Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-07-29
HARDING SPEECH
OF ACCEPTANCE
ANEW KEYNOTE
Republican Nominee at N0tIflCa-
ton Ceremonies Discusses
Problems Confronting
Nation.
"HOLD HERITAGE AMERICAN
Nationality JNIMpAIRED''

Advocates Party Responsibility as Dis
tinguished From DictatoriaI and
Autocratic Personal RuIe-In Refer
ring to League of Nations, Says We
Do Mot Mean to Shun a Single Re-
sponsibiIity of This Republic to
World civiIization-Favors Protec-
tive Tariff, Merchant Marine,
Small Army, Woman Suffrage and
National Budget.
Marion, o. Especially -Warren G.
Harding was officially notified of his
nomination as the Republican candi-
date for the presidency. His speech
Of acceptance is in part, as follows:
Chairman Lodge, Members Of No
tif1cation Committee, Members of Ma
tional Committee, Ladies and Gentle
men: The message which you have
formally conveyed brings to me real
ization of responsibility which is not
underestimated. 1t is supreme test
| to interpret the covenant of q great
political party, the activities Of which
are so woven into the history Of this
republic, and a very sacred and
solemn undertaking to utter the faith
and aspirations of the many millions
who adhere to that party. The party
| platform has charted the way, yet,
somehow, we have come to expect
that Interpretation which voices the
faith Of nominees who must assume
specific tasks.
Let me be understood clearly from
the very beginning. I believe in party
sponsorship in government. l believe
in party government as distinguished
from personal government, individual,
dictatorial, autOcratic or what not.
No man is big enough to run this
great republic. There never has been
one Such domination was never in
tended. Tranquility, stability, depend
ability-all are assured in party spon-
sorship, and we mean to renew the
assurances which were rended in the
| cataclySmal war.
Our first cOmmital is the restOra-
ton of representative popular govern
ment, under the Constitution, through
the agency of the Republican party.
Our vision includes more than a chief
executive. We believe in a cabinet of
highest capacity, equal to the reSpOn-
| sibilities which our system contem-
plates, in whose councils the vice
president, second official of the re-
public, shall be asked to participate.
| The same vision includes a cordial
understanding and co-Ordinated activi-
ties with a house of congress, fresh
from the people, voicing the convic-
| tons which members bring from di-
rect contact with the electorate, and
cordial cooperation along with the
restored functions of the senate, ut
| to be the greatest deliberative body
| of the world.
It is not difficult, Chairman Lodge,
| to make ourselves clear on the ques-
ton of international relationship. We
Republicans of the senate, conscious
| of our solemn Oaths and mindful Of
our constitutional Obligations when
we saw the structure of world super
government taking visionary form,
| Joined in a becoming warning of our
devotion to this republic. If the torch
of constutiOnalism had not been dim
med, the delayed peace of the world
and the tragedy of disappointment and
| Europe's misunderstanding Of America
easily might have been avoided. The
| Republicans of the senate halted the
barter of independent American emf
hence and influence, which it was pro-
! posed to exchange for an obscure and
unequal place in the merged govern
ment Of the world. Our party means
| to hold the heritage of American ma
| tionality unimpaired and unsurren-
dered.
The world will not misconstrue. We
| do not mean to hold aloOf We do
not mean to shun a single responsible
lily of this republic to world civiliza-
ton. There is no hate in the Ameri
can heart. We have no envy, no sus
| picion, no aversion for any people in
the world. We hold to our rights, and
means to defend, aye, we mean to sus-
tain the rights of this nation and our
citizens alike, everywhere under the
shining sun. Yet there is the concord
of amity and sympathy and fraternity
in every resolution. There is a genuine
aspiration in every American breast
for a tranquil friendship with all the
world.
One may readily sense the con-
science of our America. am sure un-
derstand the purpose of the dominant
group of the senate. We were not
seeking to defeat a world aspiration;
we were resolved to safeguard Amer
! lea. We were resolved then, even as
we are today, and will be tomorrow,
to preserve this free and independent
republic.
In the call of the conscience Of
America is peace, peace that closes
the gaping wound Of world war, and
L