Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-03-11
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
0FPRES|DENT HARDING
America Anxious to Participate
in Any SeemIy Program Likely
to Lessen Probability Of War
and Promote World Peace.
ASSOCIATION FOR COUNSEL
Make Offensive Warfare So Hateful
That Governments and Peoples Who
Resort to II Must Prove the Right.
eousness Of Their Cause or Stand as
Outlaws Before Bar Of Civilization.

eousness Of Their Cause or Stand as
Outlaws Before Bar Of Civilization.
Washington. The Inaugural Ad-
dress Of President Warren &. Harding
was lis follows:
the world about him after the great
storm, noting the marks of destruc-
tlon and yet rejoicing in the rugged
ness Of the things which withStood
It., il he is IN American he breathes
the clarified atmosphere with strange
mingling af regret and new hope. We
have seen Il world passion spend its
fury but we contemplate n republic
cure. Liberty liberty within the law
and civilization are inseparated, and,
though both were threatened, we find
them now 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 soIemnlty 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 lnSpira-
tion Of tile founding fathers, Surely
there must have been Gods intent in
the making Of this new world re-
public ours is an organic law which
had but one ambiguity, and we saw
that enaced in Il baptism Of sacrifice
ind blood, with union maintained, the
nation supreme and lis concord In
spring. We have seen the world rlvet
It's hopeful gaze on the great truths
on which the founders wrought. We
have seen civil, human and religious
liberty verified and glortied In the
beginning, the old world scoffed at our
experiment.; today our foundations Of
political aud social belief stand I'M
shaken. Il precious inheritance TO our
selves, an inspiring example of free
dom and civilization to all mankind.
Let us express renewed and strength
ened devotion in grateful reverence
for the immortal beginning and utter
our confidence in the supreme full.
dllment,
Progress Proves Wisdom
The recorded progress of our re-
public, materially and spiritually, It.
self paavao she wisdom Of the inner
ied policy Of non.envolvement in old
world affairs Confident Of our ability
10 work out our own destiny and
jcaously guarding our right to do SO,
we seek no part In directing the des-
TIMES Of the old world. We do not
mean TO be eutangled, we will accept
no responsibility except rs our own
conscience and Judgment, in each In
stance, may determine.
Our eyes never will be blind to a
developing menace, our ears never
deaf 10 the call Of civilization. We
recognize the new order in the world
with the closer contacts which prog
re>S has wrought We sense the call
~ the human heart for fellowship,
fraternity nd cooperation. We crave
frienfAhip and harbor no hate. But
Aacria--our America, the America
builded on the foundation laid by the
Inspired fathers, can be n party to no
permanent military alliance. 1t can
enter into no political commitments,
nor assume any economic obligations
which will subject our decisions to
any other than our own authority.
| am sure our own people will not
misunderstood. nor will the world
mSconstrue. We have no thought 10
impede the paths TO closer relation
ship. We wish to promote understand
ing. We want to do our part in max
Ing offensive warfare SO hateful that
governments and peoples who resort
to 1t must prove the righteousness Of
their cause or stand as outlaws be-
fore the bar Of civilization.
Association for Counsel
We are ready to associate ourselves
with the nations Of the world. great
and small, for conference, for coun-
sci. to seek the expressed views of
world opinion; to recommend a way
to approximate disarmament and re-
lleye the crushing burdens of military
and naval establishments. We elect
to participate In suggesting plans for
mediation, Cancellation and arbltra.
ton and would gladly join in that
expressed conscience OF progress
which seeks to clarity and write the
laws of international relationship and
establish a world court for the dis
position Of such justicible questions
as nations are agreed to submit
thereto. In expressing aspirations in
seeking practical plans, in translatng
humanity's new concept of righteous
ness and justice and its hatred of war
into recommended action we are
ready most heartily to unite, but every
commitment must be made in the ex-
ercise of our national sovereignty
Since freedom impelled and independ.
ence inspired and nationality exalted
a world super-government is contrary
YEAR TO FILE RAIL CLAIMS