New-York tribune., 1921-03-03
Sad,
Says Coodby
To Harding gs
CONTINUED from paqo ons)

rest quietly in the confidence Of Won,
wise leadership; we will remember vo,
in your burdens and anxious moments
and we will not forget you in our nrav.
ers that our God may sustain YOU. and
"hen all Is over we shall receive YOU
IN the bosom of our friendship. there
70 abide, not as the ex-President Of
this nation, but rs one "who lives in a
house by the side Of road and is q
friend to man."
The plaque was handed to Mr.. Har-
ding, who clasped it in his arms as
the symbol of the affection his fellow
townsmen wished to lavish on himself f
and the woman who helped him to
build his fortunes. Then, after clear
ing his throat few times, he told
his home townfolks the things that
were in his heart:
My friends and neighbors:
lone ought not to trust himself to
speak his emotions on an occasion like
this. Yet somehow, ! feel that if
say the things which are in my heart
cannot go far wrong. You know am
grateful. need not say it. do
not think there can come to man any
thing more precious. anything more
heartening than the certified con-
tidence and good esteem of his friends
and nelghbors. do not know of any
thing bigger or better in the world.
Will Play His Part
Your expression comes to me not
withstanding the intimacy of our ac-
quaintance, which sometimes DESTROYS
confidence and good opinion like to
think that in the greater part of nv
life IN this community ! have done
some things which save merited your
approval, and | can wish for nothing
better than that may come back to
you at the end of my public service
with an esteem from our common
country measurable to that which YOU
have shown me here at home.
Il have a theory of government that
# you do for the nation what you do
tor the community you do exceedingly
well, because the nation is only the ag-
gregate of communities. SO | am going
to play my part in the execution of
my duties is Chief Magistrate of the
Republic just as | would play it as
a neighbor and fellow citizen in
Marion.
''If can do that which will add to
the spirit of good will, if | can do
something to promote good feeling, if
can do that which WIFI increase the
confidence of citiz enship and reverence
for government, l know Will not have
served in vain
We are looking upon the American
Republic from little different view
point than ever before. shall not
talk to YOU concerning it now. ! am to
make some observations day after to-
morrow in an official way and / do
not desire to anticipate what | shall
say at that time. But ! would like to
say to you neighbors and friends that
| am going TO my work with the conf
dence that all will be well. | believe
In the security of this American Re
public; | believe the heart of American
citizenship is right | believe that the
back of right minded executive lust
as cordially as you speak your friend
ship 10 me here to-day.
Pledges Best Service
Therefore | look upon the situation
with the fullest confidence, and prom
Use you, just as am ready to promise
to America, that ! mean to serve in
good conscience to the best of my abil-
ity. No man can do more. know that
take office in the love of my fellow
countrymen. | have made it practice
IN my life to speak we'll of my fellow
man and ever to DO goods. I have
neither envy nor jealousy in my heart
feel that | am like the great citizen
ship of merica-there is no hatred
there. should never be prouder in all
my experience than to apply this kind
ly feeling within myself TO the inau-
guration of a spirit of nationwide
good will in this Republic.
Il want to go to Washington with
your prayers as we'll as your friend
ship. Though l may not always be the
ideal, | want you to know that in nv
heart is a reverence for Almighty God.
believe that He had His heart in di-
recting the destines of this free peo-
pie. | want Him TO know of our
prayers. | want Him to know of our
trust in Him, and, trusting in Him and
with cOnriderice in ourselves, we need
have no concern for the future of this
Republic.
1T has been sweet to have this mani
festation of your interest, your friend
ship and your good will | speak only
the truth when l tell you that Mrs
Harding and | are going from you with