Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1920-01-09
PRESIDENT VII SONS SPEECH AT
JACKSON DAY BANQUET

Washington, Jan. 9.-The following
Is the text of President Wilson's ness
age to the members of the Democratic
party who participated in the jackson
day banquets. The message was read
at both banQuets, held in separate ho-
tells:
ut is with the keenest regret that
find that am to be deprived Of the
pleasure and privilege of joining you
and the other loyal Democrats who
are to assemble tonight to celebrate
Jackson day and renew their vows of
fidelity to the great principles of our
party. the principles which must now
fulfill the hopes not only of our own
people but of the world.
The United States enjoyed the spir-
itual leadership Of the world until the
senate OF the United States failed to
rally the treaty by which the belig-
erent nations sought to effect the set
Elements for which they had fought
throughout the war 1t is inconceivable
that at this supreme crisis and final
turning point in the international re-
lations of the whole world, when the
results of. the great war are by no
means determined and are still ques-
tfonable and dependent upon events
which no man can foresee or count
upon, the United States should with
draw from the concert of progressive
and enlightened nations by which Ger
many was defeated and all similar
consequences of any attempt of a like
iniquity and yet that is the effect of
the course the senate of the United
States has taken with regard to the
treaty Of Versailles.
STILL AT WAR.
Germany Is beaten, but we are still
at war with her, and the old stage is
reset for a repetition of the old plot,
1t is now ready for the resumption of
the old offensive and defensive alli-
ances which made settled peace i'm
possible. 1t Is now open again to every
sort of intrigue. The old spies are free
to resume their former abominable &C.
tivities. They are again at liberty to
make 1t impossible for governments to
be sure what mischief is being worked
among their own people, what internal
disorders are being fomented Without
the covenant of the league of nations
there may be as many secret treaties
as ever, to destroy the confidence Of
governments in each other, and their
validity can not be questioned.
None of the objects we professed to
be fighting for has been secured or
can be made certain OF without this
nations ratification of the treaty and
l.
ton entered the great war to vindicate
it's own rights and to protect and pre-
serve free government. 1t went into
the war to see it through to the end,
and the end has not yet come II
went into the war to make an end of
militarism, to furnish guarantees to
weak nations and to make a Just and
lasting peace. 1t entered IL with noble
enthusiasm. Five of the leading bel
ligerents have accented the treaty and
formal notifications win soon be ex-
changed.
MUST PLAY LONE HAND
'"The question is whether this coun-
try will enter, and enter whole heart
edly.. If 1t does not do so, the United
States and Germany will play lone
hand in the world. The maintenance
of the peace of the world and the eff
fective execution of the treaty depend
upon the whole-hearted participation
of the United States. I am not stating
it as a matter of power. The point is
that the United States is the only ma
ton which has sufficient moral force
with the rest of the world to guarantee
the substitution of discussion for war.
If we keep out of this agreement il
we do not give our guarantees, then
another attempt will be made to crush
the new nations of Europe.
Il do not believe that this is what
the people Of this country wish or will
be satisfied with. Personally, do not
accept the action of the senate of the
United States as the decision of the
nation. / have asserted from the first
that the overwhelming majority of the
people Of this country desire the rati-
fication of the treaty, and my impress
sion to that effect has recently been
confirmed by the unmistakable evil
dence Of public opinion given during
my visit to IL of the states. I have
endeavored to make 1t plain that IL the
senate wishes to say what the un-
doubted meaning of the league is. I
shall have no objection. There can be
no reasonable objection to interpreta-
tons accompanying the act of ratifica-
ton itself But when the treaty is
acted upon. ! must know whether 1t
means that we have ratified or reject
ed It. We cannot rewrite' this treaty.
I'VE must take 1t without changes
which alter its meaning, or leave It,
and then, after the rest of the world
has signed 1t, we must face the un-
thinkable task Of making another and
separate kind Of treaty with Germany.
But no more assertions with regard
to the. wish and opinion Of the country
are crodtted. II there 10 any doubt a.
to what the people Of the country