The New York herald., 1921-03-05
SATURDAY. MARCH S, 1921.
President Harding's Inaugural.

President HARDING's inaugural ad.
dress Is prominently a dedication OF
his mind and his heart with modest
humility and humble reverence to
pure, undiluted Americanism, IN
which his simple thought is not OBJ
scured by the tawdry rhetoric wherein
1t Is sometimes clothed. His devo-
ton to the institutions Of his country
is secure. His faith In the purpose
and conscience Of the nation Is serene.
His confidence In the responsibility of
his fellow citizens Is unalloyed.
All this President HAsprNa reveals
in his solemnly expressed reliance on
divine guidance, his unaffected belief
In the lasting triumph of the Repub-
Tic and his earnest petition for the
support Of his countrymen.
And let 1t be said at the start that
with this utterance OF the new Ex-
ecutive Of the nation the last glimmer.
Ing ember of hope Of those who have
yearned somehow to juggle this coun-
try into the League of Nations dies.
He puts the League and the Cove
nant away from him unequivocally
and finally. He rejects definitely any
semhlance OF Mr.. WILSON'S dream
and creation. He clings irrevocably
to the ideals, the works and the doc
trine Of the founding fathers" Be-
cause Of the prolonged attention his
address gives to this supreme Issue
Of nationalism II Is we'll to emphasize
It's leading points.
Mr. HARDINo specifically disavows
in behalf OF the American Govern
ment and the American people not
merely control Of but part in the des.
TIMES OF other peoples We wish, he
says, to improve common understand.
ing, to encourage fair dealing, to pro-
mote general disarmament and world
concord. We wish to suggest and ad-
wise methods of mediation, concilia.
tion and arbitration In place Of war
But we aim and resolve to continue
as we have begun-a single, self-sus-
tanning, independent nation. He tier
ates and reiterates the national spirit
and destiny as follows:
We do not mean to be entangied.
We will accept no responsibility ex-
cept as our own conscience md
Judgment In each instance may Do
termine.
America can be party 20 no
permanent military alliance. II can
enter into no political commitments
or assume any economic obligations
which will subject our decisions to
any other than our own authority.
IN a deliberate questioning OF .
suggested change OF national policy
where internationally was to super
sede nationality we turned to a ref
erendun Of tho American people.
There was ample discussion, and
there IL a public mandate in mani
fest understanding"
SO ends the League, so far as con
Germs America, with the Covenant
and all their dreams and visions.
And also in his discussion OF purely
domestic questions and problems Mr.
HARDING shows his straight thinking
and common sense. AS we'll as clear
ness OF economic. conception there II
uirectness of economic expression The
Perhaps we can make no moro
helpful contribution by example than
provo a republics capacity to emerge
from tho wrccksge OF war. While
the worlds embittered travail did
not leave us devastated lands nor
desolated cities, left no gaping
wounds, no breast filled with hate.
Il aid involve US In the delirfum OF
expenditure. IN expanded currency
ana credies In unbalanced industry.
IN unspeakable waste and disturbed
relationships.
War never left suoh an sfter
r,ath. Discouraging indebtedness
confronts us, like ali the war torn
nations. and these oblisations must
be provided for No civilization can
survive Reputation. We can reduce
abnormal expenditures and we will
We can strike at war taxation. and
We must
we must face the grim necessity
with full knowledge that tho task
n to be solved and We must proceed
with q fun realization that no stat-
ute enacted by man can repeal tho
inexorabis laws OF nature"
Again It Is with political judgmen
rs well as business sense that Mr.
HARDING reminds the country tina
rigid economy must be sane economy
industrial and financial adjustmen
must bs worked out, but "cur pecpl