The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-09-02

that would be but war that speaks
for the majesty Of a people properly
governed, who finally are brought to
the crucial test where they are re-
solved to get together and wage con-
hlct for the maintenance of their
rights and the preservation Of the
covenant inherited from their fathers.
ave have given to the wsrld 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 hui
manlty, and we gave proof to the
world at that time Of an unselflsh ma
tion. Now, whether It is the fate, or
fortune, or travail Of destiny, It has
come to us to unsheathe the sword
again, not alone for humanity's sake
through that splendid inspiration will
he involved--but to unsheathe the
sword against great power In the
maintenance of the rights of the re-
public, In the maintenance which will
give to US new guaranty Of nation
allty. That's the great thing, and l
want It known, Mr.. President and SEN
ators, that this is the impelling thought
with me for one, when cast my vote
For Same Guaranty Today.
1T Is for that same guaranty Of ma
tionality' that I stand today, and shall
continue to stand infexibly, SO long
as / shall be permitted to live. The
independence Of our great republic is
to me a 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 cynicism. But why should
any true American not be free to say !:
I am a patriot, wholly evoted to my
country, which l hold to be Gods best
inspiration to manAfor higher attain
ment and the promotion Of the worlds
best civilization
"But / have a special reason for
making this reference today. l chal-
lenge the statement that the patriot
ism which holds America first COM
prehends either narrownes or selfish
ness, or as implying tacit suspicion and
jealousy Of other peoples.
ITO assert, as some have asserted
heedlessly, that those Of us who honest
ly believe that America can best
serve all mankind as America, free
and untrammeled, rather than as one
in a pltiable minority among many
states In merged world government
lack consciousness Of the rightful de.
mands of humanity, Is to utter gross
and objectionable libel. To attribute
meanness to those Of us who, in the
performance of our public duty, re
fused to participate in what we sin
cerely regarded as betrayal Of oul
own country in the interest OF others
ls to discredit the intelligence and
discrimination Of the great mass Of
American people who directly, by
their votes, put US In our positions o.
trust. For myself, yield to no mai
In willingness, aye, in eagerness, t.
render the greatest conceivable assist
ance to the stricken peoples Of Eu-
rope. l include all Of them and
speak with a genuinely sympathetic
heart, whether 1t Is to mention de
vastated France, or sorely-tried Italy,
or nobly struggling Poland, or dis
tracted and misguided Russia, or gal
liant little Belgium, or pitiably deceived
Austria, or the ruthless invader, Ger
many, which came to the supreme
tragedy through leadership which
brought disaster to her misguided PEG
pie.
ut was with that feeling of sym
pathy and desire to serve, that most
reluctantly and with grave misgivings
as announced at the time, | witt
reservations designed to preserve oul
essential liberty Of action. The rec
ord is made, and under the same con
dltions, confronted by the same alter
native, should vote now as | voted
then.
Conditions Have Changed.
"But the conditions have changed
Experience has brought enllghten
ment. We know now that the League
constituted at Versailles Is utterly i'm
potent as a preventive of wars. 1t 4
so obviously impotent that 1t has no
even been tried. The original league
mistakenly conceived and unreason
ably insisted upon, has undoubtedl
passed beyond the possibility Of res