New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-15
President in Speech Ex-
tolls Devotion TO COun.
Try Shown by Author Of
'Star-Spangled Banner
Statue Dedicated
To Poets Memory
Address Delivered at Fort
McHcnry, Which Foiled
British Fleet i'm 1914

BALTIMORE. Juno IA national
memorial 10 Francis Scott Key. author
Of "Thc Siar-Spanglci Banner" was
dedicated By Prcsidcn, Harding to-
day on the site Of Fort Mcllcnry. where
in 1914 flew the iag 70 which the an
them was written during al attack by
British feet. Referring 70 the In
spring words and their prayer that Vie
tory ever may be justified when Liberty
is impcrilcd. the President declared
that "to give ringing voice. to such
an aspiration was "onc OF the greatest
services which any man could do for
the young Republic"
Lowering skies and occasional rain
greeted the Presidential party as Il
arrived By automobile from Washing
ton, but did not damp tho enthusiasm
of tho greeting by the people who
lined the route Of pageant process
sion which preceded the unveilng
and in which the President rode. Thou
sands Of masscd and uniformed school
children sang and waved flags IN
tumultuous greeting.
Appeals for Keys Spirit
The dedication was the eentet Of the
nations Flag Day celebration. and Mr.
Harding appealed for more OF the
spirit OF Francis Scott Key 10 be IN
stillcd into Americans OF to-day.
ntI NHa FHuEgmTInR
thought OF to-day" he added, us the
supreme cSaltation Of Key IN the houf
Of great trial 10 reveal tho soul Of n
patriot in the night OF surprising
anxiety and devotion 10 duty"
The President was taken into the
old star" bastion Of the fortress on
which the famous attack OF IS cen
tered, and with Mrs. Harding ir acted
the post hospital. where 500 - -nded
OF the World War nrc still under care,
before going to the speakers stand,
erected in front Of the colossal statue
in bronze By Charles II. Niehaus TO
battle and song alike.
Don't any Of you hesitate IN taking
shelter" the President told his au-
dience when n burst OF rain broke just
as he began speaking. "but I'm Bap-
tist myself" The audience cheered.
Pictures Country's Growth
az ask you in fancy to .urn your
raze back 10 the flag which inspired
The immortal words OF Key" the Presi-
dent said. before beginning his pre-
pared speech. "As ! stand here | can
see It's folds. There were only fifteen
stars in il then. Look at Old Glory be-
fore you. with its forty-eight stars
symbolizing forty-eight unified states,
and consider that il Is hardly more
than century since fifteen filled its
field.
Il ask you. in the face Of that, what
arc the limitless possibilities OF our
Republic Of tomorrow? You in Balti-
more are making a fine contribution in
your Monumental City, for II Is the
finest thing to preserve the heritage OF
the founding fathers. You'll never
have an Americanism gone wrong that
chcrishcs the traditions and memories
o. the sacrifice that has prepared
for H."
From the fortress grounds the Presi-
dents party went to the home Of Scna-
tor France. where brief reception 10
the public was held. He returned TO
Washington this evening.
Harding's Dedication Speech
President Harding in dedicating the
memorial here 10 Francis Scott Key,
to-day. said:
NY fellow Americans: The shrines
OF American patriotism not only re-
feet the quality Of It's gratitude. hut
they are ever refreshing ara Inspiring
We arc assembled to-day 20 rededictate
one of these sacred shrines. We are
met 10 commemorate a historic victory
in arms. when the young Republic was
first asserting its national rights
against an armed foe. And we are met
TO commemorate a unique achievement
in the literature OF national inspira-
tion. Here the patriotic sons OF the
early Republic crushed one Of the most
ambitious invasions ever aimed against
our nation. Here during the rage OF
combat was born the swelling anthem
OF American patriotism.
ut is wholly fitting that Flag Day
should be chosen for this eommemora-
tion and rededication because our
HYMN Of patriotism is an apostrophe TO
the flag we love; yea. il is apostrophe
and invocation as well. born OF a
pa.riotie and poetic soul in the travail
OF sublimely heroic night.
"gome one has said in substance: Let
thfesl