Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-09

eion OF ths treaty and my impression
70 mat elect has recently been coll
nfmed by the unmistakable evidences of
public opinion given during by visit to
II OF the states. ] have endaavored to
make IT plain that il the Senate wishes
10 nay what the undoubted meaning Of
the league ID. I shall have no objec-
lion. There can be no reasonable OBJ
lection to interpretations accompanying
the act OF ratification itself. But when
the treaty is acted upon I must know
whether It means that we hav rati-
ned or rejected it. We cannot rewrite
This treaty. We must take it without
any changes which viii alter its mean
ing. or leave it, and then, after the
rest OF the world has signed il we must
face the unthinkable task Of making
another and separate kind Of treaty
with Germany. But no mere assertions
with regard to the wish and opinion of
the country are credited. If there is
any doubt as to what the people Of the
country think on this vital matter the
clear and single way out is to submit
II for determination at the next cleo
the next election the form of a great
and solemn referendum. referendum
as to the part the United States is to
play IN completing the settlements OF
the war and in the prevention III the
future Of such outrages as Germany at
tempted to perpetrate.
we have no more moral right to
refuse now to take part in the execu-
ton and administration of these set
Elements than we had to refuse to
take part in the fighting Of the last
few weeks Of the war which brought
victory and made it possible to die
tate to Germany what the settle
ments should be. Our fidelity to our
associates in the war is in question
and the whole future of mankind ii
will be heartening to the whole world
to know the attitude and purpose of
the people Of the United States.
i spoke just now of the spiritual
leadership Of the United States,
thinking of international affairs.
But there is another spiritual leader
ship which is open to us and which
we can assume. The world has been
made safe for democracy, but de-
mocracy has not been finally vindi-
Gated. All sorts Of crimes are being
committed in its name and all sorts
of preposterous perversions of its
doctrines and practices are being at
tempted. This, in my judgment, is
to be the great privilege of the de-
mocracy Of the United States to show
that 1t can lead the way in the Solu-
ton Of the great social and industrial
problems of our time, and lead the
way to happy settled order of life
as well as to political liberty. The
program for this achievement we
must attempt to formulate. and in
carrying ii out we shall do more than
can de done in any other way to
sweep out Of existance the tyran-
nous and arbitrary forms of power
which are now masquerading under
the name Of popular government
whenever we look back to An
drew Jackson we should draw fresh
inspiration from his character and
example. Him mind grasped with
such splendid defniteness and
firmness the principle of national au-
thority and national action He was
so indomitible in his purpose to give
reality to the principles of the gov
eminent that this is fortunate time
to realize career to renew our vows
Of faithfulness to the principles and
the practices of democracy I re-
Joice to join you in this renewal of
faith and purpose. l hope that the
whole evening may be of the happi-
est results as regards the fortunes
of our party and the nation"