The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1919-10-24

our boasted peace mockery. This
is not the way to peace. This Is the
avenue to amending war.
Safety Should Begin at Home.
Mr.. President, am not insensihle
TO the suiferings of Armenia, nor am |
deaf to the walls forced by the cruel
ties of barbaritg wherever our ideals
OF civilization are not maintained,
But | am thinking OF America first
| Safety. as we'll as charity begins at
home. Seltlshness? No. IL is self.
| preservation.
Measured as our resources are,
/ large as our man power is, and chivai-
/ rous as our purpose may be, we are
| not strong enough to assume SPONSOR
| ship for all the oppressed OF the world.
| No people no nation is strong enough
for such supreme responsibility. We
| have the republic to- preserve. And
in this very program Of meddlesome
| assumption, In some instances border
i ing on presumption. We are endanger-
/ Inc our own republic. Ii is not alone.
the abandonment Of security, so much
warned against by the founding faith
| ers. which suggests alarm. | am think
Ing Of divided citizenship at home that
| must attend our attempted reorganza-
tion of the word
The Curse Of Hyphenlsm.
We are restoring hyphenism under
internationalism.
One can not complain nj the reveal
menI, but | am lamenting the cause.
1t is all directly traceable to our as
sumption Of world sponsorship, One
can little blame the American OF ltal-
ian origin for being concerned about
the affairs of those bound by ties OF
blood, or find fault with the American
OF Greek origin for deep feelings
about the fate OF those OF kin In
Thrace, or criticise the American son
OF the old sod who finds In his heart
an undying echo of the Irish Cry for
freedom. Instead Of effaeing the ma
tive interest. instead Of merging the
4 inherited soul In exclusive American.
|, ism. we have already embarked on d
program that awakens every racial
J pride. every Old World prejudice, ey-
] cry inherited aspiration, and are rend.
I ing the concord OF American spirit
i which once promised to be the great
! compensation for all our sacrifices
This Ii no idle fancy Justice, only
simple justice, and liberty, Gods own
a / SssaHSnt Iii itDSil3t were Dl BYBI4 Up
! and there was no perfunctory utter
] ance among those who appealed to The
! senate through our committee. There
] was deep feeling no words could be
I lie and that sincerity for which mef
! die, and as | listened ! deplored ths
8 eloquenee of speech unperformed
! which leads hope tp~aame high, ther
! die In disappointment. And, sirs.
4 doubly denlored the proposals and pre-
]. lenses that open anew the cleayag,
] In the conservation OF our adopted
7 American citizenship
o Vigorous AmerIcanlsm Lacking.
i Must we have this particular cove
nant to save us from European hroil
and old-world conflicts, as the presi
]. dent asserts? In hundred years o
\ American development and CROWN,
\ influence no war involved us, though
n 1875 wars are recorded In that period
q We were not involved in 1898: w,
y went because conscience was impel
i ling. quite agree that German,
y might have preferred to respect ou
:. rights than to involve us iii the lat
8 World war If she had believed W,
Il would answer affront with armed dc
& fense, but the president was too bus
~ then keeping us out OF war to utter
II vigorous American warning German
il held US In contempt which one mi
ly itant American voice In authorit
az might have dissolved, but we delaye
Il. until 1000, 900 fighting sons OF In
or republic shot Germany to respectfl
Ia understanding
h' An Overwhelming Power.
- If this league as negotiated can d
I. all that its proponents have promiset
ta 1t can tighten It's grip ON the destin
- OF nations and make our inspiring nj
i tionality only memory. Extrayagan
- utterance? Well, establish the cour
u Gil without strong reservations pr
- tecting our freedom Of action, an
establish the assembly with its pow
ers unhindered by reservations. an
TO no man can foresee the exercise {
II. authority by the league of great pov
A. erg, against whom small nations wi
Mt protest in vain.
tie Suppose 1t proves all that Is elaine
nr In discouraging war, which many hon
,r. estly doubt Let me say In passin
is chat an able and experienced Office
r. OF the army, stalwart in his Amer
ID canism and his love Of country, who's
la devotion mas been proven again an
D. again and who not only fought in th
is- late war bur Is d student OF Euronea
n- affairs, said TO me not a month age
be Senator, as a military man ought
ic favor this league because it near
%. war after war and constant activit
n In the work for which am traine,
"a. But / pray in my American heart yo
,a- will never commit ns To it, because
he can see inyolyements and regrets III
ID. ending.
do But suppose 1t makes for the pror
re ised peace, still prefer, and the gre;
I'D majority OF Americans still prefer.
A be the Keepers Of our national co
ID science and let Europe pass upon i
la moral obligations while we righteou
or ~ meet our own.
q. To what conclusion am / leadins
IFS Speaking for myself alone, voicing i
,e- faction, no group. no party. do nj
,e- see how any senator can decide upl
ct his final vote TIL the disputed amen
n.