, 1920-09-02

NcaAoSr II Jul uO 81. NlbTiliN, WlIu
equal certainty, it could not do so nor
would 1t ever do so. The American
people would never permit u repudia-
ton of Il debt of honor.
Am l not right, my countrymen, in
saying that we needed only the out
break of war between Poland and Rus
STA to make us realize ut 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
10 us the danger, of committing our
country in advance to causes thai we
know not of.
One can have no quarrel with those
who have convinced themselves that
II underlying purpose in entering the
great conflict was to create Il League
of Nations. The fact remains, how
ever. that no such intent was official
suggestion to that effect appeared in
the Joint resolution of Congress which
declared the existence of Il 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 /. 1917. These were /
own words at that time: L want it |
known to the people of my state and
TO the nation that l am voting for war
fnuinht fan. fla afr,fat,nn ., 90 ;,,-t |
American rights. which is the first es-
sential to the preservation of the soul
of this republic.
~ vote for this joint resolution to
make war, not IL war thrust upon us, |
if | could choose the language of the
resolution, but II war declared in re-
sponse to a%ffrOnts, ii war that will at
least put a soul into our American life, |
Il war not for the cause of the Allies
of Europe, Il war not for France. beau.
tiful as the sentiment may he in re-
viving at least our gratitude Ia the
French people not precisely Il war for
civilization, worthy and inspiring as
that would be, but IL war thai speaks
for the majesty of a people properly
governed, who finally are brought TO /
the crucial test where they are re- I
solved to get together and wage IL ION
flict for the maintenance of their
rights and the preservation of their
covenant inherited from their fathers.
ave have given to the world the
spectacle of II great nation thai could
make war without selfish intent. We {
u~nsheathed the sword some eighteen !,
Won rS "a y fnt. thn firSf Tina i'm thn hiS. |
tory of the world. in the name of hui
manity, and we gave proof to the world
AT that time of an unSelfish nation.
Now, whether ii is the fate. or fortune,
or travail of destiny, it has come to us
10 unsheathe the sword again. not
alone for h%umanity's sake-though
that splendid inspiration will he in
volvcd-but to u%nsheathe the sword
against II great power in the mainte-
nance of the rights of the republic, OF |
the maintenance which will give to us
II new guaranty of nationality. That
the great thing, and | want ii known,
is the impelling thought for me for
one, when | cast my voteI'
1T is for that same guaranty OF
nationality that | stand today and
shall not continue 10 stand inflexibIe
so long as l shall he permitted to !
live. The independence of our great
republic is to me II priceless and sucred
Inheritance. Time was when an Amer
lean did not hesitate to proclaim him
self n patriot. To do so now. l am
well aware, is sometimes To invite the
spee,s of cvnicisn hut why shouId
any truc American NOT he free to saw.
Il am n u,triot wholly devoted IN INV
country. which I hold 10 he Coils hest
insnirntiou to man for higher attain.
mcnt and tbe promotion of fin. wor,d,s
hest civilization
"But | have, a specjal renson for
making This reference. today 7 cboI.