The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-07-30
COMMENT ON
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
OF SENATOR HARDING

OA
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
OF SENATOR HARDING |
Washington. Jluy 80. "The pre- !
lude to his inaugural address," de- |
clares the Republican Publicity AS
ISOLATION, through its President, Hon,
Jonathan Bourne. Jr:, in a review OF !
Mr.. Harding's speech, as follows:
IF there were any doubts lurking
in the minds of Independent political
thinkers, If there were any disgruntle-
ments yet to be found among disap-
pointed partisans of unsuccessful can
didates for the presidential nomina-
ton, if tn slightest trace of factional-
ism still persisted, all doubts, all dis
gruntlements, all factional feeling
vanished with the reading of the truly
marvellous exposition of Americanism
which breathes in every line of War
rem G. Harding's speech accepting the
Republican nomination for the Presi.
dency. Henceforth, the struggle to re-
store constitutional government to our
people, to save us from the tolls of
European and Asiatic intrigue, to de-
liver the nation from the rule of Or
ganized minorities, will be unitedly
waged without respite until the forces
of one-man government, International
ism and wandering are dissipai-
ed ar ! the triumph of the Harding
Coolidge type of nationalism brings
the struggle to close,
1.-THE question which every reader
of that splendid document must ask
him self is, Am for party first, or for
America first? The speech is a benz
son to that man who would break
away from the bondage instituted by
Wilson, and which would be perpet-
| uated by Cox, and who longs for the
restoration of those American princi-
pleswhic h transcend mere party diff
ferences. Nothing which Mr.. Cox may
say can add to or substract from the
intense patriotism the breadth OF
vision exhibited by Mr.. Harding. No
| rhetorical design which that crafts
man of fine phrases, Mr. Wilson, may
weave upon his typewriter can curb
the appeal which Hardings words
make to the American heart. After all
| that has been said and done, the vast
majority of us are Americans first
| Thost staunch disciples of Thomas JEFF
ferson who have hesitatingly followed
Woodrow Wilson in his political mean
behring's of the past few years, and who
have recently been assured by Mr.. Cox
that he is but the shadow of his leader,
may find in Harding's nationalism a
signay for a parting of the ways; q
refusal further to jeopardize American
institutions by Wilsonian bell-wether-
ing into fools paradise.
"Hardings speech gives to the Re-
publicans the assurance that they have
done far more than to clinch party
victory by nominating such an e,
emplar of American thought. 1t con
vinces them that they have named the
man who will save the nation frori
| ENHANCEMENT without and disrup-
ton within, for there is nothing in
Harding's career as statesman which
has ever given the lie to the sentiments
he has uttered AS he promises, so
will he perform, and the promises to
be read in his acceptance speech are
the performances which will meet with
the approval of the people.
'In the cal lof the conscience Of
America is peace, peace that closes the
gaping wound of world war, but 1T is
better to be the free and disinterested
agent of international justice and ad-
vancing civilization, with the covenant
on conscience, than to be shackled by
a written compact which surrenders
our freedom of action and gives to a
military alliance the right to pro-
claim Americas dut to the world 1
wish the higher wage to abide says
he, ON one explicit condition-that the
wage-earner will give full Return for
the wage received He voices his be-
/, lief in the budget system, more bust
ness-like federal departments, In the
protective tariff policy-'we will be
| calling for its saving Americanism
again-for great merchant marine,
our eminence in trade, standards Of
immigration, unshackling child labor,
stamping out lynching, ample and be-
coming housing, the revision of taxes,
and the guarantee to the Negro of his
rights of citizenship. Mexico should
be helped, but she must respect our
boundaries and American lives; the
/ laws must be enforced, but they must
harmonize with the Constitution.
"Breathes there an American with
soul so dead he will not subscribe to
sentiments like these? Harding's ac-
ceptance address is but the prelude to
his inaugural address on the 4th Of
March, next"
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