The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-04
BORAH SAYS WILSON HAS
GERMANIZED u. S. SENATE
Upper House Inundated by Presidents Scheme to Shut
OFF Debate in Congress-Tactics Like That
of a Despotic Ruler.

WAsHiNGroS, March 3.-Followins
the action Of the 6enare to-day In tabling
the Gore resolution Senator Borah made
a bitter speech In denuuciation of the
Administration. After explaining that
he was in favor of maintaining the right
Of Americans TO travel o armed mer-
chantmcn, Mr.. Borah declared he voted
against the motion to table the Gore
resolution because he objected to the
methods employed by the Administration
leaders to shut of debate.
Incidentally he read the Democratic
Administration a lecture o N It's failure
to protect Americans in Mexico and con-
demned the "timld policy Of tho Pres
ident. comparing 1t with the attitude II
Presidents jackson and Cleveland In
great emergencies.
Mr.. Borah's speech stirred up great
excitement In the Senate n 10 expected
TO Leaf to a prolonged debate on foreign
affairA Senator Borah' speech follows {:
"Mr. President, I have had but one
rule to guide my conduct since this UNI
fortunate conflict In Europe began and
some difficulties closer home began, and
that was, wherever 1 conceived Ameri-
can right to exist and II was challenged
upon the part of any country or nation
to meet that challenge without vacilla-
ton or c~onpromise.'
"It was immaterial TO me whether
the parties. being American citizens.
uere slain ,,pon tina sea or in Mexico.
uh>,her ths nation re.nonsible for IL
una isrOs or email 1 measured my
du,y f,v ,hs Sac, cha, an Ar,erican ci,i-
,sn;. i,>s had hsep sacr,8cad and an
Ar,s,,.an r,yh, haa ho.r invadsd
r.-.. a.-. s.,u ..x.
~
Il should. therefore. had ! been per-
mitted to do SO. have voted for the prin-
ciple that an American citizen has a
right to travel upon a merchant ship
armed for defensive purposes. 1t Is a
! International law for these 500 years.
n In my judgment this liz not the time
Tor the great American republic 10 pc
gin to temporixe and compromise with
reference TO these national rights which
have been 70 long estaoiished ana whieh
every belligerent Power has At some
time In Its history recognized. .
III tnese principles OF internatioia
law are made unsound by hange con-
ditions OF warfare. now IL not the time
FOR us TO change them Our purposes IN
ON so would be misunderstood ana
misconstrued. Indeed. think there is
nothing 80 dangerous in great emer-
gencies as vacillation, nothing so call
culated to bring on war as n ttmid
policy WIN reference TO national rights
W. are now in the midst or an ordeal.
we most trying OF our time. and per
haps OF all time. ana IN my Judgment
any policy OF compromise or any
timidity in asserting our rights. any
poicy less than absolutely nrm. VIII
lead hastily to national degradation.
and from national ~egradation to war +.
Tor there comes a time when the Amer
lean people Will no Longer submit to
those things and viii take the matter
practically IN their own hands. as they
did on the occasion OF the " up
OF the Name.
'e' s"""'" 'e"p"''se'
Il therefore believed that 1, was the
proper thing for the Senate OF the
United Statee. after full, and fair dis.
cussion and after a presentation OF the
question, the integrity OF which could