The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-11
COOLIDGE IN RAD|O'
EULOGy Of HARDING.
Opens National Memorial
Week BY Broadcasting
Tribute

w LIN Ice. IU.--N 10y ASSO-
ciated Press -President Harding was
eulogized by his successor in office,
Calvin Coolidge, in an address broad
cast tonight by radio, as one eminent
ly fitted ito serve a distracted world
in difficult period of its history"
The President spoke in his study
at the White House and his address,
one of the features of the nation
wide observance of Harding Memo
rial week, was carried to the farther
most parts OF the country. Exception
al facilities for broadcasting were
provided, all broadcasting stations be-
ing requested by the department of
commerce to remain silent during the
time Mr.. Coolidge spoke.
Mr.. Coolidge began his address
with a reference to Leigh Hunts
poem, "Abou Ben Adams" in which
an angel writes the name of him who
loves his fellowman at the head of
the list of Those Who Love The
Lord"
ture than this of President Harding.
the man loved and mourn, said Mr..
Coolidge after reciting verse of the
poem. He loved his fellowmen and
because they felt it and know it,
they loved and trusted him. His whole
mother who had an inspired faith in
him, down to the day when sorrow
ing world laid its tributes at his bier
was continuing testimony to his
devotion to them and to their faith in
him.
Harding's Gentle Nature.
Some will say that such sweet
and gentle nature could only have
found it's setting and its opportunity
for service in a strange and peculiar
time. Perhaps they are right. Yet ht
came to the worlds stage in an hour
when it seemed set for other char
acters. The captains and the kings
the armies and the navies. the men
who would have war, and the men
who would not have peace, had long
dominated the scene. Where among
them could place be made, could ear
be found. for this kindly, gentle,
gracious soul?
yet he found his place. He caught
the ear of war-tired world He
called our country back to paths of
peace, and gladly it came. He beck
oned the nations to come and sit in
council He pointed them the way to
peace. He set example of readiness
to cast away the sword from the arm
of might He sought for men and
nations a peace-the only true and
lasting peace--based on justice and
right. He stood first and firm for
his own country, then for mankind
His sincerity and frankness won to
his side those who sensed the great
truth of human brotherhood. So he led
the way to the monumental accom-
plishments of the Washington con-
ference on limitation or armament"
THE same simplicity and direct
ness marked his program in domestic
affairs. He was the steady, strong
fulness. 1t was never the mailed
fist of compulsion. He knew that
the greatest need of the world was
peace with industry and production.
He asked for these, and with them
for thrift and the will to make good
the losses that had been inflicted in
the years of strife.
Critics Saw Accomplishments.
''He was criticised because his own
country, under his leadership, did not
move forward so fast as some wished.
But when worn out by the struggle
he had so bravely borne, he laid
down the burden, his critics saw
clearly what his leadership had ac-
complished. They saw that it had
been a leadership forward and up
ward, in an era when most other
countries were moving backward and
downward. They saw that prosper
ity smiled once more on a favored
land. They saw that prosperity and
material well-being were somehow
strangely rare in other lands. So
they came to realize wrat his modest,
unassuring leadership had wrought
for his country.
at was natural that such charac-
ter, passing from the stage of life.
should leave the multitude sense of
personal loss.
But he was not permitted to fin
ish his task. He broke down under Its
lead. In the hour of sorrow for his
loss, men and women were moved to
a broader charity, a relaxation OF
partisan eXcesses, a determination to
be fair and moderate and reasonable.
His life became, in the tragic sorrow
of it's end a lesson in the value of
simple and modest ways.
I'VE mourn him today and We
shall mourn his so long as remem-
brance holds before us the promise
of his patience, forbearance, faith
and Christian tolerance. These are
rare virtues, too seldom found among
the men who have the strength to
rise to high places. They are the
virtues that men need to seek and
cultivate in these years of stress in
the world. They point the way to
salvation of men, for nations, for
humanity itself. We many we'll hope
that his example to his own country
men and to the world. may help
greatly to bring a spirit of charity,
accord and true fraternity, whereby
shall be lighted the lamp of under
standing to show our feet into the
paths of peace on earth, good will
to men. We may we'll consider by
what means we can show our appre-(
citation and by what method we can
best enshrine his memory"
2Wl7d