The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-03-04
Text of Harding's Inaugural Speech

was 20 supereed. nationality. We
turned ta a referendum of the Amer
lean people.
There was ample discussion. and
there 10 n public mandate In mani
feet understanding,
America 10 ready 10 encourage
eager TO initiate. anxious 60 par
~ TO lessen the probability Of war
and promot. that brotherhood OF
mankind which must be Gods high
-, conception Of human i tsls,,lon n,
justice and peace. because We APP
praiHe International comfy and
helpful Relationship no less highly
than any people % the world. We
leadership Of civilization. and We
hold maintained America. the
proven republic. the mistaken tenn
pic % representative democracy. To
anric' but the hissst agency Of
strengthening good will and pro-
noting accord on both continents
Mankind needs a world wide benz
die,lon OF undsrs,Andtng II u need
cd among individuals. among PEG.
pies. among governments and " VIII
inaugurate an era % good feeling
TO mark the birth % now order.
In such understanding men viii
strive confidently for tho promotion
Of their better relationships and ma
ton. win promoto the eomities so
essential TO peace
TRADE TVS
ufND CLOSELY
We must understands shss It's OF
trade bind nations In closest tn-
umacy and none may receive except
as he gives We have not strength.
sned ours in accordance with our
resources or our genius. notably %
our own continent. where a Ealsty
81 republics reflect ths glory OF new
world democracy. but IN the new
order OF finance and trade W. mean
TO promote enlarged activities and
seek expanded confidence
Perhaps We can make no more
helpful contribution by example
emerge from IN. wreckaE" OF war.
Will. the worlds ernbittcrcd travail
did not leave us devastatrd lands nor
as.oIs,ss si,is ,I l,,, ne cap sspinE
did involv. ua In the dciirium Of
expenditure. in expanded currency
and credits. In unbalRnced indusiFr.
In unHpsaiablc waste and disturped
relationships. While u uncovered
our portion Of unH.ifishness at home
Il also revealed the heart OF Amer
lea az sound and fearless and beat
ing In confidence urfailtnr.
Amid Ia all We have riv~sed the
case % All civilization to the un-
aeiflshneHs and the rightrousneHs or
representative democracy. whore our
freedom never has made offensive
warfare never has sought tsrri,oriaI
has turned TO the arbitrarnent OF
arms until reason had been exhaust.
ed when the governments OF earth
shalt have established a freedom
sanctioned the pursuit Of peace as
vEe have practtced u. I believe tho
last sorrow and tho final sacttfice
% International warfare viii have
been written
oUR surHTwT TASK
BECOMING NORMAL
Our supreme task - the r~runp-
ton Of our onward normal way re-
ton. ali these must follow ] would
like TO hasten them. II IL VIII
tighten the spirit and hdd 10 the
resolution with which We take up
the task. let me repeat for our ma
ton. We shall give no people Just
cause 20 make war upon va. We hold
no national prejudiccH. We entertain
no spirit OF revenge; We DO not nate;
we do not covet. we dream OF no
conquest. nor boast OF armed Prov
N. despite this attitude. war
r. again forced upon US,
earnestly hope way may be
dividuni and collective str~nnth
and ean.rerntr nil America.
materially and spiritually. body
aud soul. to national defense.
can vision the ideal republic.
called under the flag for assignment
to duty, for whatever service, mill
tnry or civic. the Individual IN best
fitted, where We may cail 10 UNI
yersal service every plant agency or
facility. oil in the sublime sacrifice
for country and not one penny %
war profit shall inurc TO the benefit
~ private individual. corporation or
combination, but all above the nor.
NAL shall flow into the defense chest
Of the nation. There is something
inherently wrong. something out OF
accord with tho ideals OF representa-
tive democracy when one portion on
our citizenship turns its activities to
prlvnte gain amid defensive war
while another ia fighting. sacrificing
or dying for national preservation
UNITY OF SPIRIT
AND PURPOSE
Out OF such universal service VIII
come n new unity Of spirit and pur-
pose, new confidence and con-
secration. which would make our de-
Tense impregnable. our triumph as
aured. Then we should have lttlc
or no determination OF our oco-
nomic. Industrial and commercial
ayHtema at home. no staggering war
debts. no swollen fortunes TO tlout
tho sacrifices OF our soldiers, no 'N-
cuso for sedition. no pitiAhle Stacker
ian, no outrage of treason. Envy
and Jealousy would have no SOIL FOR
their menacinR development and
revolution would be without the
passlon which cngendcrs IT,
a regret for the mistakes OF yes
terdny must not. however. blind us
10 the tasks Of today. war never
left such an aftermath. There has
been staggering loss Of life and
rncnsureicss wastagea Of materials.
Nations are still cropping for return
10 stable ways. DiAcouraging in
debtednesa confronts us, Ike al the
war torn nations. and these obllEa-
lions must be provided FOR. No
civilization can survive reputation.
We can reduce the abnormal eN-
penditures. and we Will We can
strike at war taxation. and we must
Wo must face tho grim necessity
with fun knowledge TINT the task
ls TO he solved, and we must pro-
coed with fun realization that no
a. -