New-York tribune., 1919-05-10
Issues Ultinatum to Lead.
ers, Threatening if No
Fight Is Made to ssFumi-
gate Himself and Get Our
American Ideals i'm Peril
Calls Covenant a s'Base and
Treacherous Surrender of
Our National Honor
New York Trfbune
Wdshir0ton Bureo,l

WASHINGTON, May 9. - Senator
William E. Dorah, Of Idaho, in letter
made public here to-day served notice
on the Republican party that unless
1t took an unequivocal stari in oppo-
sition to the league of nations, which
he characterized as "surrender of
our national honor" he would bolt the
party.
If the party opposes the league"
said Senator Borah, "let it say so.
Let it surrender it's place, if it wants
to, as the defender Of American insti-
tutions and American ideals. And let
those who abhor such hideous coward
ice fumigate themselves and get out.
~ would not ask my party to agree
with me-" Senator Borah added, "but
| would ask it to state its position. and
Will soon determine my course.
desplse a coward and l hate a traitor. ="
~ The Borah letter, written to James
7. Williams, editor of "The Boston
Transcript" in commenting on an edi-
torlai in that newspaper, follows:
Il have just read your editorial of
the 9th, entitled Defeat Is Better Than
Desertion,' and I canont refrain from
expressing my sincere admiration for
tnls courageous and patriotic stand. 1t
is time we read just such messages.
Foresees Grave Perils
I'VE have before us now a question
greater and graver than we as a
people have ever considered. 1t in
wolves the abandonment of the policy of
Washington under which we ACQUIRED d
our present prestige and power, and the
surrender of the doctrine of James
Monroe under which this Western Con-
tinent has been kept free from the
blighting systems and the turmoils of
the Old World.
IT involves our taking on the obli-
CATION Of furnishing money and men to
hold in fixed status the boundaries of
all the nations of Europe and Asia for
all time, and Of sending out soldiers
at the dictation of foreign powers to
serve as policemen. 1t places the ques-
t1on Of peace or war not in keeping of
our own people, but in the control of
those over whom we have not and over
whom no people have control.
ut involves the establishing of an
autocracy which, sitting behind closed
doors in Geneva, with a jurisdiction
underlined and, therefore, unlimited, will
hold the power of life and death over
Surrender of National Honor
whether one sees in this a possible
good or wiser policy than that of the
past, or whether one looks upon it as
do, as base and treacherous sur
render Of our national honor and be-
trayal Of our people, still it must be
conceded that it is a matter about
which only towards could have no con-
victions.
"1f the Republican party could even
through defeat save the sacred tradi-
tlons of America, preserve American
institutions and maintain unimpaired
the independence and untratlmelled
sovereignty of the Republic, it would
render service second not even to
ITS heroic service under the leadership
of the blessed martyr"
There was difference of opinion
among Senators to-day regarding the
significance of Senator Borah's letter.
Although few saw in it an open def
to the party leaders other Senators
were not disposed to treat the letter
in such light.
Not Time to Join Issues
Practically all the Republican Sena
tors and certainly all the so-called Re-
publican leaders, it is pointed out, are
opposed to ratification of the league of
nations covenant without amendments.
Senator Borah knows this very we'll.
The Republican leaders are waiting for
the development of public opinion
which will sustain their opposition be-
fore they launch their campaign