Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-03-07
The Inaugural Address

me inaugural A0UTeSS
President Harding, in his inaugural
address, said: MY countrymen. when
one surveys the world about him after
the great storm. noting the marks OF
destruction and yet rejoicing in the
ruggedness Of the things which with
stood it, if he is an American ne
Ereathes the clarified atmosphere with
a strange mingling of regret and new
hope. We have seen world passion
spend it's fury, but we contemplate
orr republic mistaken and hold Oul
civilization secure. Liberty-liberty
within the law-and civilization are in
separable and though both were threat
ened we find them now secure, ant
there comes to Americans the profound
assurance that our representative gov
crnment is the highest expression ant
surest guaranty of both.
standing in this presence, mindful
of the solemnity of this occasion, feel
Jig the emotions which no one may
know until he senses the great weigh
Of responsibility for himself, mus
utter my belief in the divine inspiration
of the founding fathers. Surely there
must have been Gods intent in tho
making of this new world republic.
No Permanent Military Alliance.
"The recorded progress of our re
public, materially and spiritually, IL
itself proves the wisdom of the inherit
ed policy of non-involvement in ole
world affairs. Confident of our ability
to work out our own destiny and jeal
0usly guarding our right to do so, we
seek no part in directing the destinieS
CT the old world. We do not mean tt
be entangled. We will accept no rcspon
sibility except as our own conscience
and judgment in each instance may de
tcrmine.
"Our eyes never will be blinded
to developing menace, our ears
never deaf to the call of civiliza-
tion. We recognize the new order
in the world, with the closer con-
facts which progress has wrought.
We sense the feeling Of the human
heart for fellowship, fraternity and
cooperation. We crave friendship
and harbOr no hate. But America.
our America, the America builtled
on the foundation laid by the in
spired fathers, can be party to
no permanent military alliance. II
can enter into no political commit
ments, nor assume any economic
obligations or subject our decisions
to any other than our own author
:, ity.
Il am sure our own people will
not misunderstood nor will the
world misconstrue. We have no
thought to impede the paths to
closer relationship. We wish to
promote understanding. We want
to do our part in making offensive
warfare 50 hateful that govern
merits and peoples who resort to it
must prove the righteousness Of
their cause or stand as outlaws
before the bar of civilization.
Association fer Counsel.
eve are ready to associate ourselves
with the nations of the world, great
and small, for conference, for counsel
to seek the expressed views of worlt
opinion, to recommend way to ap
proximate disarmament and reliev,
the crushing burdens of military and
naval establishments. We elect t.
participate in suggesting plans fol-
mediation, Cancellation and arbitration
and would gladly join in that expressed
conscience of progress, which seeks tC
clarity and write the laws OF inter
national relationship, and establish Il
world court for the disposition of such
justiciable questions as nations are
agreed to submit thereto. In express
ing aspirations. in seeking practical
plans. in translating humanity's new
concept of Righteousness, justice and
its 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 freedom impelcd and indie
pendence inspired and nationality ex-
allied, world supergovernment is con
contrary to everything we cherish and
can have no sanction by our republic
This is not selfishness. 1t is sanctity
II is not aloofness. it is security. 1t is
not suspicion of others. it is patriotic
adherence to the things which made
us what we are.
Mankind needs worldwide bene-
dictiOn of understanding. 1t is needed
among individuals, among peoples,
among governments, and it will inaugu-