Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-03-04
HARDING'S ADDRESS
Continued from Page l }

breast III hate, 1t did involve
us in the dclirium OF cNpendl-
ture, in expanded currency and
credits in unbalanced industry,
in unspeakable waste and dis
turbed relationships. While i'll
uncovered our portion of hateful
selfshness at home. it also re-
vealcd the heart of America as
sound and fearless and beating
IN confidence unfalllng.
Amid it all we have riveted
the gaze OF all civilization to the
unselnshness and the righteous
ness of representative democrat
CIV. where our freedom never has
made offensive warfare, never
has sought territorial aggran-
dizcment through force, never
has turned to the arbitration OF
arms until reason has been eX-
hausted. When the governments
Of earth shall have established a
freedom like our Gown and shall
have sanctioned the pursuit Of
peace as we have sanctioned it,
| believe the last sorrow and the
final sacrifice of international
warfare will have been written.
Our Supreme Task
Our supreme task is the re-
sumption of our onward normal
way. Reconstruction. rcadjust-
mcnt. rcstoration-all these must
follow. | would like to have
them. If it will Tighten the spir-i
it and add to the resolution with
which we take up the task, let
me repeat for our nation, we
shall give no people just cause
to make war upon us. We hold
no national ejudiccs, we enter
tain no spirit of revenge. we do
not hate, we do not COvct, we
dream OF no conquest. nor boast
of armed prowesS.
''tf, despite this attitude, war
is again forced upon us. earn
eStly hope Il way may be found
which will unity our individual
and collective strength and consc-
crate all America, materially and
spiritually, body and soul, to ma
tiOnal defense. can vision the
ideal republic where every man
and woman is called under the
iia% for assignment to duty, for
whatever service. military or civ
IL. the individual is best fitted.
where we may call to universal
service every plant. agency O.
facility, all in the sublime sacri-
lCc for country and not one pen
ny of war profit shall inurc to the
benefit of private individuals
corporation or combination. but
all above the normal, flow intol
the defense chest of the nation.
There is something inherently
wrong. something out Of accord
with the ideals of representative
democracy. when one portion oil
our citizenship turns it's activi-
ties to private gain and defensive
warfare while another is fighting
sacrificing or dying for national
preservation.
Unity of Spirit and Purpose
Out of such universal service |
VIII come new unity of spirit |
and purpose. new confidence
and conservation. which would
make our defense impregnable.
orr triumph assured. Then we !
should have little or no disorgan- |
ization of Our economic. industri-
Al anil commercial systems att
Ia re. no stag2cr ng war debts
no swollen fortunes to hOut the |
the sacrifices of our soldiers, no
cause for sedition, no pitiable
elackcrism, no outrage of trea-
son. Envy a,:d jealousy wouf-l
have no soil for their menacing
development and revolution
woui,, be without the passion
which engenders it.
"A regret for the mistakes of
yesterday must not, however.
blind us to the tasks of today.
War never left such an after
math. There has been staggering
loss of life and measureless vast
aye Of materials. Nations are |,
still gropnig for return to stable |
ways. Discouraging Indebtedness
confronts us like all the war-torn !
nations. and these obligations
must be provided for. No civil |
ization can survive reputation.
"We can reduce the abnormal
expenditures and we will We
can strike at war taxation and we
must. We must face the grim !