The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-04-29

AG community II VI Suhto
ing, April oath by DIR. w. A. Tate.)
Whatever may be ones personal
achievements, to be elected to the
presidency of a great nation is, in it
self, no light distinction. That fact
alone ought to quicken, strengthen,
heighten and deepen all the human
powers, the moral and spiritual pur-
poses of the man thus honored. Mr..
Harding, as President of the United
States, no only occupies a position
of great prestige and influence, but
he becomes the partaker and uphold
er OF precious and lasting traditions.
he follows the path of men like
Washington, jefferson, L~incoln-high-
souled Americans who visioned THEN
task. not from the basement OF party
politics, but from the top-floor OF
moral privilege and whose names rep
resent achievements that have become
inscribed on stone, iron and paper,
and enshined in the hearts and mem
cries of their countrymen.
Our supreme feeling for Mr.. Hard
ing. therefore, as he assumes office,
regardless of our politics, ought to
be one of intense sympathy and res
pect.
Enters Office Handicapped
In the first place unlike many OF
his predecessors he comes to office at
a time of strain and stress and handi-
capped by the lack of a larger com
prehensive record of achievement be
hind him. Indeed so far as his actual
- - .Is1t+,- % N, nIrn in lot esl.
, tor are concerned he is a dark horse
an unknown quantity. n plain, un-
assuming American, he makes no pre-
tensions to greatness or special eN-
ecutive ability. He has begun by
emphasizing his need OF and desire
for help and counsel in facing the
|, problems before him. The son of a
= country doctor, brought up in a small
town, educated in a small college, his
8 election in inspiring in the sense that
it illustrates the possibilities hat
still await the average American OF
average circumstance n is the
guarantee and assurance that leader
ship in our American life is not limit
ed to any special class or group, but
that opportunity is ever reckoning to
men Of quality, capacity II spirit
Z whether they come from the printing
? Office or the professors chair.
In the second place Mr.. Harding
is handicapped by the knowledge that
he was a compromise candidate-the
choice of a few leaders instead of the
rank and file of the party. The party
itself would Enthusiastically have
chosen some one else. But believers
in democracy, as We all are, it is well
to remember that yoX popull is not
always vox del. l mention this cir
cumstance because it is bound to be
Used by disappointed office-seeker, pro
- fit hunters and partisan party leaders
= TO 1nnuence pubic Upiniun against
him in~the case of any administration
crisis. That, | am sorry to say, is the
way of all politics. Mr.. Taft who e x
perienced all the ups and downs OF
party favor and party disloyalty tells
the story of a County Kerry Irishman
who was before the court TO answer
the charge of fracturing a mans
skull. The doctor who attended the
victim testified that he had a very
thin skull. The Judge then asked the
defendant what he had TO say for him
self, and he replied: "All l got to say
is, what business has a man with a
ihin skull doing in County Kerry
Men with thin skins and thin skulls
are likewise out of place in politics"
Nevertheless the President has the
fright to expect the finest loyalty and
confidence of every n of us. when
two out of every three citizens, as
DR.. Bridgmon reminds us, agree in
~elevating to the highest Office within
their bestowal the man whom they
consider the most fit among the candi-
dates tho minority Wh1tnVpr ifs StNlg
or size, or color, or shape maybe,
should fall in line, submerging their
personal disappointment in the belief
that whatever has come to pass is
within the control and shaping of a
purpose greater than man can
cherish"
Over against these limitations the
President, though he has been but a
short time before the public eye, has
given evidence of the possession OF
. certain very desirable qualities. He
has a fine personality. While not
eloquent in speech like Mr.. Wilson he
has impressed the nation with his
sense of self-possession and quiet
dignity. He has a fine capacity fol-
making friends and has shown mark
ed ability as a conciliator. The very
fact that he was big enough to grasp
the opportunity of becoming president
and of influencing keen minds of long
political experience in mis- favor re
bounds nightly TO his credit.
An old harmony Hall politician
George Washington, Plunkett, once
declared, with an utter disregard fol
grammar that he wished but one in
scription to be written on his tomb
stone; HE seen his opportunity and
took it." President Harding took the
big opportunity and that is valid
reason for that hope that he will come
to the experiences and demands OF
his task with a vision and IN ability
THAT exceeds both popular knowledge
and popular estimate.
Feels Responsibilities
Again, one cannot help admire the
rAcent fine Snirit and religions ideal