The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-04
HARD|NC'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
REITERATES Deep CONFIDENCE
IN INSTITUTIONS OF REPUBLIC
(By Associated presS)

Harding in his inaugural address,
said:
my Countrymen: When one sur
veys the world about him after the
great storm, noting the marks OF de-
struction and yet rejoicing In the rug
gedness of the things which withstoods
it, If he is an American, he breathes
the clarified atmosphere with strange |
mingling of regret and new hope. We
have seen world passion spend it's
fury, but we contemplate our republic !
mistaken and hold our civilization Sc
cure Liberty-liberty within the law
and civilization are inseparable and
though both were threatened We find
them now secure, and there comes to
Americans the profound assurance
that our representative government is
the highest expression and surest guar
anty of both.
Standing in this presence, mindful
of the solemnity of this occasion, feel
ing the emotions which no one may
know until he senses the great weight
of responsibility for himself, I must
utter my belief in the divine inspira-
ton of the founding fathers. Surely
there must have been Gods intent In
the making of this new world repub-
lie. Ours is an organic law which had
but one ambiguity, and we saw that
effaced in a baptism of sacrifice and
blood, with union maintained, the ma
ton supreme and it's concord inspir-
ing. We have seen the world rivet it's
hopeful gaze on the great truths on
which the founders wrought We have
seen civil, human and religious liberty
verified and glorified. In the begin
ming, the old world scoffed at our ex-
pertinent; today our foundations of
political and social belief stand I'M
shaken, a precious inheritance to our
selves, an inspiring example of free
dom and civilization to all mankind.
Let us express renewed and strength
ened devotion, in grateful reverence
for the immortal beginning, and utter
our confidence in the supreme fulfill
ment.
Progress Proves Wisdom.
"The recorded progress of sour re-
public, materially and spiritually, in
itself proves the wisdom Of the inherit
ed policy of Acknowledgement in old
world affairs. Confident of our ability
to work out our own destiny and jeal
ously guarding our right to do so, we
seek no part in directing the destinies
of the old world. We do not mean to
be entangled. We will accept no re-
sponsibility except as our own con-
science and judgment in each instance
may determine.
Our eyes never will be blinded to
developing menace; our ears never
deaf to the call of civilization. We
recognize the new order in the world.
with the closer contacts which prog
ress has wrought. We sense the feel
ing of the human heart for fellowship,
fraternity and cooperation. We crave
friendship and harbor no hate, But
America, our America the America
builded on the foundation laid by the
inspired fathers, can be party to no
permanent military alliance. 1t can
enter into no political commitments,
nor assume any economic obligations
or subject our decisions to any other
than our own authority.
Il am sure our own people will not
misunderstood nor the world will mis-
construe, we have no thought to i'm
pede the paths to closer relationship
We wish to promote understanding
We want to do our part in making
offensive warfare SO hateful that gov.
ernments and peoples who resort to it
must prove the righteousness of theil
cause or stand as outlaws before the
bar of civilization.
Association For Counsel.
I'VE are ready to associate our
selves with the nations of the world
great and small for conference, fol
counsel, to seek the expressed views
of world opinion, to recommend a way
to approximate disarmament and re
lieve the crushing burdens of military
and naval establishments. We elect
10 participate in suggesting plans fO1
mediation, Cancellation and arbitration
and would gladly join in that express
ed conscience of progress, which seeks
to clarity and write the laws of inter
national relationship, and establish {
world court for the disposition of such
justiciable questions as nations are
agreed to submit thereto. In express
ing aspirations. in seeking practica
plans, in translating humanity's new
concept of righteousness, justice ant
it's hatred of war into recommends
action we are ready most heartily tt
unite, but every commitment must b,
made in the exercise of our nationa
sovereignty.
Since freedom impelled and indie
pendence inspired and nationality ex
allied, a world super-gOvernment i
contrary to everything we cherish an,
can have no sanction by our republic
This is not SelfiShneSS. 1t is Sanctity
\ 1t is not aloofness: it is security. |
is not suspicion of others; it is patri
otto adherence to the things whic]
made us what we are.
To-day, better than ever before, w
know the aspirations of human kin,
and share them. We have come to
new realization of our place in tn,
world and a new appraisal of our ns
tion by the world. The unselfishnes
of these United States, is a thing prov
en-, our devotion to peace for ourselve
and for the world is we'll established
our concern for preserved civilization
has had its impa-:oned and heroic e,
preston. There was no American fai
ure to resist the attempted reversio
of civilization; there will be no failur
today or tomorrow.
Rest On Popular Will.
THE success of our popular govern
ment rests wholly upon the correct If
depreciation of the deliberate, INTEL
gent. dependable popular will of Amer
lea. In deliberate questioning of
suggested change of national poitc
where internationally was to supel
cede nationality, we turned to a refel