New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-06
Harding Says
We Warred to
Defend Rights
DID Not Enter Conflict to
Make the World Safe for
Democracy but to Protect
Ourselves, He Declares
Talks 10 Veterans of '93
Sends Message 10 Tennessee
Republicans to Help in
Ratification of Suffrage
rro.n a SCI CORRESPONDENT


paign, Senator Warren G. Harding told
members of the 4th Ohio Volun-
tesrs. Spanish-American War Veterans,
who held q reunion in Lincoln Park
here to-day. that eve crossed the seas
10 war in defense of American tights
sna not to make the world safe for de
roeracy'
Tie nominee told those ~1en who
he'raa free Cuba ,hat he had always
Fbe to Relieve trey fought the first
"a Tor humanity IN all history. But
b added that America would not have
;rtorfored but for the blowing up OF
the battleship Maine.
That was the incident which set
America aiame,' he said, "the great
impeling spirit, the defense Of Amer
ica and American rights"
Mr. Harding made it clear that he be-
heved America could play its part in
unfolding democracy and humanity
throughout the world without becoming
Z sort OF Don QuiXote among the ma
tons.
The simple, honest truth is" he
said in referring to our part in the
World Var, we did not go to war
sniil American rights had been vio-
lated. ard then we went TO war to de-
sc9d American rights
'Uaut of applause and cheers
f.rclel .hc senator's declaration that
! waited 70 hold the American con-
zee Soldiy and strictly American.
v-sit America TO play its part in
tie world he said. but | do not
Van- q council of foreign powers at
any time or for any reason to summon
Father With Civil War Veterans
In addition to the 4th Ohio men,
there were about dozen graybeards
representing Cooper Post, G.. A. R.
Senator Harding shook hands with the
former soldiers. who filed past him
iH "a long line. DR.. q. T. Harding, the
nominees father, had come with the
Civil War veterans. The Senator sud
denly recognized his parent and to
re camera man who was grinding out
- lin record shouted:
Stalking hands with Dad; get that"
senator Harding in his speech said
We have heard coed deal in the
.ss, several months about war for hu-
real.r's sake, but ! know, as you 90.
sat never before had this Republic
found itself so much impelled by desire
% relieve suffering humanity. as you
relieved Il In that short conflict. 1t
was not such d war as that which saved
Cur Union. nor was it comparable to
the World War-the supreme tragedy
Of all civilization-yet | may say to
you veterans here that the service you
rendered was not less patriotic than
that Of any of the greatest wars.
Spanish War Contradiction
There is d curious contradiction in !
the Span. l-Amcrican War We would
lot hava made war for humanitv's sake
If treaehely had not blown ND the bat
.ieshiu Maine. That was the incident
which set America afamc. The great
.l;,i4 T.os ,ho dafarso -
.,aer.ca ana American rights. We
lad the right 10 send friendly bat
tieShp to Mavana America was right
70 90 to the defense of the stricken
reop.a 81 Cuba. and | tell Won. men.
hat is the spirit that will always save
the United States of America. knov.
! have been criticized for what have
said about our part in the World VA.
"Thouqh we believe we have n1avad
our part in unfolding demncrao,,
throughour the world the simnle bon-
est truth is we did not 90 to war unfii
American rights had been violated an1
then we went 10 war to defend Amer
lean rights. If YOU will only keer
ira, IN mind. We can know that moro
~" iVo'g0o.VVV peoplee, VIII give Their
life to defend thjs Great ore Penu i az o
Il glory in The nart ,bs cons oe
America rlaved in the cnanisbeAnar.
Fan War. Nav stoD TO rS'' sav 1 rhat
glory in the uart | plaved in votinr
To prove the gratitude Of This natioH
for its sons Who fought in The w.
with Snainq think America mgs+ al
ways be grateful to the men VINO lee-
their iresides and families to On ONT
10 maze the sunreme sacrifice al -
not be said that ouro IL or ,,1,orra+of,,1
Republic.
We are $40 wears old The storv
Of the DEVELOPMENT of America is the
story of the DEVELOPMENT of American
conscience and maintained American
conscience strictly and solely Amerl-
II r.. ,,' why America to play It's part
81 ~ t V.'l' "ut 90 not want coun-
err powers at any TINE Tor
sso.'. "soh' 70 SUMMON the sons O.
anv ono 80 ~ we 90 not nero
,.one Us ~nat our oDliga-
nor a. IN .he fhiilppines we ana
dcyelono,a, ,,-.'."n progress ahd human
neen acclin,-i -. e"e"ss Years IMAM hau
in three s,' 'l'--Slivu py lhe oPahlardS
'@''0ieu years oelore'
What We Did for China
"Uh;