Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-11-12


Associated Press.) The text of
President hardin's address at the
opening of the conference on limita-
tion of armament follows
Mr.. Secretary and Members of the
Conference, Ladies and Gentlemen
it is a great and happy privilege to
bi dthc delegates to this conference
cordial welcome to the capital of
the United States of America 1t is
not only satisfaction to greet you
because we were lately participants
in a common cause, in which shared
! qacrifices and sorrows and hriumphs
brought our nations more closely to-
gother, but it is gratifying to address
YOU as the spokesmen for the ma
! tioEs whose convictions and attend
ing actions have SO much to do with
the veal or woe Of all mankind.
1t is not possible to over-appraise
the Importance of such a conference.
1t is no unseemly boast, no disparage-
ment of other nations which though
mot represented, are held liz highest
J respect, to declare chat the conclus-
ions of this body will have a signal
influence on all human progress
on the fortunes of the world.
Here is meeting, can well be-
| licve, which is an earnest of the
awakened conscience of twentieth
century civilization. 1t is not a con-
vcntion of remorse, nor a session of
torrow. 1t is not the conference of
victors to define terms of settlement.
Nor is it council of nations seek
ing to rcmake human kind. 1t is
rather a coming together from all
parts of the earth, to apply the bet
ter attributes Of mankind to mini
mize the faults in our international
relationships.
/ Call of War-Wearied World
Speaking as official sponsor for the
invitation, think | may say the call
is not of the United States of Amew
ca alone, it is rather the spoken
word of war-wearied world, s.rug-
Cling for restoration, hungering and
thirsting for better elationship; of
humanity crying for relief and cray-
ing assurances of lasting peace.
1t is easy to understand this world
wide aspiration. The glory of tri-
umph, the rejoicing in achievement,
the love of liberty, the devotion TO
country, the pangs of sorrow, the
burdens of debt, the desolation of
ruin--all these are appraised alike
in all lands. Here in the United
States we are but freshly turned
| from the burial of an unknown Amer
lean soldier, when nation sorrowed
while paying him tribute Whether it
was spoken or not, a hundred mil-
lions Of our people were summarizing
the inexcusable cause, the incalcul-
able cost, the unspeakable sacrifices,
and the unutterable sorrows, and
there was the ever impelling ques-
ton: How can humanity justify or
God f0rgive?" Human hate demands
no such tell; ambition and greed
must be denied it. If misunder-
standing rule and make good will
rcgnens everywhere. Al lof us de-
mand liberty and Justice. There can
not be one without the other and they
must be held the unquestioned pos
session of all peoples. Inherent
rights are Of God and the tragedies
of the world originate in their at
tempted denial. The world today is
infringing their enjoyment by arming
to defend or deny, when simple sani.
ty calls for their recognition through
common understanding.
New World Fellowship.
! crt Of tie catclysm of She world
war come new fellowships, new con-
victions, new aspirations. 1t is ours
| to make the most Of them. world
staggering with debt needs its burden
lifted. Humanity which has been
| shocked b ywanton destruction would
J Illl8liItiISt LIlS dSSHClco VI tIIdt uCSIl W.
ton. Contemplating the measureless
cost Cf war and the continuing bur-
den of armament, all thoughtful peo-
pies wish for real limitation of arnia-
mcnt and would like war outlawed.
In soberest reflection the worlds
hundreds Of millions who pay in peace
and die in war wish their statesmen
to turn the expenditures for destruc.
tion into means of construction, aim
ed at a higher state for those who
1 live and follow after
1t is not alone that the world can
not readjust itself and cast aside the
exces burdens without relief from the
leaders Of men. War has grown pro-
gressively cruel and more destructive
from the first recorded conflict to
| this pregnant day, and the reverse or
der would more become our boasted
civilization.
/ Gentlement Of the conference, the
United States welcomes you with un-