Show Harding Appeals for Justice Promotion as National Aspiration President Sees Need of Rededication of Constitution Constitution Constitution to Bolster Interest Interest Interest Inter Inter- est in National Purpose WASHINGTON May 24 By A. A P. P P. P.-An An appeal for a rededication of the American people to the alms alma and purposes es of oC their government as set forth In the preamble of the constitution constitution constitution was made by President Harding harding Hard hard- ing today In an address at the openIng opening opening open open- ing session here of the National American council an organization recently formed to encourage better better better bet bet- ter ter- American citizenship Such a rededication the president said would furnish to the tho nation a commanding commanding anc and ana dominating na- na Interest which he said had been lacking since ince the end of ot the World war Quoting the preamble Mr Harding said It constituted the complete statement of oC the tho nations nation's aspiration S S the chart for our course S and the Inspiration to every effort to make one and all of us better citizens While deploring the lack of a def det- mite common purpose such as was set up by the war the president said Id that he had misgivings with respect to the common observation nowadays 8 sometimes S S altogether altogether alto alto- gether gather too easily and lightly made that democracy Is Js on trial INSTITUTIONS ON TRIAL Wo We will t-e t auit uh safe sate in admitting admit admit- ting he added that many of the Institutions which have been teen set up up- In the hope that through them the best aims alms of oC democracy might be realized are on trial We Ve will make no mistake e If Jf we confess that the attitudes and conduct of many people who profess proCess devoting to democratic Institutions are on ott trial But au all an this may be admitted i without implying Ing that any Important important important tant part fart of society Is Js seeking an alternative of democracy I Th There re is much questioning of I ways and means and Institutions but as to the fundamentals it certainly certainly certainly can be said that never was our country more-firmly more committed to the broad Ideals and purposes ot ol democracy and never b before Core were so nia many y other countries and nd p peoples oples se seeking to establish Ul 7 n lt- lt I menti c I Human Hum society s clety has hall never never faced ced a more complex or difficult situation situation situa situa- tion and It js is therefore of ot first Importance Importance importance Im Im- im- im that all Americans be brought to understand the underlying underlying ing purposes of this commonwealth and to fix firmly in their hearts the determination to maintain institutions institutions institutions cap capable ble of f progressive evolution tion and development along the lines of our fundamental principles WILLING TO EXPERIMENT In some ways Americans are a avery avery avery very conservative people in others quite the reverse Having been compelled for generations more or orless orless orless less to Improvise Institutions fitted to their needs they have Jarg largely IY lost the fear of experimentation Some of them are quite too willing willingto to experiment without first stopping to think out clearly the tho pr procedure on which they would enter Conflicts Conflicts Conflicts Con Con- among differing groups and opposing programs have only commonly prevented disastrous results but there is danger in placing too much reliance on this kind of protection It I Is liable to deadlock the whole mechanism of progress It seems fair tall to say that two condi conditions lons must be met If it our I quorum of democratic institutions i iare are to continue improving and I adapting themselves to the re requirements re- re Q of f an Increasingly complex com corn plex social order livery lvery very governmental governmental governmental govern govern- mental unit must be so nearly as possible a miniature of the ideal state which all nil hope to realize ca capable capable ca- ca pable pf standing on It Ha its own bottom bottom bottoni bot bot- tom toni and and- managing its affairs as may best serve the public welfare But Dut since such n a collection of ot Independent Independent in independent In- In dependent self governing does not form torm a nation there must be also some potent bonds of ot sympathy Interest and common purpose binding these communities into a great eat united commonwealth WAR WAP ANn AND uNITY n Our national experience during during- the w wr r afforded illustration of how howa a great greut common purpose intense and universal would weld the tho nation In into a true true ru unit unity As a people we n ch changed ged with the return r. r at but undeniably but we va have U f the unity the unity the tho solidarity It ity tho the eagerness for tor simple service that marked our wartime attitude is 15 because we have hae been confused contused b by the complexity com coin of ilL t. t our time and situation No o one great dominating and ap appealing appealing appealing ap- ap pealing cause has has been visualized before us to cOmmand our loyalty and devotion We Vo have not discovered discovered ered apy any single all absorbing enterprise en en- te capable of oC commanding the 80 1 of ot the whole united community com corn We Ve We need to find such a commanding com corn manding and dominating national interest and d I believe it would be bo Continued on page 6 S HARDING APPEAlS APPEAlS- Continued from rom page 1 1 found if It we could contrive means to get before all the people tho full tull meaning and Im Implication of that simple statement about aims alms and purposes of our government which Is contained in the preamble of ot the constitution In that preamble the tho fathers of ot the republic set forth th the the- objective of this great democracy We the people of ot tho United States in order to form p. p more perfect union establish Justice insure do domestic do- do tranquility provide for tor the common defense promote the general general general gen gen- eral and and- secure tho the blessings blessings blessings bless bless- ings of liberty to ourselves and our post posterity do ordain and establish this constitution for the United Unite States tates of ot America JUSTICE WORTHY CAUSE CAUpE No doubt tho working Implications implications of this thesis will be bo developed developed developed devel devel- J In your discussions But one brief sug suggestion may be offered Consider ono one phase hase in the he preamble reamble To establish Justice In our mechanism of government we have haves s set setup t. t UD UP an elaborate organization to insure this tho federal and state Judicial systems But the courts cannot Insure equal Justice to all aU the he community if some individuals stall shall s strive for tor special privileges for tOl themselves or seek to establish subtle forms ot or injustice not specifically specifically specifically prohibited by the letter of law The task of ot the courts will be pe o difficult slow sometimes Impossible ble blo unless citizens subject to their Jurisdiction are sincerely desirous to todo todo todo do Justice and to see it done in the In-the the affairs o of day by day life Ufe Thus the Immediate and continuing opportunity tunny for tor every citizen to contribute toward the achievement of this particular particular par par- objective by bythe the nation as a whole lies in so guiding ones one's personal personal personal per per- affairs that they shall shaU fall taU into confidence with this injunction to establish Justice If tine ve wo sincerely wish to leave a a. better and greater nation to the next generation to bequeath institutions Institutions institutions better adapted to achieve tho the great alms aims of 01 social organizations organizations organizations we shall accomplish these things by adhering I In our dally daily coil cori- duct to the rule of seeking and do- do 5 THE SALm SAL m m ff t l W ing g- g gj j Justice tIce rIo To o this this end nd tho the t federal federal fed fed- deral d- d eral government has Important contributions contributions con con- to make Along Alon the same some lines tho the lI state ato and nd municipal governments governments governments gov gov- have havo Important duties Beyond them every citizen has a personal responsibility in this bustness business bust bust- busi ness of ot training b better citizens The result of ot individual and col- col effort to make mako this democratic democratic demo demo- cratic program a 0 moving force in our lives and conduct will extend beyond our own borders The nation nation nation na na- tion which knows the tho truth and which amid the turmoil of ot this age has hns discovered how to Insure re domestic domestic do do- do tranquility can point the way to word world peace peace not by force I of arms but by living the precepts of ot representative democracy's true platform in all its dealings s with mapkin mankind |