Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-03-05
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

President Hardings inaugural ADDRESS Is Jus'
,hout what would be expected from such man
,s we have come to understand Mr.. Harding 10
II ,s a tvpical American address, perhaps
too tvpical for many who have come to reaiHe
- oart that the United States has got to play
in world affairs IL our civilization is to be pre-
aervea and prosperity is to be restored. For 1t
mus, be remembered that in these days OF IN
t,nate commercial relations between nations
and with three -fourths OF all the gold IN 'he
world held here while something Ike sll'ooo'-
mo 900 is owing to US by other nations Amer
,c.,s prosperity is largely wrapped up In the
nrosperity of the rest Of the world
rha President sums up the situation con-
fronting the nation and the American people
admirably. But it is one thing to be aDie 10
.,v. IN a difficult situation and quite another
tn,rs 70 find and apply the correct remedy.
pns thing seems to be quite certain, Presi-
6snt Harding does not propose TO enter ihlo
.rv close relationship with other nations
Ar,erica. he says "can enter into no pohtieal
commitments. nor assume any economic ooh-
xstions or subject our decisions to any other
than our own authority"
Aw. are ready" the President declares,
.4o associate ourselves with the nations OF
for counsel to seek the expressed views OF
world opinion to recommend a way to ap-
nroximate disarmament and relieve the
crushing burdens of military and naval es-
tablishments We elect to participate in
suggesting plans for mediation, conciiiauon
"a arbitration. and would gladly join in
that expressed conscience of progress wnlch
seeks to clarity and write the laws OF IN
ternational relationship and establish
world court for the disposition Of such
tusticiable questions as nations are agreed
to submit thereto in expressing asperation'
IN seeking practical plans, in translatlng
humanity's new concept OF righteousness
tustice and its hatred Of war into recon-
mended action we are ready most heartily
to unite. but every commitment must be
made in the exercise OF national sover-
eignity''
Friends OF the League of Nations insist that
.here-is no surrender OF sovereignty in the cove
nant as It appeared in the peace treaty. 1t
stands to reason that other nations are just as
tealous Of their national sovereignty as Ameri-
ca Is yet forty-two different countries have en-
tered the league for the expressed purpose Of
accomplishing just what President Harding
saws the United States wants TO do.
Just how the President proposes to have
America participate in suggesting plans for
'mediation conciation and arbitration or IN
what way we would glady join in that ex-
pressed conscience OF progress which seeks to
clarity and write the laws of international reia-
tonship' he does not say. But knowing Presi-
dent Hardings non-committal attitude toward
the League of Nations general principal
and with such men Mr.. Hughes and Mr..
Hoover closely associated with him while Elihu
Root stands as a tower of strength behind the
administration there Is every reason to believe
that before very long steps will be taken 20
make the covenant of the League of Nations ac-
ceptable to the new administration without de-
stroying the real purpose of the league and that
the United States will then become an infuen-
t,al force behind this great international or
ganization.
President Harding sticks TO the protective