Evening star., 1921-03-04
A Message of Service.

IreSlUent flaTulnS toutS tOok Ills
oath of office on passage from the
| book of Micah: What doth the Lord
requires of thee but to do justly and
to love mercy and to walk humbly
with thy God?"
This was the text of his address to
the American people as he assumed
the heavy responsibilities of his of
flee He pledged himself to serve. He
pledged the hundred millions Of the
people TO cooperation with him in a
duty to which the republic has sum-
moned them. In such cooperation
only can the national affairs be equi-
tably and properly administered.
Interest naturally centers in that
part of the inaugural address which
bears upon our foreign relations.
Briefly the Presidents view is recorded
in this passage:
I'VE are ready to associate ourselves
with the nations of the world. great
and small. for conference. for counsel,
to seek the expressed views of world
opinion. to recommend a way to ap-
proXimate disarmament and relieve
the crushing burdens of military and
naval establishments. We elect to par
ticipate in suggesting plans for media :
ton. conciliation and arbitration. and
would gladly join in an expressed
conscience of progress which seeks to
clarity and write the laws of interna-
tional relationship and establish
world court for the disposition of such
justicia Bile questions as nations are
agreed to submit thereto. In EXPIRE S.
N n tnDl
plans. in translating humanity's new
concept of righteousness. justice and
its hatred of war into recommended
action. we are ready most heartily to
unite. but every commitment must be
made in the exercise of our national
sovereignty
This does not commit the new ad-
ministration against international as
sociation. 1t establishes definitely.
however, the principle that the United
it's individual authority and RESPONSE
bility and freedom Of action. In a pre-
ceding paragraph the President de-
clares for the inherited policy of nom
involvement in old world affairs" For
that deliverance Mr.. Harding has as
warrant the overwhelming vote given
to him for the presidency last No
vember.
A suggestion of trade reciprocity
couples with the admonition that a
rich opportunity awaits American
commerce in the SOUTH A strong de-
murrer is entered to the suggestion
Of possible war, which the President
says cannot conceivably be waged
righteously against it for any act Of
this nation.
Condemnation Of profiteering at the
expense of the people who are serving
to maintain the national honor in time
of war leads to the declaration of pur-
pose to reduce the abnormal expendi-
lures Of government and to lessen the
burden OF taxation. Mr.. Harding
speaks for rigid yet sane economy,
combined with fiscal Justice" He
urges that the people in postwar ad-
justments must give and take, and
that prices must reflect the receding
fever of war activities Perhaps, he
notes, we shall never know the old
levels of wage again, and he warns
that the penalties inseparable from the
necessary readjustmcnt will not be
light or evenly distributed. A word is
sounded for adjustment Of industrial
controversies by conference in advance
rather than after conflict and suffer.
ing.
President Harding has sounded a
strong, clear, inspiring note in his in.
augural address. He speaks humbly,
as BELTS one who faces a great task.