Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1921-03-10
America Anxious to Participate
in Any SeemIy Program Likely
to Lessen Probability of War
and Promote World Peace.
ASSOCIATION FOR COUNSEL
Make Offensive Warfare So Hateful
That Governments and Peoples Who
Resort to II Must Prove the Right
eousness Of Their Cause or Stand as

Wash'nGton.-The Inaugural Ad-
dress Of President Warren G. Harding
| was as follows:
My countrymen-When one surveys
the world about him after the great
| storm, noting the marks of destruc-
ton and yet rejoicing in the rugged
ness of the things which withstood
| 1t, II he Is an American he breathes
the clarified atmosphere with n strange
mingling of regret and new hope. We
| have seen world passion spend its
fury, but we contemplate republic
mistaken and hold our civilization Sc
cure. Libcrty-liberty within the law
and civilization are inseparated, and,
Though both were threatened, we find
th'>m now secure; and there comes to
Arhericans 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. feel
Ing the emotions which no one may
know until he senses the great weight
OF responsibility for himself. 1 must
utter my belief In the divine inspira-
tion of the founding fathers. Surely
there must haye been Gods intent In
the making or this new world re-
public Ours Is an organic law which
had but one ambiguity, and we saw
that effaced In Il baptism of sacrifice
and blood. with union maintained. the
nation supreme and It's concord in
| spring. We have seen the world rivet
It's hopeful gaze on the great truths
on which the founders wrought We
have seen civil, human and religious
liberty verified and gloritied In the
beginning, the old world scoffed at our
experiment; today our foundations OF
Political and social belief stand un-
shaken, II precious Inheritance 10 our
selves. m inspiring example OF free
dom and civilization to all mankind.
Let us express renewed and strength
ened devotion in grateful reverence
for the immortal beginning and utter
our confidence in the supreme full
tlllment.
Progress Proves Wisdom
The recorded progress OF our re-
public, materially and spiritually. IT.
self proves the wisdom Of the inner
tied policy of non-envolvemcnt I'm old
world affairs. Confident Of our ability
to work out our own destiny and
jealousy guarding our right to do so,
we seek no part I'm directing the des-
TIMES of the old world. We do not
mean To be entnnglrd we will accent
no responsibility except as our own
conscience and Judgment, In each in
stance. may determine
Our eyes never TSill be blind to n
developing menace, our cars never
deaf To the call OF civilization. We
recognize the new order i'm the world
with the closer contacts which prog
ress has wrought. We sense the call
of .nc human heart for fellowship,
fraternity and cooperation. We crave
friendship and harbor no hate But
| America-0ur America, the America
builded on the foundation lnid by the
inspired fathers. can be party to no
permanent military alliance 1t can
enter into no political commitments,
nor assume any economic obligations
which will subject our decisions to
any other than our own authority.
l am sure our own people will not
misundcrStand, nor will the world
misconstruc. We have no thought TO
| impede the paths to closer relations
ship. We wish to promote understand
ing. We want To do our part in max
Ing offensive warfare so hateful that
governments and peoples who resort
To 1t must prove the righteousness Of
| their cause or, stand rs outlaws be-
fore the bar Of utilization
Association for Counsel
We are ready to associate ourselves
with the nations of the world, great
and small, for conference, for coun-
sci, to seek the expressed views of
world opinion: Ia recommend a way
To approximate disarmament and re-
licve the crushing burdens OF military
and naval establishments. We elect
to participate In suggesting plans for
| mediation. Cancellation and arbitra-
tion and would gladly join in that
| expressed conscience of progress
which seeks to clarity and write the
laws of international relationship and
| establish world court for the dis
position of such justicible questions
as nations are agreed TO submit
thereto. In expressing aspirations In
seeking practical plans, in translatng
mmanity'S new concept of righteous
ness and justice and Its hatred OF war
into recommended action we are
ready most heartily To unite. but every
commitment must be made In the eX-
| erclse of our national sovereignty.
| Since freedom impelled and independ-
ence inspired and nationality exalted
q world super-government Is contrary