Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-06
THRONGS DEFY rain
!. TO HEAR PRESIDENT
Plea for Renewal Of Spiritual
Ideals Of 1875 Made
to Crowd. II, /
BY the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA. July s.--Loyalty
TO American institutions and the
spiritual and moral forces which |
brought them into existence was /
urged by President Coolidge yesterday !
in speaking at exercises Of the ma
tion-wide Significance which marked ,
the l50th anniversary Of the adoption
Of the Declaration Of Independence.
Coming from Washington with Mrs. !
Coolidge and an official party, the
President spoke in the huge Municipal
Stadium on the grounds OF the Sesqni-
centennial Exposition and then visited
Independence Hall and other points of
historic interest.
Turning for few minutes, late In
the day, from the places associated
with the birth OF the Nation, he
trayersed the new suspension bridge
across the Delaware River, connecting
Philadelphia and Camden, n. j., and
al ceremonies at the Jersey end OF the
structure planted a maple tree from
his native State OF Vermont. Officials
OF the State and city accorded him
an official reception.
Thousands Acclaim Him.
Chief Executive throughout the day.
Rain, which began lightly before his
arrival and increased to a steady
downpoiir before his departure, failed
to halt the enthusiasm of the ovation.
Although drenched, the crowds which
lined the streets remained fer hours
to glimpse the President and shout a
greeting. They were held in restraint
by United States soldiers. sailors and
marines. az well as National Guards
men and police
Coolidge donned black siickee dur
ing the heavier moments of the rain,
and, leaving his automobile to visit
different buildings, DOTTED his tall hat
in response to the greetings. st noon
he stood bareheaded under a canopy
for 40 minutes in delivering his adj
dress at the Stadium while misty rain
was driven into his face by sharp,
cold east wind.
Holding up the Declaration of In
dependence as a great spiritual docu-
ment, the President declared at the
stadium that its principles were the
result of the religious teachings OF the
preceding period and asserted that II
we are to maintain the great heritage
which has been bequeathed to Us we
must be Iike-minded as the fathers
who created it,
Must Cultivate Spiritual Side.
1--WE must cultivate the spiritual
and moral leadership which they
showed" he added. I'VE must keep
replenished. that they may glow with
more compelling flame. the altar
fires before which they worshlped.
Applause, which greeted his speech
from time to time. was emphatic when
nh0aFYa
saving that "of course, the Govern
ment can help to sustain ideals and
can create institutions through which
ideals can be the better observed, but
their source by their very nature Is
in the people," and that 'it Is not the
enactment but the observance OF
laws, that creates the character OF a
nation"
I'm nv opinion he said, Every lit
tie OF iust criticism can attach to the
theories and principles of our institu-
tons. There Is far more danger OF
harm than there Is hope Of good IN
any radical changes. We do need a
better understanding and comprehen-
sion of them and q better knowledge
of the foundations of government IN
general" II
Arriving at IL o'clock, accompanied
DX kAIICEnGY 6CIlcEdt odA SChhs
tor Ernst of Kentucky; his FRIEND,
Frank w. Stearns of Boston. as Wen
as Secretary Everett Sanders and his
military and naval aides. Mr.. Coolidge
was driven for miles along Broad
street and the exposition grounds to
| the stadium.
The LIST Troop, Philadelphia City
Cavalry, an organization which has
escorted every President who has
visited Philadelphia since the time OF
George Washington. acted as his es'
cort, while q battery of field pieces
roared out the 21-gun national salute
liArmy airplanes scared overhead.
During his speech a commercial
| plane roared 30 low over the stadium
| and the presidential platform that It's
motor drowned out the Presidents
words. and he was forced to stop for
minute until the plane had disap-
peared over the stadium.