The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-03-11
HARDING DELIVERS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
America Anxious to Participate
in Any SeemIy Program Likely
to Lessen Probability of War
and Promote World Peace.
ASSOCIATION FOR COUNSEL
Make Offensive Warfare So Hateful
That Governments and Peoples Who
Resort to 1t Must Prove the Right
eousness Of Their Cause or Stand as
Outlaws Before Bar of Civilization.

Washington.-The Inaugural Address
Of President Warren G. Harding was as
follows:
My countrymen-When one surveys the
noting the marks of destruction and yet
rejoicing IN the ruggedness of the things
which withstood it, if he is an American
he breathes the clarified atmosphere with
a strange mingling of regret and new
hope. We have seen world passion
spend it's fury, but we contemplate a
republic mistaken and hold our ciyili-
Zatiop secure. Liberty-liberty within
the law-and civilization are inseparated.
and. though both were threatened, we
find them now secure; and there comes
our representative government Is the
highest expression and surest guaranty
of both.
Standing in this presence, mindful of
the solemnity of this occasion, feeling the
emotions which no one may know until
he senses the great weight of RESPONSE
bility for himself must utter my belief
in the divine inspiration of the founding
Gods intent in the making of this
new world republic. Ours is an organic
law which had but one ambiguity, and
we saw that effaced in a baptism of
sacrifice and blood, with union maintain
ed. the nation supreme and it's concord
inspiring. We have seen the world rivet
which the founders wrought. We have
seen civil, human and religious liberty
verified and glorifed. In the beginning.
the old world scoffed at our experiment;
cial belief stand unshaken, a precious In
heritance to ourselves. an inspiring
example of freedom and civilization to all
mankind. Let us express renewed and
strengthened devotion in grateful rever-
ence for the immortal beginning and utter
our confidence in the supreme fulillment.
Progress Proves Wisdom
The recorded progress of our republic,
materially and spiritually, itself proves
the wisdom Of the inherited policy of non
Involvement in old world affairs. Con-
fident of our ability to work out our own
destiny and jealously guarding our right
destinies of the old world. we do not
mean to be entangled. we will accept no
responsibility except as our own con-
science and judgment. in each instance,
may determine
Our eyes never will be blind to a de-
veloping menace. our ears never deaf to
the call OF civilization. We recognize
tla,on the new order in the world. with the
wrought We sense the call Of the hu-
man heart for fellowship, fraternity and
eo-operation. We crave friendship and
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 which will subject our de-
cisions to any other than our own au-
thority.
understand, nor will the world miscon-
strue. We have no thought to impede
the paths to closer relationship. We wish
to promote understanding. We want to
SO hateful that governments and peoples
who resort to it must prove the righteous
ness of their cause or stand as outlaws
before the bar of civilization.
Association for Counsel
We are ready to associate ourselves
with the nations of the world, great and
small, for conference, for counsel, to seek
the expressed views of world opinion; to
recommend way to approximate dis
dens of military and naval establish
ments. We elect to participate in sug-
costing plans for mediation, conciliation
and arbitration and would gladly join in
that expressed conscience of progress
which seeks to clarity and write the laws
of international relationship and estab-
lish world court for the disposition of
agreed to submit thereto. In expressing
aspirations, in seeking practical plans, in
translating humanity's new concept of
righteousness and justice land it's hatred
Of war into recommended action we are
ready most heartily to unite, but every
commitment must be made in the exercise
Of our national sovereignty. Since free
dom impelled and independence inspired
and nationality exalted a world suner
government is contrary to everything we
cherish and can have no sanction by our
republic. This Is not .self1shness; 1t is
sanctity. 1t is not aloofness; it Is secur-
ity 1t is not suspicion of others; it is
patriotic adherence to the things which
made us what we are.
Today, better than ever before we
know the aspirations of human kind and
share them. We have come to a new
realization OF our place in the world and
new lra appraisal OF our nation by. the world.
The unselfshness of these United States
ts thing proven. our devotion to peace
for ourselves and for the world is well
established, our concern for preserved
civilization has had it's impassioned and
heroic expression. There was no Ameri-
can failure to resist the attempted re-
version of civilization, there viii be no
failure today or tomorrow.
Rests on Popular VIII
The success Of our popular government
rests wholly upon the correct interpreta-
tion Of the deliberate, intelligent, depend-
able popular will of America In a de-
liberate questioning Of suggested change
Of national policy where Internationally
to referendum to the American peonIe
There was ample discussion, and tnere ia
public mandate in manifest understand
ing.
America is ready to encourage. eapar
to initiate, anxious to participate in anv
seemly program likely to lessen the prob
9ollty OF war ana promote that brother
highest conception of human relationship
Because we cherish ideals of justice and
peace, because we appraise international
comfy and helpful relationship no loss
highly than any people of the world. We
aspire to high place in moral leader
ship of civilization, and we hold main
tanned America, the proven republic. the
unshaken temple of representative de-
mocracy, to be not only an inspira tion
and example. but the highest agency Of
strengthening good will and promotine
accord on both continents.