The Taney County republican., 1920-09-09

Senate Committee on Foreign Rela.
tons raised the question by stating
a Hypothetical case precisely analogous
to that which have depicted, and then
inquired whether we might not right.
fully be regarded as perildOus pee.
pie II we should fail to contribute an
armed force, If called upon TO do so.
The President first replied, as |
thought somewhat evaslvely, that we
would be our own Judges as 10 wheth.
el we were obliged in those clrcum.
stances to act In that way or not
Pressed ,rther, however, In response
To query Incorporating the nssump'
tlon that the case provided for and
prescribed had arisen and that the
extraneous attack did exist precisely
as II does exist today In Poland the
President admitted specifically that I'VE
would be untrue If we did not keep our
word
"Replying further to question
which perhaps ! ought not to have
considered necessary, the President
pronounced a moral obligation of
course, superior to o legal obligation
and Of q greater binding force.
"What, then, becomes of the argu.
ment that Congress, not the President,
in this instance M any rate, might
keep us out of warT Technically, Of
course. it could do so. Morally, with
equal certainty, 1t could not do so nor
would II ever do so. The American
people would never peFmIt'a repudla.
tIon Of u debt Of honor,
"Am | not right, my cOuntrymen,
In saying that We needed only the
outbreak Of war between Poland and
Russia to make US realize ut least
one Of the things which, IN the words
of Secretary Lans ug. We would have
been let In for hut for the restrain
lns hand of the sounte, and to fetch
home to us the danger Of commit
ting our country In advance to causes
that we know not Of?
Net Our Purpose
zone can have no quarrel with those
who have convinced themselves thai
our underlying purpose in entering the
great conflict was TO create q league
Of nations The fact remains, how
ever that no such intent was officially
acclaimed, no alluslcn, nor even sug
geStion to that effect appeared IN the
Joint rc>oll tion of Congress which de-
clarcd the existence of state Of war
between this country and Germany.
For myself left no room for doubt
OF the motives which led me TO cast
my vote in favor of that resolution
II so happened that | made the con
Guiding speech upon the war resOlu.
tlon, from my place In the senate, on
the night Of April 4, 1917. These were
my own words at that time:
az want Il known to The people OF
my state and to the nation that ! am
voting for war tonight for the main
tenance of just American rights, which
Is the first essential TO the preserya.
tlon of the soul Of this republic,
az vote for this Joint resolution to
make war. not war thrust upon US,
II could choose the language of the
resolution, but war declared In re-
spOnse to affronts; q war that Will
at least put a soul into our American
life; war not for the cause Of the
allies of Europe; a war not for France.
beautiful as the sentiment may be in
reviving Mt least our gratitude to the
French people; not precisely war for
civilization, worthy and inspiring as
that would he; but n war that speaks
for the ma lesty OF a people properly
governed, who finally are brought to
the crucial test where they are re,
solved TO get together aud wage n con.
hlct for the maintenance If their
rights and the preservation OF the
covenant inherited from their fathers
ave have given to the world the
spectacle Of a great nation I.ni 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.
manlty, and we gave proof to the
world nt that time Of On unselllsh ma.
tlon. Now, whether Il is the fate. or
fortune, or travail OF destiny, II has
come TO us to unshenthe the sword
again, not alone for humnnity's sake
through TINT splendid inspiration will
be involved--but to unshPathe the
sword against q great power N the
maintenance Of the rights nf the re.
public, IN the maintenance which will
give to US a new guaranty 0f nation.
alIty. That's the great thing, and !
want Il known, Mr. President and sen.
ators, that this Is the ImpellIng thought
with me for one, when ! cast nv vote
For Same Guaranty Today.
ut Is for that same guaranty OF ma.
tionallty' that | stand today, and shnll
continue to stand innexlbly, so long
! as shall he permitted to live. The
independence OF our great republic Is
to me priceless and sacred InheTi-
/ tance. Time was when m American
did not hesitate TO proclaim himself a
patriot. To do 50 now. am well
aware, Is sometimes to invite the
sneers Of cynicIsm. But why should
any true American not be free to say I:
4 am a patriot, wholly evoted to my
country, which hold TO be Gods hest
Inspiration TO man for higher attain
ment and the promotion Of the worlu's
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