The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-04-13
HON. CLAUDE KITCHENS
SPEECH BEFORE CONGRESS
COMPLETE ADDRESS IN OPPOSI-
TON OF DECLARATION OF
WAR
Has Met with Much Adverse Criticism,
Also Many Who Agree
This speech is given in full in comply
ance with the request of many of
our subscribers. It is as follows.

MI. And1ili1dH, LII view Ol the man
assumptions Of loyalty and PATRIOTS,
on the part of some of those who IaNo
the resolution, and insinuations by ther
Of cowardice and disloyalty on tn
part Of those who oppose it, offshoots
doubtless, of a passionate moment, lie
me at once remind the House that i
takes neither moral nor physical cour
age to declare a war for others to fight
Applause 1t is evidence Of neithc
loyalty nor patriotism for one to urg
others to get into a war when he know
that he himself is going to keep out
The depth of my sorrow, the inten
sity Of my distress i'll contemplating
the measureless step proposed, God
only knows. The right and necessity OF
to the individual judgment of Members
of the House. Too grave is the respon
sibility for anyone to permit another
to stand sponsor for his conscience.
Profoundly impressed with the gray
ity Of the situation, approaching to the
fullest of the penalties which war
mad moment will impose, my conscience
and Judgment after mature thought
and fervent prayer for rightful guld-
ance, have marked out clearly the path
OF my duty. and l have made up my
mind to walk it, if [ go barefooted and
alone. Applause.] [ have come to the
no ch
vote against this resolution. Applause.
If | had a single doubt, l would with
profoundest pleasure resolve it in favor
of the view of the administration and
of large ma ority of my colleagues,
who have so recently honored me with
their confidence. I know that / shall
never criticize any Member for advo-
eating this resolution. [ concede-I feel
that he casts his vote in accordance
with sincere conviction. / know, too
that for my vote I shall be not only
criticized, but denounced from one end
of the country to the other. The whole
velpng pack of defamers and revilers
III the Nation Will at once be siclled
upon my heels.
Nv friends cannot leave my child
rem lands and riches-I can not leave
them fame-but / can leave them the
name of an ancestor, who, mattering
not the consequences to himself, never
dared to hesitate to do his duty as God
gave him to see it. Applause.
''Half the civilized world is now
slaughterholl for human beings. This
Nation is the last hope of peace on
earth good will toward men. I am
unwilling for my country by statutory
command to pull up the last anchor OF
ING the long night of a worldwar the
only remaining star of hope for Chris
tendon. I am unwilling by my vote
to-day for this Nation to throw away
the only remaining compass to which
the world can look for guidance In the
paths of right and truth, of Justice and
humanity. and to leave only force and
blood to chart hereafter the path of
mankind to tread. By passage of this
resolution we enter the war, and the
universe becomes one vast drama of
horrors and bioOd-one boundless stage
npon which will play all the evil spir-
its of earth and hell All the demons
OF inhumanitv Will be let loose for a
rampage throughout the world.
no futn WI hot Or OF.
be the rewards or penalties of this Ma
ton 5 step, I shall always believe that
we could and ought to have kept out
Of this war.
"Great Britain every day, every hour
for two years has violated American
rights on the seas. We have persistent
" protested. She has denied us no.
only entrance into the ports of the cen
trail powers but has closed to us J.,
force the ports of neutrals. She ha
unlawfullv seized our ships and on
carcoes. She has rified our mails. Sh
declared war zone sufficiently larg
to cover all the ports Of her enemy
She made the entire North Sea a mill
tarv area-strewed it with hidde
mines and told the neutral nations 0
the world to stay out or be blown "
We protested No American ship wa
sunk, no American life was destroye
because we submitted and did not 9
in We kept out of war. We sacr
feed no honor. We surrendered pc
manentlv no essential rights We kne
that these acts of Great Britain, thong
III plain violation of international la
and of our rights on the seas, We're IL
aimed at us. They were directed
her enemy. They were inspired by n
litarv necessity. Rather than plum:
this country into war we were willl
to forego for the time our rights.
approved that course then; / appro