The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-04-19
Speech of Senator Borah In Support of
Resolution Declaring War On Germany

claring that a state of war exists De
tween the United States and Ger
many, which is here reproduced
Mr.. President, if l understand
correctly this resolution, not only il
its terms but in its import, it's mean
Eg is simple and single, anc 1t is moi
subject in any way to misconstruc-
ton. 1t is the ordinary declaration OF
q state of war and pledging the re-
sources of this country to prosecute
war against those who are waging wal
against us. In other words, Mr. Pres :
dent, 1t commits this government to a
policy Of war in defense of American
rights for the protection of American
citizens, and for the security of the
American republic. That being both
the import. and the express terms of
the resolution, ] do not find it possible
en- my part to vote against it. The
resolution does not commit this coun-
try to war of aggression but to a
war to be prosecuted in defense and
for the protection of the rights of the
American people, against those at
whose hands our people have suffered
death.
"Mr. President when this war broke
upon the peace OF the world, we all
realized In part at least, what it
meant. Language was inadequate to
express our feeling and our astonish-
ment or to convey to one another our
views; but we understood that we
were witnessing the most stupendous
conflict of the worlds history and
that in its far-reaching effect. in its
engulfing force, it would, in all prob
ability, involve our own people. We
understood that the most advanced
the most powerful nations of the earth
could not long continue their conflict
without affecting most substantially
the conditions upon the western con-
tinent The affairs of the world are
20 closely interviewer, politically and
economically, that it seemed from the
beginning that. In all probability, we
should not be able wholly to escape
feet OF the fearful catastrophe Nat
urally, therefore, the thought of every
one here turned to his own country
what should be her course, what pol
Icy would best conserve her interests
and the happiness of her people,
what was best calculated to preserve
unscathed our institutions and uni
changed our cherished principles of
government and of civilization.
Passion of Patriotism.
1T was not mere selfshness; it
was not base and inconsderate fear
1t was not a pusillanimous contem-
plation Of sacrifice or the forfeiture
of ease that drove our thoughts back
upon ourselves and sent the mind in
search of a policy which would best
conserve and perpetuate our happi-
ness and the welfare of our people.
That charge has been laid at our door,
but 1t is unjust. 1t was rather, in my
belief, the inestimable and, l trust, the
imperishable principle and feeling of
it was devotion to our own it was
the passion of patriotism, the most
sublime passion which stirs the heart
of man, save that which binds him
to his Maker.
1.-THE president, the congress- and
the people felt in the beginning that
this was not our affair; that it was
not of our making; and that the
blessed inheritance of the fathers
should be kept from out the path Of
It's frightfulness, if we could be so
fortunate as to find the way by which
to achieve that end.
"Actuated, therefore by the hope
by the just and righteous hope-that
cur people might be spared participa-
ton In this war, and in harmony with
the strong and universal passion of
our people for peace, we drew back
in every way from the contest. We
announced that we intended to be
neutral and desired peace. We were
even chary in urging the ordinary
rights which belong to a neutral pow
err. We were conciliatory in every
thing save our desire for peace. We
appealed to old historic incidents to
revive the memory of friendly days,
and to old friendships that present
friendships might be prolonged. We
did everything that self-respecting
nation could do. We did more than
any other nation of prestige and Of
power ever did do to remain out of
the conflict and to signify to the world
our desire for peace. We even put
aside prudence-the ordinary pru-
dence Of a nation-and, as If in fear
of creating the suspicion that we de-
sired to enter the war. we refused to
prepare even for defense.
The Nation Unprepared.
Now, sir, in the midst of peril and
In the midst of the worlds turmoil
we stand here unprepared and un-
equipped-the strongest assurance
that this people could give that we
wanted to be at peace with the world
Il do not propose at this time, GER
tainly under the peculiar conditions
which surround us, to enter the field
OF speculative discussion and to in
mira what might haya hean the re-