Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-07-29
HaRDJNc,s MAsTERPIECE

THE prelude to his inaugural ad-
Dress" declares Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr., in review of Mr..
Harding's speech, as follows:
''If there were any doubts lurking
in the minds of Independent political
thinkers, if there we're any disgrun-
Elements yet to be found among dis
appointed partisans of unsuccessful
candidates for the presidential nomi-
nation, il the slightest trace OF fac
tionalism still persisted, all doubts,
all disgruntlements, all factional
feelings vanished with the reading
of the truly marvellous exposition Of
Americanism which breathes in ev-
cry line of Warren G. Harding's
speech accepting the republican
nomination for the presidency.
Henceforth, the struggle to restore
, constitutional government to our
people, to save us from the tolls Of
European and Asiatic intrigue, to
T deliver the nation from the rule of
organized minorities, will be united
ly waged without respite until the
forces of one-man government, inter-
nationalism, and class-pondering are
dissipated and the triumph Of the
Harding Coolidge type OF national
ism brings the bitter struggle to
close.
1.-THE question which every read
er of that splendid document must
ask himself is, Am I forsthe party
first, or for America first? The
speech is a benson to that man who
would break away from the bondage
instituted by Wilson, and which
would be perpetuated by Cox, and
who longs for the restoration of
those American principles which
transcend mere party differences.
Nothing which Mr.. Cox may say can
add to or subtract from the intense
patriotism, the breadth of vision ex-
hibited by Mr.. Harding. No rhe-
torical design which that craftsman
of fine phrases, Mr.. Wilson, may
weave upon his typewriter can curb
the appeal which Harding's words
make to the American heart. After
all that as been said and done, the
vast majority of us are Americans
first Those staunch disciples of
Thomas Jefferson who have hesitat-
ingly followed Woodrow Wilson in
his political meanderings of the past
few years, and who have recently
been assured by Mr.. Cox that he is
but the shadow of his leader may find
in Harding's nationalism signal for
a parting of the ways; refusal fur
Their to jeopardize American insti-
buttons by Wilsonian bell-wethering
into a fools paradise.
''Harding's speech gives to the re-
publicans the assurance that they
have done far more than to clinch
a party victory by nominating such
an exemplar of American thought. 1t
convinces them that they have nam
ed the man who will save the nation
from embranglement without and
disruption within, for there is moth
I ing in Harding's career as states
man which has ever given the lie to
the sentiments he has uttered. AS
he promises, so will he perform, and
the promises to be read in his accept
ance speech are the performances
which will meet with the approval Of
the people.
"In the call of the conscience of
America is peace, peace that closes
the gaping wound of the world war, I"
but sit is better to be the free and
disinterested agent of international
justice and advancing civilization,
with the covenant of conscience,
than to be shackled by a written
compact which surrenders our free
dom of action and gives to military
alliance the right to proclaim Am
= erica's duty to the world" Il wish
the higher wage to abide says he,
'on one explicit condition-that the
wage Garner will give full return for
the wage received He voices his
belief in the budget system, more
business-like federal departments,
in the protective tariff policy-'we
will be calling for it's saving Ameri-
canism again'-for a great merchant
marine, our eminence in trade,
standard of immigration, unshack-
ling child labor, stamping out lynch
ing, ample and becoming housing,
the revision of taxes, and the guar
antee to the negro of his rights Of
citizenship. Mexico should be help
ed, but she must respect our boun-
daries and American lives; the laws
must be enforced, but they must har-
monte with the constitution.
"Breathes there an American with
soul so dead he will not subscribe
to sentiments like these? Hard
, ing's acceptance address is but the
prelude to his inaugural address on
the 4th of March, next"
-O-