Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-01
Harding Talks
on His sion OF
the Pilgrims

PLYMOUTH ROCK AMPHTTHEATER
PLYMOUTH, Mass, Aug. President
Harding's speech al the Pilgrim tercen-
tenary celebration here today follows:
Governor Cox and Fellow Americans:
Though they seem comparatively
measureless to US, three centuries are lit
tie more than a moment IN the chron-
icle Of human history Christianif- Is
now rounding ont its twentieth century,
land there is no comprehensive measure
to the human ferment which went before
Our actual national life is less than half
the period of marvellous new world de-
velopment. the tercentenary Of which be
ginning we celebrate. but IN that little
while the achievement is the most signif-
cant OF al the centuries. = Is not too
much to say that the three centuries
which have passed since men Of our race
came here TO found new state have been
the most momentcus and the most preg-
nant in all the progress of human kind.
DEMOCRACY
TOOK ROOT.
ITO this ami 5Ee Virginia shore were
transplsnted the seeCs Of representative
democracy. the new ideals OF nationality
through association and representation
and there hos deveioped. seemingly. the
most dependable form Of popular govern
ment ever witnessal in the world. Per
haps this larger achievement was moi
intended by the heroes - colonization.
They were seeking freedom and found
nationality essential to its preservation.
Destiny pointed the way and the hand
Of divinity traced the course Of God in
tended human advancement. Here came
/, the sturdy English middle class OF yeo-
nanny. burghers and squires who chung
to their ideals Of representative govern
ment At home they might have been
crushed under the burdens which reaction
was seeking to impose. Hero they could
have free play and begin anew and
fashion the temple of freedom In a new
land. They began what We call repubh
can Institutions. These institutions are
the agencies OF highest freedom, which
e1nbOdy at once the centralized authority
strong enough to hold together a great
community. and those essentials OF de-
mocracy which insure dominance to the
intelligent viii OF a free people.
PUBLIC OPINION
FINDS EXPRESSION.
whether We reflect upon the restraints
upon freedom which the fathers imposed
or measure the broader liberty under
the law Of today. here began the reign OF
dependable public opinion which unfail-
ingly is the law of highest ciyilizatid1
One may not say whether the Puritans
would at home have been able to work
out such a system II there had been no
American colonies and the colonial in
1uences TO react upon the mother coun-
try. Doubtless the English revolution
which came soon after the settlement at
Plymouth would have come even had
there been no settlement here no Mas
sachusetts Bay colony, no Virginia plan
tation But It is easy to believe that
in the long struggle after the restora-
ton the fruits of the revolution. the
strengthened parliamentary institutions
and the restrictions on royal prerOgative
were helped by the influences Of colo
NAL democracy.
NO one ever will dispute the large
part New England played in the rearing
Of new standards OF freedom. Here, with
crude narfOwness unconscious salfshness
hindering but with the supreme intent
impelling, there developed the accepted
plan of emancipating humanity and the
grant to man to shape his own destiny.
The world chorus today rejoicing in
maintained democracy attuned its chord
to the notes first sounded here.
TWO TOWERS
OF FREEDOM.
mo American can fully appraise his
country's contribution 10 mankind's ad-
vance If he overloOks the things which
were truly fundamental ia creating two
towers Of national strength for freedom,
where there might have been but one At
time when the restored house Of Stuart
was bent on king up the New England
eonfederacy. esteeming II a league for
ultimate Independence. the enemies OF
Charles u were the firm friends of New
England. The cOnfederaCy was at length
destroyed, but It had served to teach the
colonists unity and cooperation. Thus
there was laid the foundation. in public
opinion and working experience, of the
confederation which afterward brought
together the thirteen colonies in the revo-
iutiGaary struggle, and later the federal
unioa,
'There is some justification for the
generalization that the political tyrants