Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-05
PRESIDENT HARDING'S
:. MESSAGE

President Harding's inaugural mes
sage is such as might well have been
anticipated from his previous public
utterances, cogent, dispassionate.
dignifed, expressing good will
Throughout there is unmistakable
evidence of his profound sense Of per-
sonal responsibility, of his earnest
desire for cooperation, of an abiding
faith in the guidance of Providence,
expressed in these words: Surely
there must have been Gods intent in
the making of this new world repub-
lie"
With regard TO his attitude toward
our foreign relations it has already
been foreshadowed in his previous
expressions of opinion. No supergov-
eminent; no attempt to direct the
destinies of the old world; no involve
ment in the old world affairs; ac
cepting mo responsibility except as
our own conscience and judgment in
each instance may determine" "ad-
herence to the things which made US
what we are" But he recognizes
closer contacts, believes we under
stand better than before the war the
aspirations of mankind and we are
ready to associate for conference and
counsel. willing to have our interna-
tional justiciable questions go to
world court for disposal, willing to
approximate disarmament.
In his view may be found no vain
boasting, no conceit that we as peo-
pie are sufficient unto ourselves. On
the contrary he recognizes that in
the matter of trade as well as in po-
litical intercourse We are not out
side the world influences. that while
1.-THE ties of trade bind in closest in
timacy'' none may receive except as
lie gives"
He sees the responsibilities we are
under, that we have invited the gaze
of the world to the unselfshness and
righteousness of representative gov
eminent" He will not have it that
the attitude of our country in this
crisis is one of greed, of domiAation
over other peoples. We have not
asked for indemnities and he con-
cludes that when the governments Of
earth shall have established a free
dom like our own and shall have
sanctioned the pursuit of peace as
we have practiced it" the world may
then confidently expect release from
the sacrifices which present condi-
tons impose. For the present he be-
lieves our supreme task is the re-
sumption of our own normal way.
The attitude of foreign diplomacy of
late invites and needs just that kind
OF talk: needs attention called to the
very important facts that eve do not
hate, we do not covet, we dream of
10 conquest, nor boast of armed
prowess."
There President Harding expressed
the sentiment of the American peo-
pie, II not of all the interests
that may wear the cloak of Ameri-
canism. And he tells this American
people.-and it needs to be told
that "our most dangerous tendency is
to expect too much of government
and at the same time do for it too
little" There must be give and
take" prices must reflect the reced-
ing fever of war activities" and he
makes no attempt to deceive the
people with visions of the millennium,
with the idea that all the penalties
will be light or be evenly distributed,
and declares that our best assurance
lies in the administration of our
proven system; that IF revolution
insists on overturning established
order let other peoples make the
tragic experiment" There is no place
for it in America
With regard to our industrial diff
ficulties he would rather submit to
the conference table in advance than
to a settlement table after conflict
and suffering" He sees that "our
higher production costs must be re-
fiected in our tariffs" which must be
adjusted to the new order. And as to
the rewards Of our endeavors he does
not hesitate to say that there may
never be equality Of these so long as
varied talents and differing degrees
Of industry and thrift exist.
It is a message of sanity. of clear
understanding and the. good will for
which the earth "is thirsting."
Svuo nfons NJ aeuao auopo tho