Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1920-10-21

pronounced n moral obligation OF
Course, superior TO o tega, obligation
end OF a greater binding force
"Wlmt, then. becomes OF the arEi.
ment that Congress, not the President,
in this Instance at any rate. might
Keep us OUT of war; Technically, OF
course. II could do ". Morally. With
| equal certainty, II could Io, do 50 nor
would II ever do so, The American
people would never permit q repudia'
ton OF a debt NJ honor.
Am 1 not right, my eountrymen,
In saying that We needed only the
outbreak OF war between Poland n
Russia 10 make us realize nj least
n OF tile things which, 10 b words
of Secretary Lansing we would pave
been let In for but for the restrain.
ing hand III The senate, and To fetch
home To MS the danger Of commit
ting our country In advance to causes
that WI know not Off
Not Our Purpose,
zone can have no quarrel with those
who have convinced themselves that
u underlying purpose In entering the
great conflict was To create a league
Of nations The fact remains. how
ever, that no such intent was officially
+ acclaimed no a%iiuSto,i. nor even a sug'
gestiou IL that effect appeared In the
ioint resolution Of Congress which de-
clared the exiSleure Of a state ut war
between this country and Germany
-. .,.-.It lAft No ..Nt fnr lnihI
OF the motives which led me 10 cast
my vote IN favor of that resolution.
IL 81 happened that | made the con.
ending speech upon the war resolu'
tlon. from my place In the senate, on
the night of April |, 1917 These were
my own words Al that time:
~ want II known tn the people OF
my state aud to the nation that | am
voting for war tonight for the main
tenhuce Of Just American rights, which
is the first essential TO the preserva-
ton of the soul of this republic.
- vote for this joint resolution to
make war. not o war thrust upon us,
II / could choose the language of the
resolution, but a war declared 10 re.
sponSe 10 aifrOnts; u war that will
M least put n Soul into our American
life a war not for the cause OF the
allies ot Europe II war not for France.
beautiful as the sentiment may be In
. reviving nj least our %grnri'Hde to the
FreHcli people not precisely a war for
civilization, worthy ana inspiring as
that would be but a war that speaks
for the majesty of n people properly
governed, who finally are brought to
the crucial test Wier they are re-
solved to set together and wage a con.
tiict for the maintenance IF he'll
rights and the preservation OF the
ena Inherited from their fathers
1--WE have given 10 the world the
spectacle of a great nation that could
make war without selfish intent. We
unShcatlri the sword some eighteen
years ago fuf rhe tirst time IN the his
tory of the world, In the name of hu.
mainly. and we gave proof 10 thy
world at that time Of an uuSelfsh ma
ton. Now, whether IL is the fate. or
fortune. or travail nf DESTINY, II has
come To Ms to u~nsheathe the sword
again. not alone for huInanity's sake
through that splendid inspiration will
lie involred-but to ~unsheathe the
sword against n great power IN the
maintenance Of the rights of the re.
public, In the maintenance which will
give To Us a new guaranty of nation
aiity. That's the great thing, and ]
want II known, Mr. President and sen
ai"rS. that this is the impelling thought
with me for one when | cast my vote
For Same Guaranty Today.
at Is for that same guaranty OF ma.
tiona'lty' that | stand today, and shall
continue To stand infiexibly. so long
Us | shall he permitted TO live. The
Independence Of our great republic Is
TO me = priceless and sacred inheri-
lance. 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 cynirism. But why should
any true American not be free to say |
4 am q patriot, wholly evoted to my
country, which | hold 10 he Gods best
inspiration Ia mar for higher attain.
mcnt and the promotion Of The worlds
npa, - ,u -
-, ,,i" ,as.r uh.
80 oaaaan, 49,, ~. 80.
ism which holds America first com
pi1hrnds either or selfish
moss ar ne IunIv,ng tacit susnIc;on and
,eujn,sv az other neonIes
sTo assert. as SOM. have asserted
he4dlessIy. hat, those of liz who honest
,v h.II.ya thar America can hes,
serve nj, mankind as America. free
- ,, ..h.. .h,.