Norwich bulletin., 1921-09-02
PRESIDENT HARDING's
 ADDRESS TO WAR COLLEGE

Washington, Sept. 1-President speaking to6ay at the open hng of the fall term of the army war college, declared that mo matter where the best aspirations of the world. lead hs there never may be a time without the necessity for armed forces"
 { The text of the presidents address as issued at the White House, follows:
 T think I will relieve my embarrass- ment by telling you a cabinet secret whic hcame to my mind while the sec retary of war was emphasizing his duty as a civil agent of the government. In the cabinet, where we are sometimes fa- rniliar, as an men like to be at times, the secretary of war is called Mans Frankly. 1 should feel a continued em- DarTassment in this presence were it not for the fact that I am glad to come, and express the interest, the encour- agement and the good will of one who is, by virtue of his office for period commander-in-chef.
 T have to smile sometimes at the term, conscious as I am of my own in ability to understood all the things for which the executive is responsible This conviction and realization comes to me every day, but 1 have come to know and am satisfied to believe that the president. after all. is just the agency employed in focusing > the judgments, the conviction and the knowledge of those in America whose minds ana eI- perience nusf of necessity direcs the trend of government. There would not be man in America, even were he 9, super man, who could fttinEly serve as president of the United States, if it mere otherwise. I have come to feel a hew confidence in myself because of the capable men I find everywhere about me who can take upon their shoulders a part of the great load that comes to any executive. I feel so con- corning the secretary of war, feel 50 l,oncerning General Pershing, and ell men with whom I have come in contact and who are in authority.
 There is little that 1 could say pa-- i ticularly appropriate to this occasion. | can, from my own experience, remind ivou that if the war college is the irf
 stitution Ahich brings the knowledge O! liexperience into a blend with theory. il is one great institution of practical I'value. The trouble with the world to- day is that too many theorists know nothing about actualities and have llearned nothing of experience. and who lever in this life brings the wisdom of d
 ings of theory makes contribution tC
 real progress.
 T do not know what ought to be said about your profession for the flu
 ture but, men of the army, no mat
 ter where the best aspirations of tht world may lead us no matter what tre
 mendous and gratifying progress i: made, there may never be a time with
 but the necessity for armed forces ir IJevery government. I believe with all
 Imy heart we are coming to a time wher
 we are going to diminish Ae burdens o j'armament.
 T think there will be less of armies
 and less of navies. I wish it with al my heart. but there never can come , time when there is not a requisite sgen Icy for the maintenance of law and au lthority and for national defense. It il IIlerfectly futile to think there mal never be conflict when you stop to con Sider that in two thousand years O
 'hristian civilization and four thous Iand more of pagan civilization concern
 ing which we are informed. we hay i'only lately come to real civilized state of armed warfare. and tha doesn't apply quite to all the nation 'iof the world. .. ! Tt mas been q slow proceeding. ant
 
 seenly boa>s ing can say we have com
 the nearest 10 unselhsh, conscientiou warfare of any people in the world and I pledge you now you will neve foe called to service during the presen ;tadnnini stration for any war that vol l'could not enter with all your heart an
 souls as American citizens. -
 "Sow that may seem to be a strang statement 10 make. but I want yo-
 officers of the army to precede your ac . tivities in the defense of our nations l life with tha; insistent, understandin I among peoples that ve must put fur thest aside any possible occasion fo I conflict. 1 am a firm believer that ther . are two essentials to the civilization { 2 which we all subscribe One Is tn !. understanding among men at home. v e ought to have no conflict like tha e which is distressing us in West vir t rinia at this hour. That is lack . understanding. There should never a a conflict between civilized nations an
 there never will he if I do not kno' e how you will approve. but I want vol . for the time being. to be the adviser e of an administration that seeks fS = America fullness of understanding wit e tn epeoples Of the world. and If V d have that. there never will come tin
 when we win be drawn inte eonfi,