The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-30
Three Critical Epochs.

Senator Brandegee's statement follows:
This country has had three critical
epochs.
First, achieving its independence.
Second. framing its Constitution.
Third. preserving the Union under the
Constitution.
I'VE are now confronting the fourth
crisis
ut is: Shall we preserve our indie
pendence or surrender it?-
IT am an American and nothin; else.
II am a United States Senator and a
member of the Committee on Foreign
Relations. I have taken an oath to pre-
serve and protect the Constitution of the
United States and SO help me God am
going to do 1t.
"I thoroughly realize the responsibility
which rests upon me.
Il propose to use the best judgment
that God has given me without fear or
favor.
The so-called covenant for a League
Of Nations which by the Executive has
been made Article Y. of the Peace
Treaty. is in my opinion hideous mon
strosity.
II shall never vote for 1t until hell
freezes over ana 1 think that event Is
probably somewhat remote. am not to
be buncoed by any oleaginous lingo
or pooling the naval forces of the world
or a new day has dawned' or the hope
OF the world or the voices in the air
or somebody's Interpretation of the cries
OF the populace' as he motors down the
Champs Elysees.
Il am for unfolding the American
Flag and not for hauling 1t down; l am
for the Stars and Stripes, and not for
the milk white flag of neutrality or inter-
Il nj
George Washington. Alexander Hamil-
ton and Thomas Jefferson. James Mad
ison. James Monroe, Ulysses S. Grant.
Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roose-
Welt.
II believe America can best serve hu-
nlanity by minding its own business and
deciding its course in every future COM
plication by the will of its own electors
al the time the emergency arises.
Il am not ready to cast this country
into witches cauldron of dragons
teeth and international complications.
Europe, Asia and Africa have their own
Pandora's box of troubles Why should
We precipitate our people into them?
Are we to tax our people. conscript
our boys and fight the battles of the
world for all time to please somebody s
ideals? Not on your life.
Il do not come from Missouri but
have got to be shown. The interna-
rional bankers cannot show me. The
maudlin sentimentalists cannot show me.
The poor deluded clergymen who are
always for virtue in the abstract but
fail TO recognize vice in the concrete,
cannot show me. The college professor
who mistakes the quotations of an acid
stomach for the birth OF a great purpose
cannot show me.
Would Confirm Peace Quickly.
Il am utterly opposed to the whole
coutraption of a League of Nations and
am in favor of confirming peace at
the earliest moment. Some people
write ne that We ought not TO be par
rsans on this question. l agree. This
is matter affecting my country for all
time and l spurn the partisan issue.
viii leave the Republican party the min
Ute il stands for this league.
The Democracy, headed by the Presi-
dent and the chairman OF the Demo
cratic National Committee, are trying
10 make it n partisan question, but they
cannot succeed. The American electoI
will vote for the country and not for
party. Many deluded, well meaning
people write TO me that they can never