Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-07-28
"HOlD HERITAGE AMERICAN
NATIONALITY UN|MpAIRED"
Advocates Party Responsibility as Die
tinguished From Dietatoriai and
Autocratic Personal Rule--ln Refer
ring to League Of Nations, Says We
Do Not Mean to shun a Single Re-
sponsibility Of This Republic to
World civiIization--Fayors Protee-
tive Tariff, Merchant Marine, a
Small Army, Woman Suffrage and
National Budget.

3
Marion, o. Especial al.)-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
tifcatiOn Committee, Members Of Ma
tional Committee, Ladies and Gentle
men: The message which you have
formally conveyed brings to me a real
ization of responsibility which is not
underestimated. 1t is supreme test
to interpret the covenant Of a great
political party, the activities of which
are so woven into the history of this
republic, and 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. l believe in party
sponsorship in government. 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 cordial
understanding and co-ordinated activi-
ties with a house of congress, fresh
from the people, voicing the convic-
tions which members bring from d.
rect contact with the electorate, and
cordial cooperation along with the
restored functions of the senate, fit
to be the greatest deliberative body
of the world.
1t 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
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
nence and influence which II 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
tlonality unimpaired and unsurren-
dered.
The world will not misconstrue. We
do not mean 10 hold aloof We do
not mean to shun single responsible
lity Of this republic to world ciyiliza-
ti0n. 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 genuine
aspiration In every American breast
for 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