Evening star., 1923-08-08
The Nations Dead.

y
half ago Warren c. Harding passed
along Pennsylvania avenue in this
city TO take the oath as President of
the United States. He had been elected
to that great Office by the votes of
the people, by tremendous majority.
the greatest ever given to candidate
in contested election. He entered
the office with the hopes and the
confidence Of the nation centered
upon him for the rendering of a great
service
Today, with his term uncompleted,
cut short by death in the discharge
OF his duties. he passed in cortege
along the same historic street to the
Capitol, honored by fearful mutitudes.
the same people who cheered him so
short a time ago. His body has been
borne back To his official home from
the far west, wf-"~. No was stricken.
As it has passed across the continent
Il has passed through lanes Of mourn
crs, millions Of them. standing in town
aud country alongside the railroad
ence and silence to the wayfarer 10
the far beyond.
Death has taken a man who gave
himself to the state, who sacrificed
his life as have soldiers in war, who
devoted himself To his task with
and conscientious determination to
do his utmost FOR the common wei
fare. But he has left d shining rec
ord, which will inspire American citi.
Zens to do their part in the making
and maintaining Of the state.
This is d day of national mourning.
These solemn ceremonies here al the
Capital. to he followed Friday by the
interment Of the body at Marion,
mark the passing of the Chief Execu-
tive, who was after all merely one
of the great body of the people. a
man like them and from them. Had
Harding the senator died in office he
would have been mourned deeply by
those who knew him well, and his
passing would have left a lasting
mark upon the nations memory. Had
lie died after retirement from office
his death would have been hut
slightly noted. But his death while
President is an event Of moment. the
greatest moment indeed. and he is
mourned both aS tn" man and as the
official!
4 distinction is 30 he made in the
ceremonies that follow those Of today.
From the close of the funeral function
at the Capitol. when the body of
Warren 6. Harding is taken thence
to the train for transport to Marion.
It will bc as the citizen and not as
the President that he will be escorted
to his last rest. This is at the wish
OF his wife. for whom now in this
hour of her deep sorrow the American
people are intensely and deeply sym
pathetic. Mrs. Harding desires to
take her own back home, not the
man she shared with the nation. but
the man she loved and with whom
she worked for the success that was
won and with whom she lived a happy
to ditferentiate between the man and
the President. But it is wish to
he respected and a sentiment to be
highly honOred
SO passes to his rest Warren G.
Harding. man of great heart. of
noble purposes, of high ideals, of
purest patriotism, who succeeded
greatly in his life, who gave his best
to his country. who contributed richly
TO its prosperity and to the cause Of
world peace and who has now been
taken seemingly, by cruel fate at
the time Of his greatest usefulness,
but doubtless in obedience to law
of the Providence which ordains all
human affairs.
His name is written high upon the
scroll of those who have wrought to
make America great.