Show Full Fuli F uli Text of Presidents President's inaugural Address Delivered March The following add address res was deliver deliver- delivered ed d by br President Coolidge in Wash ash Washington in ington ton on Wednesday March arch Ith 1925 f My Countrymen No one can ean contemplate current conditions without finding linding much mu that thatis thatis is satisfying and stillmore still more tha that is encouraging Our own country is leading the world in the general re- re readjustment re adjustment to the results of tin the great conflict Many of oC its burdens will Lear bear heavily upon us for year years and the secondary and indirect effects we must expect to experience for lor came sometime me time lime But we arc are beginning to com com- comprehend comprehend comprehend more definitely what course should hould be pursued what remedies ought to be he applied what actions should be taken fo for our and arc are dearl clearly manifesting a de- de determined de determined will faithfully and con con- con 10 to to adopt these methods of 01 relief Already we have han sufficient sufficient-I sufficient sufficient- sufficiently ly I ly rearranged olur our domestic affairs so that confidence has lias returned business has revived and we appear to be entering an era of oC prosperity which IS s gradually reaching into every evey part of the nation Realizing that we cannot can can- can cannot not not- live unto ourselves alone we have contributed of our resources and our counsel to the relief of the suf suf- suffering suffering fering and the settlement of the dis- dis disputes disputes dis disputes among the European nations Because of what America is and what America has done a firmer courage a higher hope inspires the I heart of all humanity I EXPERIENCE COUNTS These s results have hava not by bv mere merc chance chanc They have be been n se- se secured s se secured cured by a constant and enlighten enlightened d effort Hort marked by man many sacrifices and extending over many generations lire Ve can not continue these brilliant successes in the future unless we continue to learn from the time past It Itis Itis Itis is necessary to keep the former experiences ex- ex experiences ex experiences of our countr country both at hone and amid abroad continually before us if we are to have any s science of government go If w we wish to erect new structures we have a definite knowledge of the old foundations Ve must realize that human nature is Is about time the most constant thing inthe inthe in the lie universe universe and that the thc essentials o cc human relationship do not change vc We e must take our bear bear- bear ings bearings from from these fixed stars of our political firmament if we expect to hold a true course If we wc examine carefully what we have ha done we can determine the more accurately what we can doVe do We Ve stand at the tIle op opening ning of the theone th theone one hundred and fiftieth year since our national consciousness first as- as asserted as asserted itself Ii by unmistakable action action with an array of force The old sentiment of detached an and dependent colonies disappeared in the n new w sen- sen sentiment sentiment sen sentiment ofa of a united and independent nation Men lien began to discard card the narrow narrow confines ofa of a local charter for forthe the broader opportunities ofa of a na- na na national constitution constitution- Under the eter eter- eternal eternal nal ur urge e oT ol freedom we became an nation A little less than tift fifty years ears later that freedom and independence was asserted in in the face If fall f all the world and guarded sup sup- sup sup- ported supported and secured by the time Monroe doctrine The lIme narrow fringe of tates along the thc Atlantic seaboard lanced 1 its frontiers across the huts hillsand and anel plains of an intervening conti conti- continent continent nen nent f until it passed down the golden slope of the Pacific We made free free- a 1 birthright We e exten extended ed our domain over distant islands in order to 10 safeguard our own interests and accepted the consequent obligation to bestow justice and libert liberty upon les less favored peoples In the defense of our own ideals and in the general cause of liberty we entered time the great war var When victor victory had been Leen fully secured we me withdrew to our own shores unrecompensed in save sa the consciousness of duty done STRESSES AMERICANISM Throughout all these experiences experience we have ha enlarged our our our freedom we have Ila weIla strengthened our independence We e have been and aud propose to he be more believe and more American We e he- he be lieve Jie that we can best hest serve sene our country discharge and most successfully lis- lis dis charge our obligations to n humanity by continuing to he be openly and can can- candidly intensely and scrupulously American If we ha mate ha e any arit heritage it it has been that If we we have ha l- l lv v any direction direct destin destiny we have ha found it t in in that di- di ion Hut limit if we wish to continue to Le be distinctly American we must con con- continue to make that term terns sit sive comprehensive e c enough to embrace the legitimate desires ofa of a civilized and enlightened f people relations ople determined in iii alt aU their rela- rela rela rela- to pursue a conscientious and reli religious ious life liCe We e can not mint permit ourselves es to be he narrowed and dwarfed by slogans and phrases I It t is not the objective but hut the substantive which is of real importance I It t is not the name nano of oC the action but Lut the lie result of the action action which is the chief con con- concern con con- concern concern cern It will wilI be Le well welI not to be he too much disturbed by Ly time the thought of either chimer isolation or entanglement of pacifists physical and militarists Time The cal configuration of die che earth has separated us from all of time the Old World but hut the common brotherhood of man the he highest law Iw of allour all our being Leins has united us its by Ly inseparable fonds with all III humanity Our coun coun- ill try country represents nothing but peaceful ul itI intentions ions toward all the earth but it ought I ht not to fail to maintain sucha such l a military force as comports with the dignity and security ofa of a great r rt t people I It t ought to to be a force intensely modern capable of defense by sea and laud land beneath the amid ind in the air Hut But it should Le he so se conducted ted that all the world may ma see sec in ill it not a menace but mum 1 iilo instrument of security and peace I ASKS FRIENDLY PEACE This nation believes Lelie thoroughly in ir inIn into to In honorable peace under which time the of its citizens are arc to 10 lie he every every- where protected It has never found that the necessary ary enjoyment cn of C such sucha J a peace could be maintained only b by bya bya a great reat and threatening arra array of oC arms In common with other oilier nations it is now more determined than ever everto everto everto to promote peace through friendliness friendliness ness and good will through mutual understandings and mutual ance ance We Ve have never practiced the policy of competitive armaments Ve have recently committed ourselves by covenants co with time with the other great na- na nations nations na nations to a limitation of our sea power J As S one result of this our navy ranks lar larger er in comparison than it did before Removing the burden of ex- ex expense expense ex expense pense and jealousy which must al- al always always al always ways accrue from a keen rivalry is isone isone isone one of oC the most effective methods of diminishing that unreasonable le I I hysteria and misunderstanding which are arc the most potent means of foment foment- fomenting fomenting fomenting ing war The policy represents a anew anew anew new departure in the world It is a thought an an ideal which has led to an entirely entirely- new line of action It Jt will not be easy to maintain Some ne er moved from the their r old position some arc constantly slipping back to theold the theold old ways of thought and the old action of seizing a musket and rely rely- relying relying relying ing on force America has taken the lead in this new direction and that Ica lead America must continue to hold I If f we expect others to rely on our fairness and justice we wc must slow show that we rei rely on their fairness and andI justice ARMS PARLEY BENEFICIAL If we are to judge hr by past experience experience experience there is much to be hoped for Cor Corin forin forin in international relations from fre- fre frequent fre frequent quent conferences and consultations c have ha before us the beneficial re- re results re results suits of the Washington ashington conference and the various consultations recently held upon European affairs some of which were were in r response response to our sug sug- suggestions suggestions suggestions and in some of which we were active participants Even the failures can tact not but be accounted useful and an immeasurable advance ance over o threatened or actual warfare I Iam Iam Iam am strongly in favor of a continua continua- continuation continuation continuation tion of this policy whenever condi condi- conditions conditions conditions are arc such that there is even a promise that practical and fa favorable oraLle re results might be be secured in conformity the principle that a display of reason rather thana than a threat of force should be the de- de determining de determining factor factor- in the time intercourse among amon nations we have long o ad advocated advocated the pea peaceful settlement of oC dis- dis disputes disputes dis disputes by methods of arbitration and have han negotiated many treaties to se- se secure se sc secure cure that result The same considerations consider consider- considerations considerations should lead to our adherence to lo time the permanent c court urt of international al justice justice- Where great principles are arc involved ill where great reat movements arc under way which promise much for the welfare of humanity by reason of the very fact that man many other nations na- na nations na nations have given such movements their actual support we ought not notto notto notto to withhold our own support because of any small and inessential differ differ- difference difference difference ence but only upon the time ground of the most important and compelling fun fun- fundamental fun fundamental reasons We Vc can not bar bar- barter barter bar barter ter away our independence or our so but we ought to engage in no refinements of oC logic no sophistries sophis sophis- sophistries sophistries tries and no subterfuges to argue arguea a away way the undoubted dut duty of this country by hy reason of oC the might of its numbers the power of its resources and its position of leadership in the world actively ely and comprehensively to signify its approval and to bear its full Cull share of the time responsibility of ofa ofa ofa a candid and disinterested attempt at the thc establishment ofa oCa of oC a tribunal for forthe forthe the administration of handed even even justice between nation and nation The weight of our enormous influence must mast be Le cast upon the side ofa oCa of oC a reign not of force but of law and trial not b by battle but by reason GIVES FOREIGN VIEW We Ve have never ne any wish to inter inter- interfere interfere fere in the political conditions of an any other countries Especially arc w we determined not to become implicated in the political controversies of the theOld theOld Old World With a great deal of hesitation we have ha responded to ap- ap appeals appeals ap appeals peals for Cor help to maintain order pro pro- protect pro protect teet life and property and establish responsible government in some sonic of the small countries of the Western estern hemisphere Our private printe citizens have ad advanced large sums suns of money to assist in the necessary financing and relief of oC the Old World We have ha snot not failed nor shall we fail Cail to respond re- re re respond spond whenever necessary to miti miti- mitigate mitigate mitigate gate human suffering and assist in inthe inthe time the rehabilitation of distressed na- na nations na nations lions These too are which must be met by reason of our vast ast holdin powers and the place we ue hold in the world word I some of ot the best thought of man man- kind mankind has lias long been seeking for a for for- formula formula for formula mula for permanent peace Undoubtedly Undoubtedly Undoubtedly 1 edly the clarification of the time principles principles principles ples of international law would Le be helpful and the efforts of scholars to prepare sucha such such a work for adoption by h the lie various nations should have ha our sympathy and support Much ma may be he hoped for from from the earnest studies of those who advocate ocate the outlawing of oC aggressive e war var But all these plans and preparations these treaties and anil covenants will not of themselves be adequate One of the greatest dan dangers ers to peace lies in the economic pressure to which people find themselves elves subjected One of the most practical things to be he done in the world is to seek arrangements under which such pressure may be remo ed so that opportunity may be renewed and hope may be revived re There must be Le some assurance that effort and endeavor will be he followed b by success and prosperity I In n time the making and financing of such adjustments adjust adjust- adjustments adjustments ments there is not only opportunity limit but a real for duty duly America to re- re respond respond re respond spond with her counsel and her re- re resources resources re resources sources Conditions must be pro pro- provided pro provided vided under which people can make a living li and workout work out of oC their Q lx y k r lp ef 4 r rv rYd r v Yd m fa o kro kr b Y I S Coolidge Thirtieth President COOLIDGE'S STEPS FROM BIRTH TO HIGHEST HONORS 1872 Born 1872 Dorn at Plymouth Vt Graduated 1895 Graduated from Amherst col- col college college col lege 1897 Admitted Admitted to the bar and began practice at Northampton Mass Elected 1899 Elected to Northampton city council and served subsequently as city solicitor and court clerk 1905 Married 1905 Married Grace Ana Ania Goodhue of Burlington Vt Elected 1906 1906 Elected state representatIve Elected 1909 Elected mayor of Northampton Elected 1911 Elected to Massachusetts state senate and later became pres pres- president president president ident of the senate Elected 1915 Elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts Elected 1918 Elected governor Elected 1920 Elected vice president I the president upon Became 1923 Became death of President Harding 1 Elected 1924 Elected president by the largest plurality in history But nut there is another ele- ele element element cle clement more important than all without with with- without without ment out which there can not be time the slightest hope of oC a permanent peace That clement lies liess to in the time heart of humanity Unless the desire for peace be cherished there unless this fundamental and only natural source of brotherly love be cultivated to its highest degree all artificial efforts will be in vain ain Peace will come when there is a a realization that only under a reign of law based on right right- righteousness righteousness righteousness and supported by br the religious re- re religious re religious ious conviction of oC the the brotherhood of man can there be any hope ofa of i ia a complete and amid satisfying life Parch Parch- Parchments Parchments ments will fail Cail the lie sword will fail Cail it is only the time spiritual nature of man that can be triumphant INDEPENDENCE NEEDED 1 It seems |