The New York herald., 1921-12-07

Mr. Speaker and Members o. the
Congress:
1t is a very gratifying privilege
to come to the Congress with the
Republic at pease with all the
nations of the world More, II Is
equally gratifying to report that
our country Is not only free from
every impending menace OF war. but
there are growing assurances OF the
peymanency of the peace which we
sc deeply cherish
For approximately ten years we
have dwelt amid menaces OF war or
as participants in wars actualities.
and the inevitable aftermath, with
it's disordered condition. has addei
to the difficulties of government.
which adequately cannot be ap-
praised except by those who are in
immediate contact and know Inc re-
sponsibilities. 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 well nigh universal,
even among nations not engaged In
actual warfare, that no permanent
readjustments can be effected with
out consideration Of our inescapable
relationship to world affairs in
finance and trade.
Indeed we should be unworthy OF
our best traditions II we were un-
mindful of social. moral and politi-
cal conditions which are not of d.
rect concern to us, but which do APP
peal to the human sympathies and
the very becoming interest OF peo-
pie blest with our national good
fortune.
1t is not my purpose to bring to
you a programme of world restora-
ton In the main such programme
must be worked out by the nations
more directly concerned. They must
themselves turn to the heroic reme-
dies for the menacing 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
consciousness of assisting, selfishly
because the commerce and inter-
changes in trade, which marked
our high tide of fortunate advance
ment, are possible only when the
nations of all continents are re-
stored to stable order and normal
relationship.
In the main the contribution of
this republic to restored normalcy In
the world must come through the
initiative of the Executive branch
of the Government, but the best
intentions and most carefully con-
sidered purposes would fail utterly
if the sanction and the cooperation
of the Congress were not cheerfully
accorded.
I am very sure we shall have no
conflict of opinion about constttu-
tional duties or authority. During
the anXieties of war, when neces-
sity seemed compelling, there were
excessive grants of authority and
an extraordinary concentration of
powers in the Chief Executive. The
repeal of wartime legislation and
the automatic expirations which
attend the peace proclamations
have put an end to these emer-
gency excesses, but l have the wish
to go further than that. l want to
join you in restoring. in the most
cordial way, the spirit of CO.
ordination and cooperation, and
that mutually of confidence and
respect which is necessary in rep
resentative popular Government.
Encroachment upon the functions
of Congress or attempted dictation of
its policy is not to be thought of.
much less attempted, but there is
an insistent call for harmony, pur-
pose and concord of action to speed
the solution of difficult problems con-
fronting both the Legislative and
Executive branches of the Govern
ment.
1t is worth while to make allusion
here to the character OF our Gov
ernment, mindful as one must be
that an address to you is no less a
message to our people, for whom
you speak most intimately. Curs is
a popular Government through po-
lltical parties. We divide along po-
litical lines and I would ever have
It so. l do not mean that partisan
preferences should hinder any pub
lie servant in the performance of a
conscientious and patriotic official
duty We saw partisan lines utterly
obliterated when war imperilled. and
our faith in the Republic was riv-
eted anew. We ought not find these
partisan lines obstructing the expedi-
tious solution of the urgent prob
lens o. peace.
Granting that we are funda-
mentally a representative popular
Government with political parties,
the governing agencies. believe,
the political party in power, should
assume responsibility, determine