Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-20
Re-affirm Belief in Doctrine

Re-dInfm DelleI III DOCtTluc
Amid the roar of cannon and the
plaudits of distinguished gathering,
President Harding at the bronze
equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar
unveiled in Central Park, proclaimed
anew the fundamentals of the Mon
roe Doctrine and cited the desirable
ity of standing firmly together for
service both to the new and the old
world.
simultaneously in Caracas, Nene-
zuela's capital, President-elect Gomez
and the people of Bolivar's native
land, gathered around the statue of
George Washington, which was UNI
yelled with appropriate exercises in
Washington Park, a new site to
/ which it had been transferred.
| President Harding's brief visit to
New York gave the public it's first
oportunity to greet him as president
with the enthusiasm always reserved
for the nations chief executive. From
the moment of arrival until his de-
parture three and one-half hours Ia
ter, crowds waited good naturedly in
the chilly street and cheered hearty
! welcome.
President Harding was generously
applauded when he declared the
United States was ready to fight to
uphold the Monroe Doctrine.
THE history of the generations
! since that doctrine was proposed he
said. has proved that we never in
tended it selfshly, that we had no
dream of exploitation. On the other
side the history of the last decade
| certainly must have convinced all the
| world that we stand willing TO fight.
| If necessary, to protect these CONT
nents, these sturdy young democrats
| from oppression"
! The presidents arrival at Bolivar
hill was signalized by a salute of 81
guns. After he had been escorted to
the stand facing the statue, followed
by Secretary Hughes, Rene Viviani,
envoy extraordinary from France,
/ Governor Miller and Mayor Hylan, DR..
L. Gil-Borges, Venezuelan foreign min
! lister, a host of Latin-American diplo-
mats, and representatives of patriotic
societies of both continents, the cere-
: monies began promptly.
Monsignor Michael ]. Lavella. rec
! tor of st. Patrick's cathedral, offered
| the invocation.
! The unwilling of the statue by the
great granddaughter. of General Jose
Antonio Paez was the occasion for
another salue of q guns. followed by
the playing of the Venezuelan national
anthm by a band from the Brazilian
battleship Minas Geraes and the pres
entation' by DIR. Gil-Borges. Mayor
Hylan accepted it for the city of New
York and wreaths were laid at the
base of the statue by various soci-
cites. Governor Miller then eulo-
gized the South American liberator
and the president was introduced.
President Harding's departure from
the park after DR.. William r. Man.
ming. bishop-elect of the Protestant
Episcopal diocese of New York, had
pronounced the benediction, brought
another salute of q guns. Through
the smoke of the artillery and fianked
by motorcycle policemen, he was driv-
en- at high speed through lanes of
cheering men and women to the
Lighthouse" for the blind in East
59th street. where he spoke for one
minute to sightless audience that
had eagerly awaited him.
I'VE are glad to welcome you Mr..
President" said Miss Winnifred Holt,
ito the Lighthouse of the Blind. We
hope that the Lighthouse movement
may usher in new era of light for
the blind throughout the world and
we believe that under your leadership
we shall win the war against dark
ness"
Facing the group of blind men and