Aug. 4.
No event in recent days has caused so profound grief in our international community as the untimely end of President Harding, and all will join in the deepest sympathy with our American fellow-residents. The first news of the President's illness occasioned uneasiness, and there was a feeling of relief when the bulletins of his physicians seemed to indicate that danger had passed. By so much greater was the shock accordingly when the telegram arrived containing the news of his end.
In would be utter futility to attempt at this moment to appraise President Harding's work, or even to offer any appreciation of it. He assumed office at a time when the problems created by the war were still in process of solution—in fact that solution had only just begun—and a great constructive effort was required to continue it. This constructive ideal President Harding possessed, and he never spared himself to bring about a return to happier days. In dealing with domestic problems he. pursued a path of studious moderation, while international affairs his policy was characterized by a desire to maintain the most cordial relations with the other Powers. A proper rivalry in trade and the like he, of course, recognized, but imperialistic ambitions were absent from his thoughts, as witness his speech in Canada, only a few days before his death, warning against any enterprise which might have for its object the annexation of Canada by the United States \Lét's go our own gait along parallel roads, you helping us and we helping you. The ancient bugaboo of the United States scheming to annex Canada disappeare years ago.
Throughout his term of office he had lived up to sentiments of that character, and could. not fail to win universal respect. Under his administration the unsettlement inseparable from the war largely disappeared in the United States and trade began to revive—the result of the safe policy he laid down for his Government. He has not seen the full fruits of his work, but for what he has done there is much to be grateful. And so much more to mourn because of his loss.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.