The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-08-05
HARDING'S
MASTERPIECE

III tAC AAa "a AhoCRChoChN PoAAeA1o
thinkers, if there were any disgruntle-
ments yet to be found among disap-
pointed partisans of unsuccessful can
didates for the presidential nomina-
ton, if the slightest trace of faction
alism still persisted, all doubts, all
disgruntlements, all fractional feeling
vanished with the reading of the truly
marvellous exposition of A~mericanism
which breathes in every line of War
rem 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 deliver the nation from the rule
of organized minorities, will be
unitedly waged without respite until
the forces of one-man government, in
tern~ationalism, and class-pandering
are dissipated and the triumph of the
Harding Coolidge type of %nationalism
brings the bitter struggle to a close.
The question which every reader of
that splendid document must ask him
self is, Am l for party first, or for
America first?" The speech is a benz
away from the bondage insti-
tuted 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 exhibited by Mr.. Harding. No
rhetorical design which that crafts
man 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 has been said and done, the vast
majority of us are Americans first.
Those staunch disciples of Thomas
Jefferson. who have hesitatingly fol-
lowed 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 a signal for a parting of
the ways; a refusal further to jeopar-
die American institutions by Wilson
ian bell-wethering into a FOOLS para
disc.
H%arding's speech gives to the Re-
publicans the assurance that they
have done far more than to cinch a
party victory by nominating such an
exemplar of American thought. 1t
convinces them that they have named
the man who will ave the nation
from encouragement without and dis
ruption within, for there is nothing
in Harding's career as a statesman
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 acceptance
speech are the performances which
will meet the approval of the people.
In the call of the conscience of
America is peace, peace that closes
the gaping wound of world war, but
it is better to be the free and disin-
terested agent of international justice
and advancing civilization. with the
covenant of conscience. than to be
shackled by a written compact which
surrenders our freedom of action and
gives to a military alliance the right
to proclaim Americas duty to the
world. Il wish the higher wage to
abide says he, ION n explicit con-
full return for the wage received" He
voices his belief in the budget system,
more business-like federal depart
ments, in the protective tariff policy
1--WE will be calling for its saving
A~mericanism again"-for a great
merchant marine, our emiIence in
trade, standards of immigration. I'M
Stacking child labor, stamping out
lynching. ample and becoming housing,
the revision of taxes, and the guaran-
tee to the negro of his rights of citi-
zenship. Mexico should be helped,
but she must respect our boundaries
and American lives; the laws must be
enforced, but they must harmonic
with the constitution.
Breathes there an American with
soul so dead he will not subscribe to
sentiments like these? Harding's ac-
ceptance address is but the prelude to
his inaugural address on the 4th of
March, next.