Evening star., 1920-12-05

its commerce, and then everlasting1y
determined to defend its commerce and
its rights
private citizen, but I have in my
heart the pride of a private citizen
Of America in such a representation Of
American manhood. When 1t is my
time to come into responsibility !
want to have your confidence. I know
you will have mine. 1 hope you will
continue in your devotion and service
I hope you will never have to fire gun
In defense Of your country"
When Senator Harding reached the
tabernacle the audience was singing
religious hymns and he asked for one
more before he began his speech.
|of religion, declaring that if he did
not believe there was God to aid
mankind he never would want to take
the responsibilities Of the presidency.
Neither would I want to be Presi-
dent II / did not feel that I would
have your help" he continued. Il
want a united nation and I want
standing that will have the people
of the old Confederacy understand that
that's only a memory.
Tribute to AdministfatfOn.
II cannot talk to you today about
public policies and proposals. because
there is yet proper and respected
administration In power and I'd be
the last man in America to give
onense to the President or his friends
by assuming responsibilities before
my time. So can only say that want
me because we're going to work to-
gether; and, God helping US, we're
going to preserve representative pop
ular government.
II do not speak in criticism Of any
party or any personality. I believed
for the winning Of the war. but now
that it's over I want the restoration
Of normal government.
"Among other things want to see
America the greatest maritime nation
on the face Of the earth have a pro-
found conviction that II our America
had been possessed Of great merchant
fense our rights never would have been
affronted by the central powers.
"a lot Of old hide-bound democrats
and a lot Of miserable old nug-wump
republicans have been utterly blind to
the idea Of the American nation giving
marine. II the La Toilette Seamen's
Act represents the conscience Of the
American people, and I believe 1t does
then the American government ought
to step in and share the burden 1t i'm
poses.
Urges Turnover Of ShfDS.
II want to call attention that the
chief propoRandists against subsidies
for American ships were the agents
of the HAMBURG & -Amercan and North
German Lloyd steamship lines. /
don't know whether their opposition
was inspired by selfish competition or
whether it was due to q far-reaching
design Of the ruling class Of the CEN
trail empires; sometimes aspiring
monarchs think Of these things, and /
believe the ruler OF Germany was
looking forward to world domina-
ton.
What I want for America is that
the ten million tons Of shipping we
builded in haste during the war shall
be turned over to private manage
ment under government encourage
ment. And I want above all that we
shall preserve one thing more. We
must preserve the majesty Of govern
ment and Of law. and these rest on
the Constitution. And I want the
citizens Of Virginia to Join the citf-
zens of Ohio. and the citizens Of
Maine to join the citizens Of Califor.
MIA, in one concord Of American
union and conservation to the service
Of our common country"