Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-06
HARDING HEARD
NEAR SLEEPING
WASHINGTON
President Voices Anew
Faith in America and
Hope Of Peace
Thousands Listen to Nations
Executive in Woodland Pull
pit Near Historic Valley
Forge Camping Ground -
Guest of Senator Knox

Valley Forge, Pa. June ga SER
mon of faith in established Ameri-
can institutions and Of hope for a
day of peace and good will through
out the world, was preached by
President Harding today from a
woodland pulpit overlooking Gener-
al Washington's historic camping
ground in Valley Forge.
The Presidents address was de-
livered from the cloister of the
Washington Memorial chapel to a
crowd Of several thousand persons
assembled under the auspices Of the
Valley Forge Historical society.
Just before the address he had at
tended service within the chapel it
self, to which he and Mrs. Harding
motored from the country home
here of Senator Knox, with whom
they are spending the week END.
At luncheon Governor Sproul and
Senator Penrose also were guests at
the Knox home and during the aft
ernoon Senator Knox and his three
visitors had long talk.
The party plans to leave early and
to reach the capital by early after
noon.
Il have always been grateful to
my good friend, Senator Knox, for
the service he rendered to the ma
ton as one of it's ablest statesmen,
but find myself paying the tribute
Of added gratitude because today
for the second time he has made it
possible for me to come to this
shrine of American patriotism and
join with you in tribute to those
who gave us the heritage of liberty
and nationality. I thought while
the rector was speaking how in
dissolubly we are linked with the be-
ginning. Washington came to Valley
Forge in the making of the republic
and you made him President because
Of the things he did here, and CEN
fury and a third afterwards I come
as President because we share the
heritage he left us and we can join
in paying tribute to his service.
ut Is good to come to this shrine
of liberty not alone to offer willing
tribute to those who persisted here.
but to rededicate ourselves to the
patriotism which suffered and sacri
feed here in order that our new
standards Of freedom and democracy
should abide.
VALLEY Forge tested the heroic
resolution of the new world contend
ers for liberty. In the crucible Of
suffering they blended the conflict
ing elements Of the colonies and re-
vealed the metal Of the republic.
"Thy proved that lofty heroism is
not always tragic but develops it's
supreme Offering in the dull pro-
longed suffering which glorifies
abiding faith and unalterable resolu-
ton. We Americans have wrought
so marvelously and so seemingly
easily, that it brings US to a new ap-
probation to stand amid the scenes
Of the dearly purchased republic. We
need to know the making of an in
heritance to measure our own re-
sponsibility in its preservation.
IT thought as we rode through the
park today, yielding our emptional
reverence to the outward signs of the
great memories. indicated by the pre-
servation of the trenches and the re-
patriots suffered. that if we can find
satisfaction in these outward mani
festations of their service and sacri-
fee, how much more important it is
that We rtain for all time the sub
stance of things for which they con-
tend.
Il do not mean to say that the or
der established by Washington and
the heroes of Valley Forge is to be
held to resist the order of human pro-
gress. The wonder of it is that they
made that order SO readily respon-
sive to the mighty development of
which they never dreamed. Our SUI
preme task is to preserve the funda-
mentals of our new world liberty and
guard against the abuses and injus-
tees which have sought to attach
themselves to the established order
since the world began. The rational
work of every civilization is to cure
without destroying and guard against
the enemies of liberty which come to
us cloaked in pretended helpfulness.
Here is the chief difficulty of the
world today. In the turbulence and
upheaval of world war. when all hui
manitv was distracted and distress.
ed. the vandals who operate amid
calamity heavy sought to loot suffer-
ing civilization. But an America dedi-
Gated to its standards at Valley Forge
will hold fast and suffer If need be
until our inherited institutions are
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