Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-12-12

political faith. If this faith were one
of my own contriving. if 1 stood here
to assert principles OF government Of
my own evolving, I might well be
charged with lnloIerable presumption,
for we all recognize the ability Of
those who urge a different course. But
offer in justification of my course
nothing Of nay own-save the deep and
abiding reverence / have for those
whose policies l humbly but most ar
IDENTIFY support. claim no merit save
fidelity to American principles and
devotion to American ideals as they
were wrought out from time to time
by those who built the Republic and
as they have been extended and main
tanned throughout these years.
In opposing the treaty I do nothing
more than decline to renounce and
tear out of my life the sacred trad-
lions which throughout fifty years
have been translated into my whole
intellectual and moral being I will
not, cannot, give up my belief that
America must, not alone for the happi-
ness of her own people, but for the
moral guidance and greater content
ment Of the world, be permitted to live
her own life. Next to the tie which
binds a man to his God is the tie
which binds man to his country, ano
all schemes, all plans, however am
bilious and Fascinating they seem to
their proposal, but which would en-
barrass or entangle and impede or
shackle her sovereign will, which
would compromise her freedom of ac-
ton I unhesitatingly put behind me.
Endured Many Taunts.
Sir, since the debate opened months
ago those of US who have stood |
against this proposition have been !
tainted many times with being little |
Americans. Leave US the word Am
erican, keep that in your presumptu-
Ous impeachment, and no taunt can /
disturb us, no gibe discompose our |
Call US little Americans II
you will, but leave us the consolation
and the pride which the term Ameri-
can, however modified, still imparts.
Take away that term and though you
should coin in telling phrase your
highest eulogy we would hurl it back
Is common SANDER. We have been
'idiculed because, forsooth, of our lin
ted vision. Possibly that charge may
,e true. Who is there here that can
cad the future?
Time, and time alonefi unerring and
will give US each our
roper place in the affections of our
and in the esteem and
ommendation of those who Are to
ONE after US. We neither fear nor
curt her favor. But if our vision has .
cen circumscribed it has at all time ,
yithin its compass been clear and r
teady. We have sought nothins save ,
he tranquility of our own people and E
he honor and independence of our :
wn republic. No foreign flattely. no r
ossible world glory and power have r
our poise or come between q
S and our devotion to the traditions +
-hich have made as people or the p
olicies which have made us a ma h
on. unselfish and commanding i
If we have erred we have erred out !,
{ too much love for those things .
hich from childhood you and we to- 9
ether have been taught to revere q
IS, to defend even at the cost of limb h
I'd life. If we have erred it is be-
.use we have placed too high an n
itimate upon the wisdom of Wash n
gton and jefferson, too exalted an n
Union upon the patriotism of the 9,
inted Lincoln. And blame us not r.
erefore if we have, in our limited "
sion, seemed sometimes bitter and e,
all times uncompromising, for the ri
ings for which we have spoken, fee n
y spoken, the things which we have al
deavored to defend have been the W
ings for which your fathers and our m
Tiers were willing to die. Of
Senators, even in an hour so big NJ
tn expectancy we should not close "a
r eyes to the fact that democracy is Of
netting more, vastly more, than "a RI
ere form of government by which "a
ciety is restrained into free and or an
rly life It is moral entity. spir- m,
al force as well. And these are nm
ngs which live only and alone in he
, atmosphere of liberty. The foun- in,
ton upon which democracy rests is w;
tn in the moral instincts of the peo- int
. It's ballot boxes, the franchise, its orr
vs.. and constitutions are but the HI,
ward manifestations of a deeper IN,
| more essential thing-a continu- fo,
trust in the moral purposes of the III,
rage man and woman. When this ~