The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-09-09

United states. Upon that point ther.
Is first hand Information. In the
course OF the discussion which tool
place Mt the meeting Of the PresIden'
and senate committee on foreign rela
tons. ] raised the question by statini
hypothetical case precisely analo
gous to that when | have depicted
and then inquired whether we might
not rightfully be regarded MS peri
dious people II we should fail to con
tribute an armed force II called to d,
So The President first replied, as
thought somewhat evasIvely, that W,
would he our own judges as to whethc
stances TO net IN that way or not.
Pressed fur her, however, In resp0ns,
to qnery Incorporating the assump
ton that the rsc provided for and pre-
scribed had arisen and that the ex-
traneous attack did exist precisely as
1t does exist t3day 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 con-
sldered neces,s airy, the President de-
nounced mc:n nj obligation of course,
superior to a legal obligation and of
n 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, 1t could do 30. Morally, with
equal certainty, 1t could not do SO nor
would II ever do 30. The American
people would never permit a repudia-
ton Of debt Of nonOr.
"Am not right, my countrynen. 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 Sec.
rotary Lansing, we would have been
let In for but for the restraining
hands Of the Senate, and to fetch home
to us the danger Of committing our
country In advance to causes that we
know not of.
"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 official
Iy acclaimed, no allusion, nor even II
suggestion to that effect appeared in
the Joint resolution OF Congress which
declared the existence of state of
war between this country and Ger
many. For myself left no room for
doubt of the motives which led me to
cast my vote in favor of that resolu-
ton. II 50 happened that made the
concluding speech upon the war resolu.
ton, from my place In the Senate, on
the night of April 1, 1917. These were
my own words at that time L want II
known to the people Of my state and
to the nation thai am voting for war
tonight for the maintenance of just
American rights, which is the first cs-
sentinl to the preservation of the soul
of this republic.
81 vote for this joint resolution to
make war, not n war thrust upon us,
If ! could choose the language of the
resolution, but n war declared In re-
Spouse to affronts, Il war that will ut
least put soul into our American life,
war not for the cause of the Allies
OF Europe, a war not for France, beau
tlfnl tho annfinlAnt M lac. In, rn
viving 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 a con.
fllct for the maintenance Of their
rights and the preservation of their
covenant 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
and we gave proof to the world
ut that time Of an unselfish nation.
Now, whether It Is the fate, or fortune.
or travail OF destiny, II has come to us
To unsheathe the sword again, moi
alone for humanity's sake--though
that splendid Inspiration will be in
tolved-but to unsheathe the sword
against a great power in the malnte
lance OF the rights of the republic, OF
The maintenance which will give to us
I new guaranty of nationality. Thai
he great thing. and l want II known.
Mr.. President and senators, that this
IS the impelling Thought for me FOX
one, when | east my vote?
ST Is for that same guaranty OF
that | stand today and
shah not continue to stand inflexible
so long as | shall he permitted Ia
live. The independence of our great
republic Is to me priceless and sacred
Time was when an Amer
can did not hesitate to proclaim him
self patriot. TO do so now, l am
well aware, Is sometimes to invite the
sneers Of cynicism, hut why should
any true American not be free to say
Il am a patriot wholly Devoted IN NV