The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1920-10-23
Special to THE APPEAL.


Marion, Ohio.--The following is the
full text of the address of Senator
Harding, Republican nominee for
President, to visiting -colored delega-
tions: -
"Americans: I greet you as work
ers in the cause of a noble religious
purpose, and shall address you, in
solar as / ann able to do so, without
thought of my position as a candi-
date Of a party for high political
place, and with my interest conferred
upon you, upon your aspirations, and
upon the contribution of your people
to America. will center my inter-
est also upon the contribution of
America to your people and upon the
justice which, in America, must never
relax vigilance, not to create an
equality that is worth nothing if it
be not earned, but an equal oppor-
tunity for all men. and women to
achieve, and hold the full recognition
OF their own merit, capacity and
| worth.
ITO much doctrine based upon an
other principle has been loosed upon
a war-worn world. Abroad, particu-
larly in Russia, there has grown up
the idea that = by some impossible
magic, government can give out a
bounty by the mere fact of having
liberty and equality written over its
door, and that citizenship need make
no deposit in the bank of common
weaA in order to write checks upon
the bank. Here at home-we have
had too much encouragement given
to the idea that a government is
a something for nothing institution
But l say that citizenship is not
based upon what one can get, but
that it is based upon what one gives
l say-and [ wish that I could speak
through you to all Americans-FLet's
Serve!'
'Under that slogan of good> citi.
zenship there is no reason why YOU
should not hold your heads high
You, who are assembled today. and
your race in America, have the good
sense, as all thoughtfu4 Americans
must have, to know that it is onlv
In country where the merit. ca,
pacity, and worth of men and women
are recognized and rewarded, that
merit, capacity, and worth are de,
veloped. You, and 1, and good Amer
leans, of whatever color, blood or
creed, know that the aspiration of
all men is equal opportunity to ere.
ate recognition of differences be-
tween themselves, and that no in
| justice known to man can be greater
than that of the tyranny and autoc-
: racy that labels itself Democracy. or
Bolshevism, or Proletariat, and en-
slaves all men and all their ambitions
and all their freedom with the iron
band of mediocrity. The American
colored man has the sense to know
this truth, has the good sense and
clear head and brave heart to live
it and I, assuming to speak a truth
which America ought to know, pro-
claim it to all the world that he has
met the test and did not and will
not fail America.
America Will Not Fail.
II proclaim more; assert to all
the world that sAmerica has not. and
will not fail the American colored
man. ".f
IF there are those who doubt me-
let them look to the record the
record Of the colored race in Amer
lean citizenship, and the record of
America in giving opportunity.
Your very presence in the assem-
ply, coming from great organizations
dedicated to high religious purposes,
is enough to- cause any man to give
recognition in his heart to the great
contribution to American citizenship
which is found in the capacity for
deep religious faith among people of