New-York tribune., 1920-11-12
Adequate Transportation
and Strong Marine De-
clared Best Insurance
Against Foreign Attack
Speaks to 10000
On Arn1istice Dav
Plea for Nation That Pro-
tects Its Citizens Any
where Stirs Audience
From a Star CORRESPONDENT


BROWNSVILLE. Tex, Nov 11.-Sen-
ator Warren G. Harding. in an Ar
mistice Day speech in Brownsville to-
day. his first formal address as Presi-
dent-elect, declared that America must
ever be strong in peace, having learned
BY bitter experience in the World War
that righteousness and justice were not
IL themselves guaranty of national
security.
We had not trespassed; we had not
offended; we had done no ILL.," said the
President-elect Our friendship with
Ill the world was unquestioned We
new nothing CT envy and harbored no
hate. Yet we were involved after an
excess Of patience. and only the pro-
ductve development Of peace made US
equal to the emergency Of war. We
must ever be strong in peace, foremost
in industry, eminent in agriculture,
ample in transportation"
This declaration for national prepar-
edness was delivered in the hearing of
10000 Americans and Mexicans who
crowded the parade ground in Fort
Brown, an army post that more than
once has been the scene Of hostile en-
gagements between the people of the
Two republics.
Senator and Mrs. Harding and mem
beIs # their party motored over from
Point Isabel this morning to attend the
Armstice Day celebration. The Sena-
tor led the parade for a few blocks
through the streets cf Brownsville and
tnen delivered his address.
Day Belongs to America
This day is especially interesting to
our country" he said, because with
out American participation it might
have been a later and different date,
if indeed there had been an armistice
day at all We do not claim to have
won the war, but we helped nightly,
ree"rded undying glory to American
arms and gave the world o new under
standing Of the American spirit. What
ever the word may nave thought of us
before, however incorrectly we may
have been appraised, the world has
come to know that selfiShncss is not a
trait of our national character; that
comm"lcialism does not engross US;
that neutrality was conceived in fair
ness not IN lear, and that when our
national rights are threatened and our
nationals sacrificed America is resolved
10 defend and ever viii.
"I have an abiding faith that we will
reveal to mankind the difference be
twcen the American conception OF
r-.1 1
sumption, between aioofness and aban-
donment on the one hand and becom-
ing association and heipfulness on the
other. We helped to win the war un-
allied and uumortgaged. We cough.
with the Allied powers because We
we're fighting against common enemy
who had violated our rights. but we
we're only an associated power and
never committed, if fully aware Of
them, TO the compacts of alliance. And
we have not deserted our associates.
out are loyal to the principles which
made Us what We are"
The United States did not go to war
TO make the world safe for democracy
nor for the sake of humanity, Senator
Harding said, as he had said many
times before 1t went to war in self
defence, making great sacrifices, but
nnding great mpensations. The
country learned something about its
own weakness.
Weakness on Seas Serious
Better sportation upon land ant
an adequate merchant marine woulG
have speeded our participation anc
shortened the conflict" he said. :"
can we'll believe that the knowledge OF
our maritime weakness encouraged the
contempt which ultimately involved US
believe an America eminent on the
high seas and respected in every ave
nue. of trade will be safer at home ane
greater In influence throughout The
world
little farther along the Senator
SAID: Il like to think Of an America
whose citizens are ever seeking th'
greater development and enlarged re
sources and widened influence of tn.
Republic, and I'd like to think of
government which protects its citizens
Wherever they so upon a lawful mis-
sion anywhere under the shining sun"
This was good talk for Texas and tn,
Mexican border, and it evoked tn,
eheering that may be imagined
senator Harding said he had seer
ana talked to good many young vet
Continued on page four)