Evening star., 1922-03-12
Urges President Be Trusted
To Uphold Honor of Country

out the terms of the treaty. Thus
the controversy soon approximated
the one which ragged over the
covenant of the league of nations.
One side contends that there can
be no war unless the Congress of
the United States shall decree it.
The other side contends that the
moral obligation is such that in
the event of necessity for force
the Congress will be morally de-
void of any option.
l was for the league OF nations
in the hope and belief that it
would lessen the chances of war
and reduce the armament of the
world. If | were a member of the
Senate of the United States 1
should vote for ratification of the
arms conference treaties, because
they look to the same end, in my
opinion. but in different way.
We seemingly have emphasized
that clause in our constitution
power to declare war and have
overlooked that clause which
makes of the President of the
United States the commander-in-
chief of our Army and Navy. We
have assumed that the President
was a commander with string on
him and that the Congress held
was no war: if it said fight, fight
we did. Always we have discount
ed any initiative on the part of
the President as commander-in-
chief.
It is to be hoped that the coun-
try will settle some day to point
of confidence in the wisdom, pa
triotism and love Of peace OF it's
Presidents. The country should
recognize that a President is not
holding office for his own vain
glory. but for the good of his
countrymen and the help OF the
world. Though high exalted in
station, a President nevertheless
Is close enough to his fellow men
to hear their heartbeats. He well
knows that if he runs counter to
the sober thought Of the people he Is
riding to fall
Every time this country has en-
gagged in war it has engaged with
the approval of the people Every
President who has urged decla-
ration Of war has felt quite sure he
would get it before asking for 1t.
ANtNtI lHeltSs- tIit ldtL lUd l.
as commander-in-chief the Presi-
dent may order the Army and
Navy and they are bound to obey.
He cannot declare war. but until
the Congress cuts off supplies he
rs commander in-chief the Presi-
dent may use the armed forces To
maintain order and to enforce law.
who would say that he could not
use them to enforce treaty,
which is declared by the Constitu-
tion to he the supreme law of the
land? 1T was because of this that
] had no scruples against the COW
enant of the league, of nations stat
ing that force should be used to
maintain 1t.
AS commander chief. President
Harding has recently sent Brig.
Gen. John H. Russell, United States
Marines. to Haiti. Along with
other Americans, am willing to
trust the President and leave this
to his good judgment. I do not
know why the general was sent.
The President, no doubt, thinks it
advisable that part OF the Army
be on the ground to look after
u
of no declaration Of war by the
Congress. I have heard OF no Sc
rious protest. I do not expect to
hear protest that amounts to
anything whenever the President
concludes to send any portion of
the Army or Navy anywhere
around the world to guard Amer
lean interests, help American rights.
or to preserve in their integrity
American treaties.
The peace and the honor Of the
American people are in the sacred
keeping of the President of the
United States. a President must
be far worse than any we have
ever had before the Congress of
the United States would refuse to
back him up in maintaining the
dignity and honor of our govern
ment. We might as well quit
treaty-making if the terms are to
be so clearly defined with reference
to war as to express the conditions
under which our citizens would be
willing to enlist for the duration
of the conflict. When I was in Of
flee, I bade the people trust the
President. Now mat ] am out of
office. my cry has not changed.
copyright. 1922. by Thomas R. Marshall.)