The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-08-06

| and the tragedy of disappointment and
Europe's misunderstanding of America
easily might have been avoided. The
barter of independent American emf
nence and influence, which it was pro-
| posed to exchange for an obscure and
unequal place in the merged govern
ment of the world. Our party means
to hold the heritage of American ma
tionality unimpaired and unsurren-
dered.
The world will not miScOnstrue. We
do not mean to hold aloof We do
not mean TO shun a single responsible
lily of this republic to world civilian
ton. There is no hate in the Amer-
can heart. We have no envy. no SuS-
picion, no aversion for any people in
the world. We hold to our rights. and
means to defend, aye, we mean to sus-
tain the rights of this nation and our
citizens alike everywhere under the
shining sun. Yet there is the concord
of amity and sympathy and fraternity
in every resolution. There is n genuine
aspiration in every American breast
for a tranquil friendship with all the
world.
One may readily sense the CON
science of our America. am sure I'M
dcrstand the purpose of the dominant
prOrp of the senate. We were not
seeking to defeat world aspiration:
we were resolved to safeguard Amer
lea. We were resolved then, even as
we are today, and will be tomorrow,
to preserve this free and independent
republic.
In the call of the conscience of
America is peace, peace that closes
the gaping wound Of world war, and
silences the impasSioncd voices of in.
ternationaI envy and diStrust. Heed
ing this call and. knowing as do the
disposition of the congress, | promise
you formal and ctf"ctiv" peace so
quickly as a Republican congress can
pass its declaration for Republican
executive to sign.
1t is better to be the free and dis
Interested agent of international JUS
tice and advancing civilization. with
the covenant of conscience. than be
Shacklcd by a written compact which
SlrrcnderS our freedom of action ana
gives to a military alliance the right
to proclaim Americas duty to the
world. No surrender of rights to
world council or its military alliance,
no assumed mandatory, however ap-
pealing, ever shall summon the sons
of this republic to war. Their supreme
sacrifice shall only be asked for
=
is a sanctity in that right we will not
delegate.
Disposed as we are, the way is very
simple. Let the failure attending as
sumption, obstinacy, impracticahility
and delay be recognized. and LET us
find the big, practical unseltiSh way to
do our part. neither coNetous because
of ambition nor hcsitunt through fear
but ready to serve ourselves. humanity
and God. With a senate advising as
the Constitution contcinplntes | would
hopefully approach the nations of
Europe and of the earth, proposing
that understanding which makes us Il
willing participant in the conservation
Of nations to q new relationship, to
commit the moral forces of the world
America included, to peace and in
terna1iOnal justice, still leaving Amer
lea free, independent and selfrclinnt
but offering friendship to all the
world.
1t is folly to close our eyes to
outstanding facts, Humanity is res
tive, much of the world is in rCvnlu
ton, the agents of discord and de
structiOn have wrought their tragedy
in pathetic Russia, have lighted their
torches among other peoples, and hope
to see America as a part of the great
red contlagration. Ours is the temple
of liberty under the law, and it is ours
to call the Sons of Opportunity to it's