Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-06
HARDING HEARD


justified and guaranteed anew to this
generation and all posterity.
If we could only bring all Amer
lea to this shrine, If we could bring
those who are the natural inheritors,
and those who come to share our in
heritance, we should effect a realiza-
ton which would strengthen the AM
erican resolution.
Il am less impressed by our helpful
example to the world, in whose firma-
ment there are the shining stars OF
scores of new republics, aglow with
liberty lighted on these beautiful hills,
than I am impressed by liberty's be-
stowal on those who came to join us
in the American achievement.
Il had an exceptional and unex-
pected and a most delightful welcome
on yesterday afternoon. Before we
had fairly viewed our surroundings
there came ronlping and rollicking
several hundred school children from
Philadelphia, who had come out to
Valley Forge to get youths impress
at this patriotic shrine. They voiced
most delightful welcome. They be-
slowed the reverence of innocence
andn unselfishness to one called to
authority
"Enthralled as l was by their cho-
rus of cheer and cordially, found
myself riveted to a study of their
faces. Perhaps they were all Amer
lean born, but their parents
came from other lands as well as our
own. Among their parents there
ment. in pursuits or in social status,
but you could not distinguish it in
these hopeful ,rollicking children.
They were the budding youths of
honest, righteous, justice-loving de-
mocracy, destined. to come to radiant
bloom in the equality of American
, opportunity.
This is the heritage from Valley
Forge, equality of opportunity sus-
authority under law and order. This
is what made America, it will lead
us to future triumphs.
Il like to say to you-perhaps you
like me to say it, because 1 am an
swerable to you for the policy of the
republic. l believe 1 speak what is in
your hearts and in the heart of all
America, when I say that we ought
to have the courage. the appreciation,
the resolution, the conscience and the
Judgment, to maintain unendangered
the inherited foundations of the faith
ers, and ever mindful of their suf-
ferings, still play our part to human
ity in the generations to come. l can
think of an America that can MAIN
tain every heritage and yet help HUI
mainly throughout the world to reach
little higher plane.
But when | pledge our America to
world helpfulness at the same time,
exact the pledge that America will
cling to her own independence of ac-
ton and to her own conscience. Who
can say what tomorrow has for the
world? We are only a century and a
half from Valley Forge and a century
and a third from the adoption of the
constitution and yet 1 can say with
out boasting that ours is command
ing position in the world today.
The world could never settle it's
present day turmoils and complica-
tons without the helpfulness of Amer
lean influence and example. Who shall
say if we hold fast to the traditions
of Valley Forge what the future shall
have in store?
Il want an America of preserved
Conscience want an America of pre-
served ighteousness-aye, an America
of clinging to the religious devotion
which has been the anchorage of our
civilization. Who shall say if we
cling to these things what we may
accomplish? We are already up in the
world, but the sun of our national life
has not yet fairly approached its me-
tional life.
What is a century and a third in
national life? 1t is only a snap of the
finger. Who can imagine in quaffing
the cup of rational American optimism
what the future may have in store?
can well believe that long before the
sun of national life has passed it's
meridian-l can well believe that with
well maintained foundations the 1OO.-
100000 of today will be the myriads of
the future. like to think of them
all as loyal Americans with faces to
the front marching on and on to
achievement, clinging to their tradi-
tons and joining in a great swelling
chorus GLORY no tn God IL, tho b;-,,