Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-03-09
President Harding's Inaugural
Address.

President Harding's Inaugural
Address.
Washington, March 4.-President
Harding in his inaugural address
said:
My Countrymen: When one sur
xeys the world about him after the
great storm, noting the marks of de-
struction and yet rejoicing in the rug
gedness of the things which withstood
it, if he is an American, he breathes
the clarified atmosphere with a
strange mingling of regret and new
hope. We have seen world passion
spend its fury, but we contemplate
our republic unshaken and. hold our
civilization secure. Liberty-liberty
within the law-and civilization are
inseparable, and though both were
threatened we find them now secure,
and there comes to Americans the
profound assurance that our repre-
sentative government is the highest
expression and surest guaranty of
both.
Standing in this presence, mindful
of the solemnity of this occasion, feel
ing the emotions which no one may
know until he senses the great weight
of responsibility for himself, I must
utter my belief in the divine inspira-
ton of the founding fathers. Surely
there must have been Gods intent
in the making of this new world re-
public. Ours is the organic law which
had but one ambiguity, and we saw
that effaced in baptism, of sacrifice
and blood, with union maintained, the
nation supreme and its concord in
spring. We have seen the world rivet
its hopeful gaze on the great truths
on which the founders wrought. We
have seen civil, human and religious
liberty verified and glorified. In the
beginning the old world scoffed at
our experiment, today our founda-
tions of political and social belief
stand mistaken, precious inheri-
tance to ourselves, an inspiring ex-
ample of freedom and civilization to
all mankind. Let us express renewed
and strengthened devotion, in great
full reverence for the immortal begin
ming, and utter our confidence in the
supreme fulfllment.
Progress Proves Wisdom.
The recorded progress of our re-
public, materially and spiritually, in
itself proves the wisdom of the in
herited. policy of non-involvement in
old world affairs. Confident Of our
ability to work out our own destiny
and jealousy guarding our right to
do so, we seek no part in directing
the destinies of the old world. We do
not mean to be entangled. We will ac-
cept no responsibility except as our
own conscience and judgment in each
instance may determine.
Our eyes never will be blind to a
developing menace, our ears never
deaf to the call of civilization. We
recognize the new order in the world,
with the closer contacts which prog
ress has wrought. We sense the call
of the human heart for fellowship,
fraternity and cooperation. We crave
friendship and harbor no hate. But
America, our America, the America
builded on the foundation lend by the
inspired fathers, can be party to no
permanent military alliance. 1t can
enter into no political commitments,
nor assume any economic obligations
or subject decisions to any other
than our own authority.
/ am sure our own people will not
IlISuuuGISIduu hui lllt WOllu ILlSCOl-
strue; we have no thought to impede
the paths to closer relationship. We
want to do our part in making Of
fensive warfare so hateful that gov
ernments and peoples who resort to it
must prove the righteousness of their
cause or stand as outlaws before the
bar of civilization.
Association for Counsel.
We are ready to associate our
selves with the nations Of the world,
great and small, for conference, for
counsel, to seek the expressed views
of world opinion, to recommend
way to approximate disarmament and
relieve the crushing burdens of mill
tary and naval establishments. We