The Washington times., 1936-03-14
Cannot Afford
To Lose Our
Self-Respect
By James T. Williams, Jr.

the language OF nature" than this
one from the writings Of our own
Ralph Waldo Emerson. Said EN-,
erson on this subject:
"ElOquence is the power to
translate a truth into language
perfectly ineligible to the per.
son to whom you speak,"
This is precisely the power with
which Senator johnson of Cali.
fornia spoke a few days ago when
he brought to an impressive con.
cluSion a rambling discussion Of
what ought to be done about the
unpaid war debts of a group of
European nations now soliciting
American sympathy by lofty pro.
nunciamentoes concerning tn e
"sacredness" Of the treaties they
make and the "sanctity" of sane
tions they would impose and look
to the conscripted youth of Amer
lea to enforce with their own
blood and treasure.
Said the statesman unafraid
who represents at all times in the
Senate of the United States not
merely the sovereignty of the State
Of California but the people of the
United States as whole:
THEIR OWN TERMS
81 cannot sit idly by and listen
to the appointment Of a new
commission on the part of my
country to dicker again with
debtors with whom we have al
ready settled on their own
terms.
81 cannot, for one instant,
consent that we shall go, cap
in hand, across the water, with
the obligations S0lemnly agreed
upon, and beg our debtors to
give us a penny in the dollar or
a shilling in the pound.
"The debts exist. They exist
by virtue Of agreements which
have been made by commissions
appointed by various countries.
They exist upon the terms of
the debtors themselves.
"Our country has been q gen.
erOuS creditor; these defaulting
nations have been dishonest
debtors.
"It is not cOnSOnant, in my
opinion, with the Self-reSpect of
this nation to go begging these
recalcitrant debtors, those cOun-
tries which have WEIGHED upon
their honest obligations, to give
us a mOiety of that which we
agreed to take upon their
T. prayers and upon their solicita-
tion. We settled once by SOL
emn treaties. Treaty breakers
have the reputation nations
been.
There is something more
valuable to me than money in
nation such as ours.
"A nation which loses its
self respect, or becomes a mere
barterer of that which is its
just due, will be held not only
in contempt by its own people
but in contempt by its own
debtors.
THE DEBTS EXIST
"While quite agree with the
Senator from Illinois that the
appropriate authorities ought
to dun these debtors, I shall not
for one moment tolerate, so far
as / am concerned, that we shall
again appoint a commission to
60 across the water and to beg
that these debtors, upon their
own terms, may settle the debts
which are justly due, and which
they themselves have admitted
to be due.
"Mr. President, we can afford
to lose the money. We cannot
afford to lose our own self re,
spect."
Young Americans in high school
who would learn the eloquence
which sis vehement in simplicity,
who would by the honesty Of elo
quence persuade others by BEING
in earnest" themselves, will DC
we'll to read, mark, learn and in
wardly digest" this memorable ad
dress of Senator johnson on the
floor of the Senate.
An examination of the Congres
sional Record for a year past Will
convince thoughtful Americans
that this address is probably the
most eloquent utterance to Whlcn
the Senate has listened since Sena
tor Bulow of South Dakota broke
his longtime silence last year ana
held the Senate spellbound. While
it listened to a voice so seldom
heard in these latter days in either
House of CongreSs-the voice OF
conscience speaking with n a
quiet courage which distinguishes
true craftsmanship.
DEFENDER UNAFRAID
American Honor. American Lo,
erty and Justice, "the breath Oh
Liberty's being" will never lack on
the floor of the Senate OF the
United States defender unafralo
while the American people in Their
corporate capacity as a nation and
the sovereignty of the State OF
California are fortunate enough tc
be represented in the Senate by
such a man as Hiram johnson.