The St. Mary banner., 1921-03-12


message follows:
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 withstood it, if he is
an American he breathes the clarified
atmosphere with strange mingllng
of regret and new hope. We have
seen a world passion spend its fury,
but We contemplate our republic I'M
shaken, and hold our civilization Sc
cure. Liberty-liberty within the
law-and civilization are inseparable
and though both were threatened We
find-them ROW secure and there comes
to Americans the profound assurance
that our representative government is
the highest expression and surest
guaranty Of both.
standing in this presence, mindful
OF the solemnity Of this occasion, feel
ing the emotions which no one may
know until he senses the great weight
of responsibility for himself, / must
utter my belief in the divine fnspira-
tion Of the founding fathers. Surely
there must have been Gods intent in
the making of this new world republic.
Ours Is an organic law which had but
one ambiguity, and we saw that eff
faced in baptism Of sacred blood,
with union maintaining the nation SUI
preme and its concord inspiring. We
have seen civil, human and religious
liberty verified and glorified.
'In the beginning the old world
scoffed at our experiment, today our
foundations of political and social be-
lief stand unshaken a precious inner
itance to ourselves, an inspiring ex-
ample Of freedom and civilization to
all mankind. Let us express renewed
and strengthened resolution, in CRATE,
full reverence for the immortal begin
ming and utter our confidence in the
supreme fulfillment
'The recorded progress Of our re-
public, materially and spiritually, In
itself proves the wisdom of the In
herited policy of non-involvement in
old world affairs. Confident of our
ability to work out our own destiny
and jealousy guarding our right to do
SO we seek no part in directing the
destinies of the old world. We do not
mean to be entangled. We will accept
no responsibility except as our own
conscience and judgment, in each in
stance, may determine
"Our eyes will never be blind to a
developing menace, our ears never
deaf to the call Of civilization. We
recognize the new order in the world
with the closer contacts which prog.
ress has wrought We sense the call
of the human heart for fellowship, fra.
ternity and cooperation. We crave
friendship and harbor no hate. But
America, our America, the America
builded on the foundation laid by the
inspired fathers, can be party to nc
permanent military alliance.
Il am sure our own people will not
misunderstood, nor will the world mis-
construe. We have no thought to i'm
pede the paths to closer relationship
We wish to promote understanding
We want to do our part in making Of
fensive warfare so hateful that gov.
ernments and people who resort to II
must prove the Righteousness of tkeir
cause or stand as outlaws before the
bar of civilization.
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 ap
proximate disarmament and relieve
the crushing burdens Of military and
naval establishments. We elect to
participate in suggesting plans foI