Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-06-22
The Soul Of. the Nation.

jSpeaKerS anu WIiLSiS Ae1'StS' - - AS'
notable instances the attempt has
been made to show that this nation
went into the world conflict solely to
defend its own interests, and that the
broader purpose of rescuing civiliza-
ton from collapse had nothing to do
with it. Such, however, is not the view
of the American people, nor of their
real leaders today; nor was it their
view at that memorable time when
their sons so nobly responded to the
call to save civilization from ship
wreck.
President Harding, on the Sunday
preceding Memorial Day, worshipped
in the historic church of Pohick, Vir-
nigia, of which our first Pesident was
once a member. He sat in the Wash
ington box pew, and after the ser
vice addressed the congregation by
invitation. That the President held
the broader view was clearly made
manifest in the course of his address.
While he disclaimed any intention to
launch out into discussion of the
cause of the war, President Harding
declared that "America fought to
preserve the rights of the Republic
,nd IN maintain the civilization of
which we had such a part in the max
ing; and in that service we have rem
dered tribute not only to that cause
but also to the highest ideals OF hu-
manity."
Again, in his Memorial Day address
at the Arlington National Cemetery,
the President recurred to the same
theme; wherever men are free, they
are wont to give thought to our coun-
try's services in freedoms cause.
Where men may aspire to freedom
not yet achieved, their instinct turns
the eye and the thought of hope this
way and they pray that their cause
may gain our appreciation. :.
They have seen our protecting arm
stretched over the outposts of liberty
on every continent. For more than a
century our plighted word warned try
amy from half the world; then, when
the gage was taken UP by mad ambl-
tion, men felt the blow that arm
could strike when freedom answered
in it's utmost might. Across the seas
we sent our hosts of liberty's sons,
commissioned to redress the eternal
scales +. /. Now our Memorial Day
lis become an international occasion;
it calls upon the fortunate free OF
many lands and countries to help In
it's observances, and equally to them
and us it is reminder of our COM
mon troth to civilization, humanity
and everlasting justice" 80
Referring to our own interests as
nation, he said: 81 counsel no sell
fshness, no little Americanism, no
mere parochialism, when l urge that
our first duty is to our own, and that
in the measure of its performance we
will find the true gage of our capacity
to be helpful to Others" Then, toward
the conclusion of his brilliant Grafton,
he said: "We believe that the torch
will flame more brightly in our hands,
that we will hold it safe and high
aloft, and that it's light will help, at
least, to point the way for humanity
on the path of safety and in the task
of building for all time"
There utterances by the President,
which accurately express the senti-
ments of the American people as a
whole, might proftably be pondered
by those who have not hesitated to at
tribute to the nation views it never
held concerning the war. Such men
do disservice when they stir up
conflict of discussion over matter
that should have been regarded as too
sacred to be made target for par
tizanship. 1t was clearly in President
Harding's mind to forestall such dis
cussions in the future when he spoke
in the Virginia church and at Airing
ton as he did, and we take it that ne
means it to be we'll understood what
that purpose is. At this late date, to
spread the assumption that the United
States had no aim beyond the selfish
one of serving its own interests, is
libel upon the whole nation and
gross misconception of the spirit of
America, whose heroic sons gave their
|life's blood to make the whole world
"a better place to live in"
Yes, the nation has soul, and it