The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1919-12-25


which was that Americans should never
take part ir European war.
II the league takes in the world
Then Europe must mix In tne aIIalrs
Of America if only Europe is included,
fben America will violate OF necessity
her own doctrine by ihtermixing in the
affairs of Europe.
IF the league includes the affairs OF
me world. does it not include the af-
fairs OF all the world? Is there any !
limitation of the jurisdiction Of the !
council or of the assembly upon the |
Question of peace or war? Does 1t not |
have now, under the reservations, the
Same as it had before, the power to !
deal with all matters of peace or war
throughout the entire world? How
shall YOU keep from meddling in the
affairs of Europe or keep Europe from
meddljng in the affairs of America?
Mr. President, there is another and
even a more commanding reason why
/ shall record my vote against this
treaty. 1t imperils what l concefv to
be the underlying, the very first prin-
ciples of this Republic. 1t is in con-
flict with the right of our people to
Govern themselves free from all re-
straint, legal or moral, of foreign pow
ers. 1t challenges every tenet of my
political faith. If this faith were one
Of my own contrivirg. if / stood here
to assert principles of government of
my own evolving, ! might well be
Enlarged with intolerable presumption.
| for we all recognize the ability of those
who urge a different course. But /
| Differ in justification of my course
| nothing of my own-save the deep ard
| abiding reverence l have for those
whose policies l, humlby but most ar
IDENTITY support. l claim no merit save
Fidelity to American principles and
flevotion 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 maiE-
tanned throughout these years. In
Opposing the treaty l do nothing more
than decline to renounce and tear out
of my life the sacred traditions which
throughout 80 years have been trans
lated into my whole Intellectual and
moral being. / will not give up my
belief that America must. not alone for
for the happiness Of her own people,
but for the moral guidance and great
Ter contentment of the world, be per-
Emitted to live her own life Next to
fthe tie which binds man to his God
courtry, and all schemes all plans,
however ambitious and fascinating they
seem in their proposal, but which
would embarrass or entangle and i'm
pede or shackle her sovereign will,
y which would compromise her freedom
" of action / unhesitatingly put behind
me.
Sir, since the debate opened months
lEofr 90,
this proposition have been tainted
many times with being little Ameri-
cans. Leave us the word American
keep that in your presumptuous i'm
peachment, and no taunt can disturb
u.s. no gibe discompose our purposes
CAN us little Americans if you will
but leave us the consolation and the
pride which the term American, how.
ever modified, still imparts Take
away that term and though you should
coin in telling phrase your highest
eulogy we would hurl it back as com
mon Islander. We have been ridicule6
because, forsooth, of our limited vi
sion. Possibly that charge may be
true. Who is there here that can read
the future? Time. and time alone, un
erring ard remorseless, will give US
each our proper place in the affections
M#tOI our NIutIlN anu Ill Tie PSIpRH
and commentator of those who are
to come after us. We neither fear mol
court her favor. But If our vision has
been circumscribed it has at all time.
within its compass beer clear and
steady. We have sought nothing save
the tranquility of our own people an(
the honor and independence of our owl
Republic. No foreign flattery, no pos
sible world glory ard power have dis
turbed our pOiSe or come between III
ard our devotion to the tradition.
which have made us a people or tn,
policies which have made us a Nation
unSelfish and commanding If we hav,
erred we have erred out of too mucl
love for those things which from child
hood you and we together have beer
taught to revere-yes, to defend evel
at the cost of limb and life. If we hav,
, erred 1t is because we have placed to'
high an estimate upon the wisdom O
Washington ard Jefferson, too exalted
an opinion upon the patriotism of tn,
sainted Lincoln. And blame us no
therefore if we have, in our limitet
vision, esemed sometimes bitter and a
( all times uncompromisirg, for tn
things for which we have spoken, feeb
bly, spoken, the trings which We hav,
endeavored to defend have been tn
thiEgs for which We have spoken, fee
fathers were willing to die.
Senators, even in an hour so bi
with expectancy We should not clos
our eyes to the fact that democracy
something more, vastly more, than
mere form of government by which SC
ciety is restrained into free and order
ly life 1t is moral entity, spirit
ual force as we'll And these ar
things which live only and alone i
the atmosphere of liberty. The four
dalton upon which democracy rests 1
faith in the moral instincts of the pee
pie. It's ballot boxes, the franchise, it
laws, and constitution are but the out
ward manifestations of the deeper an