The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-23
Harding's Speech in Full

. AfPttth ttt hh Mir Harding's speech in full was as fol-
 lows:
 s"The first utterance of the first repub- lican national convention ever assembled, in resolution declared that the main- tenance of the principles promulgated in the declaration of and embodied in the federal constitution is essential to the preservation of our republican institu- tions.' F'ifty-sx years have not altered that truth
 "Since that seemingly inspired utter
 ance, reflected in both the name and spirit of the party under whose banners we are met today. republican statesmen, the republican party and a republican na- tlon have written the most glorious half century of progress and accomplishment ever penned of any national life.
 "Glorying in the retrospection, exalted
 by the contemplation and exulting in an- ticipation. this great council of a great party will have met in vain unless by ut
 terance and by action it consecrates a
 new and early plight of faith.
 "The world has not yet seen the perpet- uated republic, but ours gives promise,
 and 1t has seemed to me that an infinite
 hand in the consciousness of divine strength wrote hope and faith Into our new world beginning. Through such be- lief the highest patriotism recommits ua
 
 bequeathed through the heroism and sac rifices and wisdom of the fathers. Much of the contention between dis putting schools of American politics has related to means of development. Until very recently there was never serious question about the wisdom of repre- sentative democracy because surpassing results in human advancement made it
 unassailable Only once before was the foundation of the nation attacked and in that crisis we saw the dross in a misdirected and sensational passion, for the country burned in the cruoible of fire and blood and the real gold turned to shining stars in dear old glory again. Since then we have witnessed the complete harmonizing of greater national spirit and gone steadily for ward in the concord of union to the upbuilding of truly great nation. The Peoples Rule
 You have heard much lately about the peoples rule MT. Chairman and sirs, the peoples rule is not new dis covery to soverign American people, Nor is demagogic employment of the term new to the worlds hearing. Through such demagogic employment centuries ago republics tottered and fell and republican liberties were lost in the sway of empires in their stead Human rights and their defense are as old as civilization; but more impor- tant to us. the founding American fathers wrote the covenant of people s rule into the bond of national life be- yend all erasure or abridgement. The American people literally began to rule in 1776 and there has not been any sus- pension of that power. They ruled when they assented to Washington's declination of a third term of the presidency and when, with prophetic foresight, he admonished them ever to be on guard against the jealousies that come of misrepresenta- tion and tend to render alien tn one another those who ought to be tied in fraternal affection
 The people ruled when our nationality was endangered and forever indissoluble ties were sealed anew by the master hand and martyred life of Abraham Lincoln The people were ruling when the first complete democratic victory in 30 years brought its blight of diversity and the same people ruled when they transformed crown Of thorns into a wreath of bloom redolent of the perfume of restored pros perity.
 "TEey also ruled When they turned the