Evening star., 1925-03-04
Text of Inaugural
Speech at Capitol
By the President
My Countrymen:

My Countrymen:
No one can contemplate current con-
ditions without finding much that is
satisfying and still more that is en-
couraging. Our own country is lead
ing the world in the general readjust-
ment TO the results of the great con-
iict. Many of its burdens Will bear
heavily upon us for years, and the
secondary and indirect effects we must
expect to experience for some time.
But we are beginning to comprehe end
more definitely what course should be
pursued. what remedies ought to be
applied, what action should be taken
for our deliverance, and are clearly
manifesting a determined will faith
fully and conscientiously to adopt
these methods of relief Already we
have sufficiently rearranged our do
mestic affairs so that confidence has
returned, business has revived and
we appear to be entering an era of
prosperity which is gradually reach
ing into every part of the Nation
Realizing that we cannot live unto
ourselves alone. we have contributed
the relief of the suffering and the
settlement of the disputes among
the European nations Because of
what America is and what America
has done. a frmer courage, a higher
hope, inspires the heart of all hu-
manity.
The results have not occurred by
mere chance. They have been Sc
cured by a constant and enlightened
effort marked by many sacrifices and
extending over many generations.
We cannot continue these brilliant
successes in the future, unless we
continue TO learn from the past. 1t
is necessary to keep the former ex-
periences of our country both at home
and abroad continually before US, if
we are to have any science of govern
ment. If we wish to erect new struc-
lures, We must have a definite knowl-
edge of the old founda tions. We must
realize that human nature is about
the most constant thing in the uni
verse and that -he essentials of
human relationship do not change.
We must frequently take our bearings
from these fixed stars of our political
course. If we examine carefully what
we have done. we can determine the
more accurately what we can do.
Freedom Made a Birthright.
We stand at the opening of the one
hundred and fiftieth year since our
national consciousness first asserted
itself by unmistakable action with an
array of force. The old sentiment of
detached and dependent colonies dis
appeared in the new sentiment of a
united and independent Nation. Men
began TO discard the narrow confines
of local charter for the broader op-
portunities of national constitution.
Under the eternal urge of freedom
we became an independent Nation. A
little less than so years later that
freedom and independence were re-
asserted in the face of all the world,
and guarded, supported and secured
by the Monroe doctrine. The narrow
fringe of States along the Atlantic
seaboard advanced its frontiers across
the hills and plains of an interven-
ing continent until it passed down the
golden slope to the Pacific. We made
Ii
our domain over distant islands in
order to safeguard our own interests
and accepted the consequent obliga-
tion to bestow justice and liberty upon
less favored peoples. In the defense
of our own ideals and in the general
cause of liberty we entered the Great
War. When victory had been fully
secured we withdrew to our own
shores unrecompensed save in the
consciousness of duty done.
Throughout all these experiences
we have enlarged our freedom, we
have strengthened our independence.
We have been. and propose to be,
more and more American. We be-
lieve that we can best serve our own
country and most successfully dis
charge our obligations to humanity
by continuing to be openly and can
didly, intensely and scrupulously,
Anne rican. II we have any heritage,
Continued on Page S, Column 2.)