The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-09-16

pie Il ~ sbould fail 70 contribute an
armed sorca. " Called upon to do SO.
The President first replied as ]
thought somewhat evasively. that We
would be our own judges as to wheth.
er we were obliged In those circum-
stances to act in that way or not.
pIssssd further. however. in response
to query incorporating the assump
tion that the case provided for and
prescribed had arisen and that the
sxtraneous attack did exist precisely
as |, dcaa exist today in Poland the
President admitted specifically that
we would be untrue IL 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 legal obligation and of a greater
binding force
What, then, becomes Of the argu
ment that Congress. not the President
In this instance at any rate. might
keep US out OF war; Technically. OF
course. II could do SO. Morally, with
equal certainty, IL could not do so nor
would II ever do so. The American
people would never permit repudia
tion of a debt of honor.
Am not right. my countrymen, In
saying that we needed only the out
break of war between Poland and Rus
sia 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
af?
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 league
of nations. The fact remains, how
ever, that no such intent was officially
acclaimed, no allusion. nor even sug-
gestion 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 | left no room for doubt
of the motives which led me to cast
my vote in favor of that resolution
1t SO happened that | made the COZ
cluding speech upon the war resolu
tion. from my place In the senate, on
the night of April 4. 1917. These were
my own words at that time:
81 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 preserva
tion of the soul of this republic.
:" i vote for this joint resolution TO
make war. not a war thrust upon us,
IL | could choose the language of the
resolution, but war declared in re-
sponse to affronts: war that will at
least put a soul into our American
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 for
civilization. worthy and inspiring as
that would be: but war that speaks
for the majesty of people properly
governed. who finally are brought to
the crucial test where they are re.
solved to get together and wage con.
fiict for the maintenance OF their
rights and the preservation of the coy.
nnant Inherited from their fathers.
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
manity. and We gave proof to the
world at that time of an unselflsh ma
tion. Now, whether 1t is the fate. or
fortune, or travail of destiny it has
come to us to unsheathe the sword
again. not alone for humanfty's sake
though that splendid inspiration will
be involved but to unsheathe the
sword against 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 I
want it known. Mr.. President and SEN
ators. that this is the impe.ling
thought with me for one. when l cast
my vote
For Same Guaranty Today.
1T is for that same guaranty OF ma
tionality' that stand today. and shall
continue to stand infiexibly. SO long
as ] shall be permitted to live. The
independence nf our great republic 10
to me priceless and sacred inheri
tance Time was when an American
did not hesitate to proclaim himself a
patriot To do so now. / am well
aware, is sometimes to invite the
sneers Of cynicism. But why should
any true American not be free to say;
I am q patriot, wholly devoted to my
country. which hold to be Gods best
inspiration TO man for higher attain
ment and the promotion Of the worlds
best civilixationY
but have special reason for
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