The sun., 1919-02-22
BORAH SAYS LEAGUE
STRIPS U. s. POWERS

OINlI y v. y, IVWENN
Continued from First Pogo.
all the people and their true public
opinion, properly and fully informed,
have an opportunity for making itself
felt.
Taft IL Made the Target.
Senator Borah made few references
to the course of the President, devoting
himself for the most part to his re-
view of the terms of the league con-
stltution. Mr.. Taft furnished the
necessary object OF direct attack and
the Idaho Senator made excellent use
Of his target. For the most part he
dealt directly with his subject, but for
once In the course Of his address he
stepped aside from the ordinary path
Of argument and dealt with the one
time head OF the nation in humorous
parallels which kept the Senate con-
vulsed. 1t was Mr.. Borah's first
humorous effort during his twelve years
in Congress, and was warmly appreci-
ated. In the course Of his speech Senator
Borah said:
We are now proposing what. to my
mind. is the most radical departure from
our policies hitherto obtaining that ever
has been proposed at any time since
our Government was established. l
think those who are advocates Of the
league. will agree with me that II is
radical departure from the policies
which we heretofore have pursued. 1t
may be wise. as they contend; never
theless It involves different course
OF conduct upon the part of the Gov
eminent and OF our people for the future.
Il believe this proposed programme,
II 1t is to be made effective and opera
tive under the proposed constitution
Of the league. necessarily involves a
change in our Constitution. Certainly,
questions OF that kind ought to be sub
mitted to a plebiscite or to a vote OF
the people of the country. l am aware
that the process by which that may be
done involves some dificulties. but they
are not insurmountable and they are
by no means to be compared with the
Importance Of being right and In har-
mony with the Judgment Of the people
before We proceed.
People Should He Consulted.
1T must be conceded that this pro-
grarlme never can be success unless
there Is behind Il the intelligent and
sustained public opinion OF the people OF
the United States. II they do not have
their voice before II is enacted or before
the programme is initiated they will have
an opportunity to have their voice ~
some time in the future because they
are still the source of power and through
their votes they effectuate the policies
under which We must live.
so from the standpoint therefore OF
expeiiency and from the standpoint or
fp.rness to those who are invoived--to
wit, the people-those who must carry
the burdens II there be burdens anil sui
fer The consequences II there should he
III consequences to suffer as well as
from the standpoint OF possible success
the mas Of the people ought TO Se con
rul,cd and their approval had before
we Yroceed. 1 therefore In the very De-
finu!ng of this procedure declare IN IA
vor ot that programme.
"Mr President, I think I should have
deferred any remarks l had to make
upon this subject until a later day had II
not been for an interview which was
nut out BY Mr. Taft some two or three
days ago upon this matter. l felt In
view of that statement that those who
were opposed to the programme were
bate because II Is statement which In
my judgment Is not founded on fact.
Says Taft View Is Misleading.
IN saying that l do not charge q
conscious purpose on the part OF Mr..
Taft to mislead, but | am sure II cannot
be sustained by the historic facts at the
command OF any one who desires to ex-
anime the subject. and as II cannot be
sustained it is to the utmost degree mis-
leading Mr.. Taft informs the American
people from the pedestal OF an eX-Presi-
dent that this programme does not de-
stroy the policy announced by Washing
ton in his Farewell Address and does not
destroy the doctrine known as the Mon
roe Doctrine. two fundamental princi-
pies underlying our foreign policy for
more than 100 years in one instance and
nearly 100 years in the other, and two
policies 10 which the American people
long have been committed and which In
my Judgment they believe TO he indispen-
sable to their happiness and future tran
quillity. I, indeed, this programme does
dispose OF these policies II presents an
entirely different question 10 the Ameri-
can people than II the reverse were true
Mr. Taft says: Article y covers the
Monroe Doctrine and extends II to the
world. The league is to be re-
garded as in conflict with the advice of
Washington only with a narrow and re-
dictionary viewpoint
'Reactionary' IL not a familiar term
In the ex-Presidents vocabulary.
think he has Internationally misused It.
Isolated by Washington.
Mr. President, prior to the Admins
tration of Washington, America had
been involved in every European war
since colonization began. When a diffl-
Guilty arose in Europe, whatever might
be the subject Of the difficulty. whether
dynastic quarrels or territorial aggran-
dlzcmt mt, Il spread at once to the Amer
lean continent. and although we might
be wholly unconcerned In the contro-
vcrsy upon its merits. nevertheless the
evil effects of the conflict in Europe en-
veloped the American people In Its con-
sequence. A we recall Macaulay in his
graphic statement in his essay upon
Frederick the Great said:
.iSl order that he 4 light roha1sasr gh-
Dor OF whom ne had promised to defend.
black men fought on the coast OF Coro-
mandol and red men scalped each other
by the great lakes OF North America
"When Washington assumed the re-
sponsibilities as administrator OF this
Government he Immediately set about
to change that condition OF affairs to
wit, to separate the European system
from the American system; to individ-
ualize the American nation and TO di-
vorce us from the broils andturmoils
OF European difficulties. This was pecu-
liarly and distinctly policy originating
with the Father of Our Country.
AL l. Il.