Evening star., 1925-03-04
The American Faith.

PRESIDENT COOIIuSe spcdhS " thS nv
ple of the United States today in his
inaugural address in a spirit OF conse'
Grafton to the principles upon which
this Government is founded. In one OF
the shortest inaugurals on record he
sets forth clearly and strongly his
faith as an American. This address
will take it's place as one Of the classics
of our country's state papers.
Realization that human nature 'is
about the most. constant thing in the
universe, and that the essentials OF
human relationships do not change" "
he reviews in a swift survey the cen
tury and a half that has passed since
''our national consciousness first as
serted itself" We have been, and we
propose to be, he. says, more and more
American. In that aspiration we must
as a. Nation hold the relationship to
the Old World of Understanding and
forbearance. We are determined not
to become implicated in the political
controversies Of other nations. but
hoping for a permanent peace, we
must cooperate with them for under
standing. Our great duty requires us
Ito use our enormous powers to trim
the balance of the world"
The President bespeaks adherence to
the Permanent Court of International
Justice, and he urges that we should
engage in no refnements Of logic, no
sophistries and no subterfuges to argue
away the undoubted duty of this coun-
try TO bear its full share Of the re-
sponsibility Of a candid and disinter-
ested attempt at the establishment of
a tribunal for the administration of
even-handed justice between nation
and nation" $500
From, the outset. says President
Coolidge, it has been found necessary
to conduct our Government by means
of political parties. While that pro-
cedure has not always worked perfect
ly, nothing better has been devised, In
this connection the President pofntedly
urges that any party that has been
chosen by the people for the conduct
Of their affairs must work with unity
of action to make the party majority
IAN effective Instrument Of govern
ment." The significance of this express
sion is plain. The, President expects
the Congress that was elected in No
vember with him to cooperate to carry
into effect the policies that were adopt
ed by the people at that election.
In Interpretation of the November
election the President declares that the
people Overwhelmingly voted in favor
of maintaining our constitutional guar
antees; that they demonstrated faith
in the integrity Of the courts; that they
rejected decisively the policy of public
ownership Of railroads and other utili-
ties; that they declared for conserva-
ton and economy in public expendi-
lures and for reduction and reform of
taxation.
Il favor the policy of economy"
says the President, mot because /
wish to save money. but because I
wish to save people. The men and
women of this country who toll are the
ones who bear the cost of the Govern.
ment. Every dollar that we carelessly
waste means that their life may be so
much the more meager. Every dollar
that we prudently save means that
abundant. Economy is idealism in it's
most practical FORM
Therein is to be found the key to the
attitude of President Coolidge upon
the matter Of public expenditures. It
LIZ the common sense Of conservation.
Obedience to law, says the President,
Is the first rule for the guidance of a
citizen of republic. While there may
be those of high intelligence who vio-
late the law at times, the barbarian
and the defective always violate it.
Therein is the key to the Presidents s
attitude toward law enforcement as he
urges the following Of the path of
civilization and not the path that
"1eads back to the jungle"
IN his conclusion, in a. paragraph
which breathes the spirit of his ances-
try, President Coolidge strikes a high
note of devotion to the eternal prin-
ciples of human liberty as exempiified
in this, the most representative, the
most liberal, the most enlightened Gov
ernment on earth. His closing words
are message to the world:
America seeks no earthly empire
built on blood and force. No ambition,
no temptation, lures her to thought of
foreign dominions. The legions which
she sends forth are armed, not with
the sword, but with the cross The
higher state to which she seeks the al
legiance Of all mankind is not of hu.
man, but of divine origin. She cher
ishes no purpose save to merit the
favor of Almighty God.''
fI1r.