The Republican journal., 1921-04-28
Rests on Popular Will
From President Harding's Inaugural
address.

The success of our popular government
rests wholly upon the correct interpreta-
ton of the deliberate, intelligent, depend
able popular will of America. In deiiber-
ate questioning of suggested change of
national policy, where internationally
was to supersede nationality, we turned
to referendum to the American people.
There was ample discussion, and there is
a public mandate in manifest understand
ing.
America is ready to encourage, eager
to initiate, anxious to participate in any
seemly program likely to lessen the prob
ability of war and promote the brother
hood of mankind which must be Gods
highest conception of human relationship.
Because we cherish ideals of justice and
peace, because we appraise international
comfy and helpful relationship no less
highly than any people of tine world, we
aspire to a high place in the moral lead
ership of civilization and we hold main
taiDed America-the proven republic, the
unshaken temple of representatl de-
mocracy-to be not only an inspiration
and example, but the highest agency of
strengthening good will and promoting
accord on both continents
Mankind needs world wide benedic-
ton of understanding. 1t is needed among
individuals, among peoples, among gov
ernments, and it will inaugurate an era
of good feeling to mark the birth of a
new order. In such understanding men
will strive confidently for the promotion
of their better relationships and nations
will promote the comities SO essential to
peace.
AN AMERICA OF HOMES.
We would not have an America living
within and for herself alone, but we
would have her self-reliant, Independent,
and ever nobler, stronger and richer. Be-
lieving in our higher standards, reared
through constitutional liberty and main
tanned opportunity, we invite the world
to the same heights. But pride in things
wrought is no reflex of accomplished
task. Common welfare is the goal of our
national endeavor Wealth is not mimi
cal to welfare; it ought to be it's friendli-
est agency.
There can never be equality of rewards
or possessions so long as the human plan
contains varied talents and differing de-
erees of industry and thrift, but ours
ought to be a country free from great
blotches of distressed poverty. We ought
to find way to guard against the perils
and penalties of unemployment. We
want an America of homes, illumined
with hope and happiness, where mothers,
freed from the necessity for long hours
of toll beyond their own doors, may pre-
side as BELTS the hearthstone of Ameri-
can citizenship We want the cradle of
American childhood rocked under condi-
tions so wholesome and so hopeful that
no blight may touch it in its develop
ment, and we want to provide that no
selfish interest, no material necessity, no
lack of opportunity, shall prevent the
gaining of that education SO essential to
best citizenship.
There is no short cut to the making of
these ideals into glad realities. The world
has witnessed, again and again, the fulfill
ity and the mischief of ill-considered
remedies for soci i and economic disor-
ders. But we are mindful today as never
before of the friction of modern industri-
alism and we must learn it's causes and
reduce it's evil consequence by sober and
teste methods. Where genius has made
for great possibilities, justice and happi-
ness must be reflected in a greater COM
mon welfare.