The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-01-16
Speech of Senator
Borah
CONTINUED from Page 81

pie know that also.
Mr. president, let US be perfectly
candid with the people of this coun-
try and tell them what this scheme
Of league Of nations to enforce peace
means. 1t means the creation OF
superinternational court and turning
the army over to their direction IL 1t
has any virulity. 1t means the aban-
donment Of Washington's forewell ad-
dress. 1t means the abandonment of
the Monroe doctrine. 1t means that
we will enter into entangllng alliances
with Europe. / am not in favor OF
1t. / am not in favor OF any league
OF nations which infringes in the least
upon the sovereign power of the peo-
Pile of the United States to direct and
control the destiny Of this nation.
Mr. President, ! concede to the ideal
it's great place in human affairs. !
am glad we have with us always the
idealist. Life without its music and
its poetry the great, throbbing heart
of humanity devoid Of sentiment, and
this world of struggle without its ideals
would be the place that Byron in his
gloom tells about. where all were
chilled into a selfish prayer for light"
But while the ideal has its place, into
that land of promise, like the patriarch
of old, the legislator Is not permitted
to enter He must deal with concrete
things and things practical. If pos
sible, he must know in advance to
what results the plan proposed leads.
He must seek to measure it's effect
upon those whose lot it Is to tread the
homely paths of life. His material Is
human nature as 1t is and as it always
hoping, aspiring, but human nature
still. II the uglier passions were dead
and love of power were banished. II
race prejudice and national rivalry and
commercial hunger We're at an end
II we could only realize in practice
that the Creator made of one blood all
nations to dwell upon the face of the
earth, the task of the legislator would
be easy.
But you and l are to deal with a
world tortured and twisted by selfish
ness and greed, vexed and driven by
rivalry and ambition as well as hon
ored and ennobled by elf-denial and
self-sacrifice. We can no more in
wisdom ignore the former than we
should disregard the latter. And above
ALL the thing which seems to con-
found all purposes and Illustrate the
noblest schemes is that inscrutable
and tantalizing fact written upon
every page of human history, the tickle
friendship of nations.
Six years ago had we formed a
league Germany would have been well
coined and as a friend, though at that
time she was preparing her war for
world dominion. We would have had
within the league, operating under
cover of friendship, the secret forces
of an avowed enemy of peace. Tur-
key, l presume, would have been ad-
mitted, as we never yet have felt the
necessity of declaring war against her.
Thirteen years ago Russia and Japan
were at war. In 1917 they formed a
most friendly alliance. In 1918 they
are at war; or near war. II has not
been long since Bulgaria and Serbia
fought together against the Turks,
though they have since been engaged
in deadly conflict against each other.
Speaking again Of the Turks, the most
cruel and remorseless of nations, In
the last hundred years. at different
times. every Christian nation of Europe
has been willing to enter into some
kind of an alliance with her, Within
the last decade Germany and Austria
stood by and assisted while Italy seized
Tripoli from Turkey. Since then Ger
many and Austria and Turkey have
league was formed between France
and Britain and Russia in 1914, to the
effect that no peace should be made
until 1t was made together. In little
over two years Russia had made a
separate peace. Great Britain and
France have been during the last cen
fury and a half more often enemies
than friends. This republic has friends
now who were not our friends In for
mer days. This Is the story told from
the beginning Of history. There is no
such thing as friendship between ma
tions as we speak of friendship be-
tween individuals. Any plan based
upon such theory is built upon shift
ing sands. Equally futile are schemes
to boycott in an economic way erring
nations. People and nations will trade
where interest and advantage invite
them to trade. The Paris economic
conference was ridiculous affair, an
affront to human experience. With
deep insight the president dlsowned
its purposes. Nations and peoples act
from self -interest-buttressed and sus-
tanned by race rivalry and national
pride and also, thank God. by pa
triotism, which Is love for your own
country, your own government, and
your own people before and above all
other countries, governments, and peo-
pies. without that patriotism, that