The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1920-09-15


pie + we should fail to contribute an
armed force, II. called upon to do so.
The sPreside nt first replied, as d
thought somewhat evasively, that. we
! would be our own judges as to Wheth:
er We were obliged in those circum,
stances to actSy.i that way or not.
Pressed further, however, in response
to: query in cooperating the assump
ton that the case provided for and
prescribed had arisen and that; the
extraneous, attack did exist precisely
as 1t does exist today in Poland, the
President admitted specifically that
we would be untrue if we did not keep
our word = m n: ~ =, ~
Replying further to question which
perhaps I ought not to have considered
necessary, the President pronounced a
moral obligation of course, superior
to a legal obligation and of "a greater
binding force.' 49,.
What, then, becomes of the argu-
ment that Congress, not the President,
IN this instance at any rate, might
keep us out of warp Technically, of
course, it could do so. Morally, with
equal certainty, it could not do so nor
would it ever do so. The American
people would never permit a repudia-
ton of debt of, honor.
. Am l not right, my countrymen, in
saying that we needed only the out
break of war between Poland and Rus
STA to make us realize at least one of
the things which, in the words of Secre-
tary Lansing, we would have been let
in for but for the restraining hand of
the senate, and to fetch home to us the
danger of committing our country in
advance to causes that we know not
of?
Not Our Purpose.
"One can have no quarrel with those
who have convinced themselves that
our underlying purpose in entering the
great conflict was to create a league
OF nations. The fact remains, how
ever, that no such intent was officially
acclaimed, no allusion, nor even a sug-
gestlon to that effect appeared in the
joint resolution of Congress which de-
clared the existence of state of war
between this country and Germany.
For myself I left no room for doubt
OF the motives which led me to cast
my vote in favor of that resolution.
1t so happened that I made the con-
Guiding speech upon the war resolu-
ton, from my place in the senate, on
n Of
my own words at that time:
81 want it known to the people of
my state and to the nation that I am
voting, for war tonight for the main.
tenance Of just American rights, which
is the first essential to the preserva.
ton of the soul of this republic.
I vote for this joint resolution to
make war, not war thrust upon u.s.
If I could choose the language of the
resolution, but a war declared in re.
spouse to affronts; a war that will at
least put a soul into our Anne rican
life; a war not for the cause of the
allies of Europe war not for France
beautiful as the sentiment may be in
reviving at least our gratitude to the
French people; not precisely war fol-
civilization, worthy and inspiring as
| that would be; but war that speaks
for the majesty of a people properly
governed, who finally are brought tc
the crucial test where they are re
solved to get together and wage a con
| f1ict for the maintenance of their
| rights and the preservation of the GOV
enant Inherited from their fathers.
1--WE have given to the world the
spectacle OF a great nation that could
make war without selfish intent. We
! unsheathed the sword some eighteen
years ago for the first time in the his
tory Of the world, in the name of hu
mainly, and we gave proof to the
world at that time of an unselfish ma
ton. Now, whether it is the fate, OF
fortune, or travail of destiny, it has
come to us to unsheothe the sword
again, not alone for humanity's sake
though that splendid inspiration will
be involved-but to unsheathe the
sword against a great power in the
maintenance of the rights of the re-
public, in the maintenance which will
give to us new guaranty of nation
ality. That's the great thing, and !
want it known, Mr.. President and sen.
ators, that this is the impelline
thought with me for one, when I cast
my vote
For Same Guaranty Today.
ut is for that same guaranty of ma.
tionality' that stand today, and shall
continue to stand inflexibly, so long
as I shall be permitted to live. The
independence of our great republic is
to me priceless and sacred inheri.
lance. Time was when an American
did not hesitate to proclaim himself a
patriot. To do 50 now, am we'll
aware, is sometimes to invite the
sneers of cynicism. But why should
any true American not be free to say;
4 am a patriot, wholly devoted to my
country, which I hold to be Gods best
inspiration to man for higher attain
ment and the promotion of the worlds
best civilization?' -
"But Z have a special reason for
making this reference todav T. cha1.