The Washington herald., 1921-06-03
HARDING
FIGHTINGSPIRIT
AT ANNAPOLIS
Tells Graduates Defense
Of Nation Noblest of
Attributes.
MIDSHIPMEN CHEER
PRESIDENTS WORDS
Class Quits College Days
Amid Splendor of
Farewell Ball.

$50 at the Naval academy. President
Harding today drew the cheers of
the 1000 midshipmen and the big
audience of spectators when he de-
clared that the determination of
self-defense was planted in the
Scene In Chapel
Probably the most colorfu scene
that ever attended a commencement
at the great academy greeted the
President and his party when he
entered Dahlgren hall for the cere-
monies The corps of midshipmen
in navy blue was drawn up in even
files in the center of the big build
ing Sith the graduating class in
white standing out in sharp relief
Banked against the walls and in
the balconies were proud sweet
hearts mothers and sisters to see
their boys" receive the coveted
diploma from the hands of the
President
President Harding said: Il have
had a very great pleasure in hand
ing the graduates their diplomas I
thought / could not permit the pro-
gram to end without saying a word
to the class in general and to ex-
press my own pleasure in being
present on this occasion. The ad-
miral and the secretary have spoken
about the graciousness of the Ex-
scutive in coming here. That is all
wrong. The Executive has had not
only pleasure but inspiration in
coming here am more than
happy to greet this addition of
trained men to the ranks of Ameri-
can defense A good deal is said
T-.1g . To-,
and the brutality of preparing for
defense. I say to you, young men
Of the graduating class and to the
midshipmen to follow you, l know
Of nothing nobler in this world than
the defense of ones own country
That is inherent in man, planted
IN the human breast by God AL
mighty in His bequest on human
attainments, and there would not be
civilizati tion today il men were not
willing to give their all for the
preservation and life OF the coun-
try. I think there is a marked dis
:inction between some of the basic
inclinations of life.
Keeping Old Order.
preservation of the established
order is one thing. and it is highly
essential. We must always be ready
20 preserve and to maintain the
things upon which our civilization
rests. Crusading for a new order
s quite another thing. Sometimes
il is most nobly inspired; some
times ill-advised; but 1 think the
highest attainments in our republic
lie in a successful blend of an estab-
iished order and the enthusiasm OF
9 a
:ional blend of these two.
You men have been educated at
the hands of your government, not
pnly to make you more proficient
in warfare and defense. but better
to fit YOU to sustain the civiliza-
ton which is the ideal of the re-
public.
Hopes for Peace.
Il am glad you are going forth
to contribute to the security of
your republic. I hope, sirs, you will
never be called upon to draw
sword or to fire a gun except in
expression of those comities that
20 with the service; but 1 promise
YOU that while l am your COM
mander you will never be called
upon to fire a gun except you can
do it with the consciousness that
you are right to answer to God and
to your country.
II do not mean by that that ours
is to be the craven republic. I
want an America unafraid. ] want
you to help make a republic Of con-
science: a republic OF sympathy; a
republic of strength; a republic of
high ideals: and the men who must
who are made fundamentally able
by the processes of education. I
was very much impressed by what
the secretary said about the men,
After all. the measure of highest
achievement is the measure of no.
blest manhood, and when I say that
I mean also noblest womanhood,
because. after all. nothing has ever
been right in this country. never a
heroism worth preserving. never
strike for a high ideal that was
iot somehow inspired by the love
~ mother or sweetheart.
Urges Boys to Marry.
II shall not venture where the ad-
niral and the secretary have gone
m dealing with the feminine prob
EN-, but I warn you of one thing.
ou need not avoid the married
state. but you will command less
utter you enter it than you did be-
bre. I congratulate you today that
,n every side there is this picture
u youth and beauty and maturity
md fatherhood. 7 am happy to ex-
,ress the congratulations of the
-ommander-in-Chi I am glad you
ire going to the service of the gov
.rnment. / know we shall keep the
Ship of State on its right course.
Service is the greatest thing in life.
was very much interested when
he secretary made reference to his
;ervice as an enlisted man and an
Tfficer in the marine corps and the
ravy. That is why he is secretary
Il the navy.
"A man who can get all the view
POINTS is the man fitted to lead. so
commend to you. Young gentle
men. in the pursuit of your career.
o try to get all the viewpoints ana
Ilways bear in mind that he who
lways fights best always fights
Justly"
The class that graduated today
vas the first to complete the four
sear course since the declaration
Z war with Germany.
Admiral W. II. Scales. superin-
endent of the academy, made