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Show HARDING DELIVERS INAUGURAL ADDRESS President Asserts High Ideals of the United States Have Withstood War's Fire. LIBERTY HAS STOOD THE TEST Promises to Work for an Association of Nations to Bring About Peace and Approximate Disarmament, But Pronounces Against Entangling Alliances. "Washington. March 4. President Warren i. Harding in his inaugural address said : My countrymen, when one surveys the world about him after the great storm, noting the marks of destruction and yet rejoicing in the ruggedness of things which withstood it, if he is an American hp breathes the clarified .atmosphere with a strange mingling of regret and new hope. We have seen world passion spend its fury, but we contemplate our republic unshaken and hold our civilization secure. Liberty Lib-erty liberty within the law -and civilization civil-ization are inseparable and though both were threatened we find them now secure and there comes to Americans Amer-icans the profound assurance that our representative government is the highest high-est expression and surest guaranty of both. Standing in this presence, mindful of the solemnity of this occasion, feel-- feel-- ing the emotion, which no one may know until he senses the great weight of responsibility for himself, I must utter my belief in the divine inspiration inspira-tion of the founding fathers. Surely there must have been God's intent in the-making of this new world republic. Ours is an organic law' which had but one ambiguity, and we saw that effaced ef-faced in a baptism af sacrifice and blood, with union maintained, the nation na-tion supreme and its concord inspiring. inspir-ing. We have seen the world rivet its hopeful gaze on the great truths on which the founder wrought. We have seen civil, human and religious liberty verified and glorified. In the beginning begin-ning the old world scoffed at our experiment, ex-periment, today our foundations of political and social belief stand unshaken, un-shaken, a precious inheritance to ourselves, our-selves, an inspiring example of freedom free-dom and civilization to all mankind. Let us express renewed and strengthened strength-ened devotion in grateful reverence for the inuuortal beginning, and utter our conlidence in the supreme fulfillment. fulfill-ment. Progress of the Republic. The recorded progress of our republic, re-public, materially and spiritually, In itself proves the wisdom of the inherited inherit-ed policy of non-involvement in old world aftairs. Confident of our ability abil-ity to work out our own destiny and jealously guarding our right to do so, ' we seek no part in directing the des tinies of the old world. We do not mean to. be entangled. We will accept ac-cept no responsibility except as our own conscience and judgment in each instance may determine. Our eyes never will be blinded to a developing menace, our ears never deaf to the call of civilization. We recognize the new order in the world, with the closer contacts which progress prog-ress has wrought. We sense the feeling feel-ing of the human heart for fellowship, fraternity anil co-operation. We crave friendship. and harbor no hate, But America, our America-, the America bnilded on the foundation laid by the inspired fathers, can be a party to no permanent military alliance. It can enter into no political commitments' nor assume any economic ob''ations-' - or subject our decisions to a)ie,other than our own authority. I am sure our own people will not misunderstand nor will the world mis- construe. We have no thought to impede im-pede the paths to :loser relationship. AVo wish to promote understanding. We want to do our part in making offensive of-fensive warfare so hateful that governments gov-ernments and peoples who resort to it must prove the righteousness of their cause or stand as outlaws before the bar of civilization. Association for Counsel. We are ready to associate ourselves with the nations of the world, great ami small, for conference, for counsel, coun-sel, to seek the expressed views of world opinion, to recommend a way to approximate disarmament and relieve the crushing burdens of military and naval engagements. , We elect to participate in suggesting plans for mediation, conciliation and arbitration, arbitra-tion, ami would gladly join in that cx- pressed conscience of progress, which . seeks let clarify and write the laws of international relationship, and establish estab-lish a world court for the disposition of such justiciable questions as nations na-tions are agreed to submit thereto. In expressing aspirations, in seeking practical plans, in translating humanity's human-ity's new concept of righteousness, justice and its hatred of war into recommend rec-ommend action we are ready most heartily to unite, but every commitment commit-ment miiM be made in the exorcise of. our national sovereignly. Since freedom impelled and independence inde-pendence inspired and nationality exalied, a world supergoverntuenf is couirary to everything we cherish and can have no sanction by our republic. This is nm selfishness. It is sanctity. sanc-tity. It is not aloofness, it is security. It is nut suspicion of others: it is patriotic adherence to the things which :;;adc us what we are. Tod; y. better than ever before, tvt1 know the a --pi rau ''Wis of human kind ami share tiicm. W'e have nine to a new rca iit'.at ion of our place in the world ami a new appraisal of our nation na-tion by the world. The unselfishness of these 1'nited States is a thin'-' proven, our devotion to peace for on-.'- ; selves and for the world is well es- i tahlished. our concern for preserved j civilization has had its impassioned j and heroic expression. There wns no i American failure to resist the at- tempted reversion of civilization, there will be no failure today or tomorrow. Rest on Popular Will. The success of our popular government gov-ernment rests wholly on the correct Interpretation of the deliberate, intelligent, in-telligent, dependable popular will of America. In deliberate questioning of a suggested change of a national policy pol-icy where iiuernationality was to supercede su-percede nationality,, we turned to a referendum to the American people. There was ample discussion and there is a public mandate in manifest understanding. under-standing. America is ready to encourage, 'eager to initiate, anxious to participate partici-pate in any seemly program likely to lessen the probability of war and promote that brotherhood of mankind which must be God's highest conception concep-tion of human relationship. IIecau.se we cherish ideals of justice and peace, because we appraise international comity and helpful relationship no less highly than any people of the world, we aspire to a high place in the moral leadership of civilization and we hold a maintained America, the proven republic, the unshaken temple of representative democracy, to he not only an inspiration and example, ex-ample, but the highest agency of strengthening good will and promoting accord on both continents. Mankind needs a world wide, benediction bene-diction of understanding. It is needed among individuals, among peoples, among governments, and it will inaugurate inaugu-rate an era of good feeling to. mark the birth of a new order. In such, understanding un-derstanding men will strive confidently confi-dently for the promotion of their better bet-ter relationships and nations will promote pro-mote the comities so essential to peace. Trade Ties Bind Closely. We must understand that ties of trade bind nations iu closest intimacy and none may receive except as he gives. We have not strengthened ours in accordance with our resources or our genius, notably on our own continent, con-tinent, where a galaxy of republics re-. re-. fleet the glory of a new world democracy, democ-racy, but in the new order of finance and trade we mean ,to promote enlarged en-larged activities and seek expanded confidence. Perhaps we can make no more helpful contribution by example than prove a republic's capacity to emerge from the wreckage of war. While the world's embittered travail did not leave us devastated lands nor desolated deso-lated fities, left no gaping wounds, no breast with hate, it did involve us in the delirium of expenditure, in expanded ex-panded currency and credits, in unbalanced unbal-anced industry, unspeakable waste and disturbed relationships. While it uncovered our portion of hateful selfishness sel-fishness at home; it also revealed the heart of America as sound and fearless, fear-less, and heating in confidence unfailing. un-failing. Amid it all we have riveted the gaze of all civilization to the unselfishness unsel-fishness and the righteousness of representative rep-resentative democracy, where our free- . ,dom never has made offensive war- I fare, never has sought territorial aggrandizement ag-grandizement through force, never has turned to the arbitrament of arms until reason had been exhausted. When the governments of earth shall have established a freedom like our oWn and shall have sanctioned the pursuit of peace as .we have noticed it, I believe be-lieve the last sorrow and the final sacrifice of international warfare will htfe been written. Our Supreme Task. Our supreme task is the resumption resump-tion of our onward normal way. He-construction, He-construction, readjustment, restoration all these follow. I.' would like to have' them. But it will lighten . the spirit and add to the resolution with which we take up the task, let me repeat for our nation, we shall give no people just cause to make war upon us. We hold no national prejudice, we entertain no spirit of revenge, we do not hate, we do not covet, we dream of no conquest, nor boast of armed prowess. If, despite this attitude, war is again forced upon us, I earnestly hope a way may be found, which will unify our individual and collective strength and consecrate all America, material ly anil spiritually, nouy anil soul, to national defense. I can vision the ideal republic wherever man and wo-1,4111 wo-1,4111 is called under the flag fin- assignment as-signment to duty, for whatever service, serv-ice, military or civic, the individual is best fitted, where we may call to universal uni-versal service, every plant, agency or facility, all in the sublime sacrifice for our country and not one penny cf war profit shall enure to the benefit bene-fit of private individual, corporation or combination, but all above the normal shall flow into the defense chest of the nation. There is something inherently wrong, something out of accord with the ideals of representative democracy when one portion of our citizenship turns its activity to privuie gain amid defensive war while another is lighting, light-ing, sacrificing or dying for national preservation. Unity of Spirit and Purpose. Out of such universal service will come a new unity of spirit and purpose, pur-pose, a new confidence and consecration consecra-tion which would make our defense impregnable, our triumph assured. Then we should have little or no disorganization dis-organization of our economic, industrial indus-trial aud commercial systems at home, no staggering war debts, no swollen fortunes to flout the sacrifices of our sobliers, no excuse for sedition, 1111 pitiable slackerism. no outrages of treason. I-lnvy and jealousy would have no soul for their menacing development, de-velopment, a revolu; ion would be without with-out the passion which engenders it. A regret for the mistakes of yes. tenlay must not. however, blind us to the tasks of today. War never left such aa aftermath. Theie has been staggering ioss of life, and measureless measure-less wastage of materials. Nations art1 s.ill grouping for return to stable ways. Ihst'ouraging indebtedness confronts con-fronts us like ail the war-torn nations na-tions and these obligations must be p'ovidod for. No civilization can sur-v, sur-v, vo repudiation. We can reduce the abnormal expenditures ex-penditures and we will. We can strike at war taxation and we must. We must face the grim necessity, with full knowledge that the task is to be solved and we must proceed with a. full realization that no statute1 enacted by man can repeal the exinorciable laws of nature. Our most dangerous tendency is to expect too much of government gov-ernment and at the same time do for it too little. " We contemplate the immediate task of putting our public household in order. We need a rigid and yet sane economy, combined with fiscal justice and it must be attended by individual in-dividual prudence and thrift which are so essential to this trying hour and reassuring for the future. Reflection of War'a Reaction'. The business world reflects the disturbance dis-turbance of war's reaction. Herein flows the lifeblood of material existence. exis-tence. The economic mechanism is intricate in-tricate and its parts interdependent and has suffered the shocks and jars incident to abnormal demands, credit inflations and price upheavals. The normal balances have been impaired, the channels of distribution have been clogged, the relations of labor aud management have been strained. We must seek the readjustment with care and courage. Our people must give and take. Prices must reflect re-flect the receding fever of war activities. activi-ties. Perhaps we sever shall know the old level of wage again, because war invariably readjusts compensations and the necessaries of life will show their inseparable relationship, but we must strive for normalcy to reacn-stability. reacn-stability. All the penalties will not be light nor evenly distributed. There is no way of making them so. There is no instant step from disorder dis-order to order. We must face a condition con-dition of grim reality, charge off our losses and start afresh. It is the dolest lesson of civilization. I would like government gov-ernment to do all it can to mitigate them. Iu understanding, in mutuality of interest, in concern for the common com-mon good our tasks will be solved. No altered system will work a miracle. Any wild experiment will only add to the confusion. Our best assurances as-surances lies in efficient administration administra-tion of our proven system Destruction to Production. The forward Course of the business cycle is unmistakable. Peoples are turning from destruction to production. produc-tion. Industry has sensed the changed order and our own people are turning turn-ing to resume their normal onward way. The call is for productive America Amer-ica to go on. I know that congress and the administration . will favor every wise government policy to aid he resumption and encourage continued con-tinued progress. I speak for administrative efficiency, ef-ficiency, for lightened tax burdens, for sound commercial practices, for adequate credit facilities, for sympathetic sym-pathetic concern for all agricultural "problems, for the omission of unnecessary unnec-essary interference of government with business for an end to government's experiment in business and for more efficient business in government administration. ad-ministration. Witli all of this must attend a mindfulness of the human side of all activities so that social, industrial and ecouomic justice will be squared with the purposes of a righteous righte-ous people. With the nation-wide induction of womanhood into our political life, we may count upon hc intuitions, her refinement re-finement her intelligence and her influence in-fluence to exalt the social oijler. We count upon her exercise of the full privileges and the performance of the duties of citizenship to speed the attainment at-tainment of the highest state. Prayer'for Industrial Peace. I wish for an America no less alert in guarding against dangers from within than it is watchful against enemies from without. Our fundamental funda-mental law recognizes no class, no group, no section. There must he none in legislation nor administration. The supreme inspiration is the common weal. My most reverent prayer for America is for industrial peace, with its rewards widely and generally distributed dis-tributed amid the inspirations of equal opportunity. . No one justly may deny the equality of opportunity which made us what we are. We have mistaken unprepar-edness unprepar-edness to embrace it to be a challenge making all citizens fit for participation participa-tion will give added strength of citizenship citi-zenship and magnify our achievements. achieve-ments. If revolution insists upon overturning overturn-ing established order let other peoples make the 'tragic experiment. Tnere is no place for it in America. NY-hen world war threatened civilization we pledged" our. resources and our lives to its preservation, and when revolution threatens we unfurl the flag of law and order and renew our consecration. Ours is a constitutional freedom, where the popular will is t lie law supreme su-preme ami minorities are sacredly protected. pro-tected. Our revisions, reformations and evolutions reflect a deliberate judgment and an orderly progress anil we menu to cure our ills, but never destroy de-stroy or permit destruction by force. I had rather submit our industrial controversies to the conference table in advance than to a settlement table after conflict and .suffering. The earth is thirsting for the' cup of good will. Understanding is its fountain course. I would like to acclaim an era of good feeling amVl dependable prosperity and all the blessings which attend. Protection of Industries. It has been proved again and again that we cannot, while throwing our markets open to the world, inain-j inain-j tain American standards of living and I opportunity and hold our industrial 1 eminence in such inequal competition. 'There is alluring fa lacy in the theory of banished barriers of trade, but pre-j pre-j served American standards require our higher product ion costs to be reflected i in our tariffs on imports. Today as j never before, when peoples :nv seok-j seok-j mg trade, restoration and expansion, we must adjust our tariffs to the now order. "We seek panicipai ion in the world's exchanges, be, aits,, therein lies our way to widened influence and the ; triumphs of peace. We know full well I we cannot sell v here we do not buy ar.d we cannot sell successfully where we do not carry. Opportunity is calling, not alone for the restoration, but for a new era in production, transportation and trade. We shall answer it best by meeting the demand of a surpassing home market, by promoting self-reliance in production and by bidding enterprise, genius and efficiency to carry our cargoes in merican bottoms bot-toms to the marts of the world. An America of Homes. t We would not have an America living within and for herself alone, but we would have her self reliunpin-dependent reliunpin-dependent and ever nobler, stronger and richer. Believing in our higher standards, reared through constitution-: til liberty and maintained opportunity, opportuni-ty, we invite the world to the same heights. Hut pride in tilings wrought is no reflex of a completed task. Common welfare is the goal of our national endeavor. Wealth is not inimical in-imical to welfare, it ought to he its friendliest agency. There never can lie equality of rewards re-wards or possessions so long as the human plan contains varied talents and differing degrees of industry and thrift but ours ought to be a country-free country-free from great blotches 'of distressed poverty. We ought to find a way to guard against the perils and penalties of unemployment. We want an America Amer-ica of homes, illuminated with hope and happiness, where mothers, free from the necessity for long hours of toil beyond their own doors, may preside pre-side as befits the hearthstone of American citizenship. N e want the cradle of American childhood rocked under conditions so wholesome and so hopeful that no blight may touch it in its development and we want to provide pro-vide that no selfish interest, ho material ma-terial necessity, no lack of opportunity opportuni-ty shall prevent the gaining of the education so essential to best citizenship. citizen-ship. There is no shortcut to the making of these ideals into glad realities. The world has witnessed, again and again, the futility and the mischief of ill-considered ill-considered remedies for social and economic disorders. But we are mindful today as never before of the friction of modern industrialism and we must learn its causes and reduce its evil consequences by sober and tested methods. Where genius has made for great possibilities, justice and happiness must he reflected in a greater great-er common welfare. Service the Supreme Commitment. Service is the supreme commitment of life. I would rejoice to acclaim tin era of the golden rule and crown it with the autocracy of service. I pledge an administration wherein all ' the agencies of government are called to serve and ever promote an understanding understand-ing of government purely as an expression expres-sion of the popular will. One cannot stand in this presence and be unmindful of the tremendous responsibility. The world upheaval has added heavily to our tasks. But with the realization comes the surge of high resolve, and there is reassurance reassur-ance in belief in the God-given destiny des-tiny of our republic. If I felt that there is to be sole responsibility in the executive for the America of tomorrow, I should shrink from the burden. But here are a hundred millions, mil-lions, with common concern and shared responsibility, answerable to God and country. The republic sun mons them to their duty and I invite co-operation. I accept my part with single Tuind-edness Tuind-edness of purpose and humility of spirit and implore the favor and guidance guid-ance of God in His heaven. With these I am unafraid and confidently face the future. I have taken the solemn oath of office on that passage of Holy Writ wherein it is asked "What doth the Lord require, of thee J)ttt to do justly and to love mercy and walk humhly with thy God." This I plight to God and country. |