River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-03-10
PRESIDENT DELIVERS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
AFTER TAKING OATH
Speech Chiefly Devoted to Me-
cessity for Worlds Re-
construction.
UNITED STATES MUST
ASSUME LEAD IN TASK
Chief Executive Says He Considers
Electoral Vote Mandate From the
People UNFOLDING Policy of Aloof-
ness From Foreign EntangIements-A-
AS to Tariff Readiustments.

1 FSoPic OpuoiuiHS fVtiCy VI T.'oes-
ness From Foreign Entanglements-A-
AS to Tariff Readiustments.
Washington, March president
Harding, in his inaugural address,
spoke substantially as follows:
My Countrymen-When one surveys the
world about him after the great storm,
i noting the marks of destruction and yet
4 rejoicing in the ruggedness of the things
which withStood it, if he is an American
he breathes the clarified atmosphere with
| a strange mingling of regret and new
| hope. We have seen world of passion
spend its fury, but we contemplate our
republic mistaken, and hold our civiliza-
,aw-and civilization are inseparable, and
| though both we're threatened, we md
| them now secure and threre comes TO
| Americans the profound assurance that
/ our representative government is the
highest expression and surest guaranty
| of both.
Standing in this presence, mindful of
| the solemnity of this occasion, feeling the
emotions which no one may know until
he senses the great weight of responsible
ity for himself, / must utter my belief in
he divine inspiration of the founding
fathers. Surely there must have been
Gods intent in the making of this new
world republic. Ours is an organic law
which had but one ambiguity and we saw
| that effaced in a baptism of sacrifice and
| blood, with union maintained, the nation
| supreme and its concord inspiring: we
have seen the world riyet its hopeful gaze
on the great truths on which the found
ers wrought. We have seen civil, human
and religious liberty verified and glorified.
In the beginning, the world SCORED at our
| experiment, today our foundations OF po-
litical and social belief stand mistaken, a
precious inheritance to ourselves, an IN
spring example of freedom and civiliza-
ton to all mankind. Let us express re-
1 neWed and strengthened devotion, in
| grateful reverence for the immortal be-
ginning, and utter our confidence In the
| supreme fulfillment
rhe recorded progress of our republic,
materially and spiritually, in itself proves
the wisdom of the inherited policy Of nom
| involvement in old world affairs. Confi-
dent of our ability to work out our own
| destiny, and jealousy guarding our right
| TO do SO, we seek no part in directing the
destinies of the old world: We do not
| mean TO be entangled We will accept
responsibility except as our own con-
science and judgment, in each instance,
/ may determine.
/ Our eyes never will be blind to a
4 developing menace, our ears never deaf
10 the call of civilization. We recog-
| nize the new order of the world. with
the closer contacts which progress mas
| wrought. We sense the. call of the
human heart for fellowship, fraternity
and cooperation. We crave fellow
ship, and harbor no hate. But Amer
d.
on the foundation laid by the inspired
fathers, can be a party to no perma-
nent military alliance. 1t can enter
i into no political commitments nor as
!. sumo any economic obligations which
will subject our divisions to any other
than our own authority.
VIII Associate i'm Counsel.
We are ready to associate ourselves
with the nations of the world great
and small, for conference, for counsel
I to seek the expressed views of world
( apd a
| proximate a disarmament and relieve
the crushing burdens of military and
naval establishments. We elect to par
i ton. conciliation and arbitration. and
would gladly join in that expressed
conscience of progress winch seeks TO
clarity and write the laws OF inter-
i world court for the disposition or such
justiciable questions as nations are
agreed to submit thereto. but every
ercise of our national sovereignty.
Since freedom impelled, and independ-
& ence inspired. and nationality exalted,
a world super government is contrary
to everything we cherish, anC can have
4 no sanction by our republic. rms is
not selfshness. it is sanctity. 1t is
not aloofness. it is security. -
We have come to new realization OF
our place in the world and a new appral-
sal of our nation by the world. The I'M
selfishness of these, United States is a
ourselves and for the world is well estab-
lished. Our concern for preserved civil
cation has had its impassioned and heroic
| expression. There was no American fall-
ure to resist the attempted reversion OF
civilization. There will be no failure to-
day or tomorrow.
Declares Nation Has Spoken.
The success of our popular government
rests wholly upon the correct interpreta-
ton of the deliberate, intelligent, depend
able popular will of America. In .delib-
crate questioning of suggested change
of national policy, where Internationally
was to supersede nationality, we turned
to a referendum of the American people
There was ample discussion, and there is
renublc mandate in manifest under
America is ready to encourage. eager to
initiate anxious to participate in any
seemly program likely to lessen the prob
| ability of war and promote that brother
hood of mankind which must be GOD S
highest conception of human relationship;
We. aspire to high place IN the moral
leadership of civilization; and we hold a
| maintained America, the proven republic
the mistaken temple of representative
democracy. to be not only. an inspiration
and example, but the highest agency OF
strengthening good will and promoting
accord on both continents.
Mankind needs worldwide benedictior
| of understanding. 1t is needed among III
dividuals among peoples, among govern
| ments, and 1t will inaugurate an era OF
good feeling to mark the birth OF a new
order.
United States as an Object Lesson.
We must understand the ties of trade
bind nations in closest intimacy, and none
may receive except as he gives. In the
new order of finance and trade we mean
to promote enlarged activities and seek
expanded confidence.
Perhaps we can make no more helpful
contribution by example than republics
capacity to emerge from the wreckage OF
war. While the worlds embittered travail
did not leave us devastated lands nor des-
| olated cities, left no gaping wounds, nc
breast filed with hate, 1t did involve US
In the delirium of expenditures. in ex-
banded currency and credits, in unbal.
anced industry. in unspeakable waste and
| disturbed relationships While 1t uncoV-