, 1921-06-01

continent in this republic, / reached a stage where /
is necessary for the preservatson of this free govern
ment We had reached a stage where seemingly we
were without q soul Somehow or other we had dead
ened the fires under the American melting pot and it
looked as though we were a divided people On the
floor Of this Senate, where above all else We ought to
preach American unity and the maintenance of Amer
lean rights, / have heard doctrines preached which in
dicated divisions and selfish interests, which suggested
that these United States of America, instead Of going
on TO the ~fulfiIlment Of the splendid destiny the faith
ers must have had in m.nd, were becoming q mere col
location Of states, rather preferring to live in ease and
comfort and selfish attainments than to know the
spirit that becomes this boasted. popular government
And so, Mr.. President, tonight, in the grave situa-
ton that / well realize, with the understanding of the
responsibility that goes with the vote. / vote for this
joint resolution TO make war-not a war thrust upon
us, IL l could choose the language of the resolution,
but a war declared in response to a~ffronts; a war that
will at least put a soul into our American life; q war
not for the cause of the allies of Europe; q war not
for France, beautiful as the sentiment may be in re-
viving at least our gratitcde to the French people; not
precisely n war for civilization, worthy and inspiring
as that would be; but a war that speaks for the ma
brought to the crucial test where they are resolved to
get together and wage a conflict for the maintenance
Of their rights and the preservation of the covenant in
herited from the fathers
/ hope that out of this great tumult Of the war, and
our part therein, there will spring from Columbus
loins the real American, believing in popular govern
ment and willing to suffer and sacrifice, if need be,
to maintain the rights of that government, and the
people Hereunder. i believe that this is the great
essential to the perpetuty of the American rpublic-
the maintenance of rights in c~ofidence, absolutely
without selfish interest. -.
1t has become the fortune of this republic to cry
"Halt" to a maddened power casting aside the obi
cations of civilization and the limitations of that
which we look upon as highest humanity. / know that
the task will be undertaken by the American people
not originally committed to the cause of war, but a
people who will understand that when the congress
speaks, after due elaboration, after the patience
which this body and the government have exercised,
the voice of the United States Congress is the voice
of the nation, and one hundred million people will COM
NIT themselves to the great cause of the maintenance
of just, American rights-a thing for which the ma
ton can well afford to fight, and while fighting for it
put a new soul into a race of American people who
can Enthusiastically call themselves truly and spirit
ually and abidingly an American people.
That was the sentiment of Mr.. Harding In that day
of crisis. 1t is his sentiment today. 1t was and still
is the sentiment Of the people of the country. 1t has
been fully endorsed and stands. The Wilson press
may howl all it chooses to the contrary. Ambassador
Harvey spoke with the authority of the American peo-
pie and not with the voice of a small group of inter
nationalist Missionaries.