| iSgnaQ nnnfrnntfn0 fha Annarinan M
ton, and which skipped over, except
in the most general way, the serious in
ternational questions facing the Amer
lean people.
The synopsis of President Har-
ding's message to Congress follows
Mr.. Speaker and Members of the Con.
gress-It lis a very gratifying privilege
to come to the Congress with the re.
public at peace with all the nations
of the world. More, 1t is equally graf.
flying to report that our country is
not only free from every impending
menace of war. but there are growing
assurances of the permanency of the
peace which we so deeply cherish.
Fol approximately ten years we
have dwelt amid menaces of war or
as participants in wars actualities,
and the inevitable aftermath, with its
dlsordered conditions, has added to
the difficulties of government, which
adequately cannot be appraised except
by those who are in immediate con-
tact and know the responsibilities.
Our tasks would be less difficult If
We had only ourselves to consider, but
so much of the world was involved,
the disordered conditions are so we'll
nigh universal, even among nations
not engaged in actual warfare, that
no permanent readjustments can be
effected without consideration of our
inescapable relation to world affairs
in finance and trade.
Indeed, we should be unworthy of
our best traditions IL we were unmind-
full of social, moral and political con-
dltlons which are not of direct con-
Germ to us, but which do appeal to
the human sympathies and the very
becoming interest of a people blessed
with our national good fortune. 1t is
not my purpose to bring to you a pro-
gram of world restoration. In the
main such a program must be worked
out by the nations most directly con
cerned. They must themselves turn
to the heroic remedies for the menac-
ing conditions under which they are
struggling, then we can help and we
mean to help.
We shall do so unselfishly because
there is compensation in the conscious
ness of assisting, selfishly, because
the and international ex-
changes in trade which marked our
high tide of fortunate 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 in the
world must come through the initia-
tive Of the executive branch of the
government, but the best of Intentions
and most carefully considered pur-
poses would fall utterly IL the sane
tlon and the cooperation Of Congress
were not cheerfully accorded.
l am very sure we shall have NJ con-
f1ict OF opinion about constitutional
duties or authority. During the INK
ietles Of war, when necessity seemed
compelling, there were excessive
grants OF authority and an extraordl-
nary concentration Of powers In the
chief executive. The repeal OF war
time legislation and the automatic ex-
plrntIons which attend the peace proc
iamations have put an end TO these
emergency excuses, but ] have the
wish TO 90 farther than that. ! want
TO ioln You in restoring, In the most
cordInl way, the spirit OF coordination
and cooperation and that mntuallty Of
confidence and respect which Is neces-
sary In representative popular govern
ment.
Encroachment upon the functions OF
| Congress or attempted dictatlon Of Its