New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-06-22

,ucdllOu. speaking Tor HlySei1. one
of the reasons why d am so arden.
ly in favor of waging this war tc
a successful termination is that
hope to put an end not only to the
menace and threat of universal
military compulsory service in the
United States, but to put an enJ
to it all over the world.
Mr.. President, if we win this
war. it will be most unfortunate
thing to have upon the statute
books national pledge for univer-
sal military compulsory service,
for which we are neither prepared
by our past history nor invited
by our ideals as to the future. A
nation which lives in peace times
under universal military compul-
sorry service is a nation Of slaves
to exactly that extent.
Now, there are two ways Of
having peace. One is to let Ger
many dominate the world and
give us instead of the Pax Ro-
mana a new Pax Teutonica. where
none of us dare complain, and
where all that any of us dare to
do will be efficient in making
living for himself. That is one
way.
Another way is to whip Ger
many, to whip the Teutonic junk
erbund, to whip the military caste
and the House of Hohenzollern, if
possible; and then to be able to
say to the entire world, "The
world is not only safe for democ-
racy but it is safe for liberty. 1t
is safe for progress it is safe for
individual initiative; and not only
is it safe or democracy but we
have made democracy safe for the
world. which is a bigger JOB than
making the world safe for democ-
racy."
Mr.. President, to put upon the
statute books sort Of pledge
that no matter how this war comes
out we people Of these United
States are going to sink to the
level of Prussians and Austrians
and Bulgarians, to the level of the
condition of the continent of Eu-
rope, living in armed camps, ones
against the other, suspecting one
another every day, prepared to.
pounce upon one another every
week. I say is going too far.
Mr.. New. Mr.. President
The President pro tempore.
Does the Senator from Mississippi
yield to the Senator from Indi-
anal
Mr.. Williams. One word and
/ will. I repeat it is very I'M
fortunate thing that this great
question which must be left to be
determined in one way and if we,
lose to be determined in another
way-should now be presented to
this body with the danger and
peril Of misunderstanding in every
vote that is cast.
l for one am not prepared to
pledge myself that these United
States will become an armed camp
with universal compulsory mill
tary service, subtracting the re-
sources and the money and the
manhood Of the Nation from prog
ress and peace and civilization for
all time to come. Now yield to
the Senator.
Mr.. New. Mr.. President. Il
wish to ask the Senator if he does
not think that instead Of sinking
to the level Of the Prussians and
Austrians we might well rise to
the level Of America and prepare
to defend orr existence and our
national honorf
Mr.. Williams. Mr.. President,
Il that question were worthy Of
an extended reply. ! might make
L, but it hardly is. America does
not have to rise. She has ALREADY
risen years ago. She already
stands upon plane Of civilization
and progress and enlightenment
and liberty unequaled by any 9th
Or part Of this world in the past
or now. She has very largely ris-
en- to that level because she has
in peace prepared for more peace
rather than spending her nener-
Ries IN peace preparing for war. |
We have, like our English cousins
across the water, found that our
mast nOlicies left M unnrenared