Evening star., 1938-03-30
BOrah, l9l8-and. 1888.

In the course OF his impressive ad-
dress on Foreign Affairs" broadcast
Monday night in the National Radio
Forum, Senator Borah reaffirmed his
ancient faith that isolation from the
concerns of a world in travail is Ameri-
cas- inveterate and Interchangeable duty.
The Idahoan bulwarked his thesis by
citing Jeffersons first statement of our
foreign policy-"Peace with all nations,
commerce with all nations, friendship
with all nations. entangling alliances
with none"
Coming down to the things now con-
vulsing civilization, Mr.. Borah declared:
1T is sad and stirring thing to see a
once great nation-the vast estate Of
Maria Teresa-pass under the dominion
of another power. But. If you begin your
study of the event with the signing of
the Versailles treaty, that which hap
pened to Austria would appear natural,
logical, inevitable and thing which is
not of the slightest moment to the Gov
ernment, as government, Of the United
States"
The distinguished former chairman
Of the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee was not always so oblivious to the
brute force theology which underlies
Hitlers conquest of Austria. or so callous
to the broad principles which inspire
the Nazi concept of regimented state.
Almost exactly twenty years ago this
week-on March 18, 1918-Mr. Borah,
speaking in the Senate, electrified the
Nation with one of the great speeches
Of the war. 1t was black week on the
Western front. The British were fight
ing with their backs to the wall, the
Germans making their last desperate
drive to the channel. The Kaisers le-
gions were pounding the Allies appar-
emily as irresistibly as the forces of
totalitarianism today are sweeping
everything before them. Borah's ad-
dress was moving panegyric on the
fundamentals of the war-a reminder to
the country that its armies were fighting
for something far more precious and
vital than mere frontiers.
Observe how vividly the Idahoan's far
visioned sentiments of 1918 apply to the
struggle democracy in 1888 is waging
against Hitlerism:
1--WE now see and understand
clearly and unmistakably the cause at
all times lying back of these things.
Upon the one hand is Magma Charta,
the Bill OF Rights, the Declaration of
independence, the Constitution of the
United States, and the principles OF
human liberty which they embody and
preserve. Upon the other hand is the
peculiar form of state organization
which rests alone upon the
strength of the army and whose highest
creed finds expression in the words of
one of its greatest advocates, that war is
part of the eternal order instituted by
God."
~ oSCAAS olISC llOW, dIlu ~
will seem more extraordinary to those
who come after us, that we did not rec
ognize from the beginning that this was
the issue. Perhaps our love of
peace, our traditional friendship for all
nations lulled suspicion and discouraged
inquiry. Be that as it may. there can
be no doubt now. Whatever the cause,
however perverse the fates which bring
us to this crisis, we are called upon not
to settle questions Of territory or estab-
lish new spheres of national activity,
but to defend the institutions under
which we live.
Democracy is the severest test
Of character which can be put upon a
people, and must be earned and ac-
quired in the rigid school Of experience.
It cannot be handed whole and COM
plete to any people, though every men,
Der Of the community were Socrates.
But what we have determined in this
crisis, as understand it, Is that we will
keep the road Of democracy open. No
one shall close 1t. If any nation shall
hereafter rise to the sublime require
ment of government, and choose to
go that way, 1t shall have the right to
do SO. Since the challenge has been
thrown down that this is war unto
death between two opposing theories of
government, we are. determined that
whatever else happens this form
OF organization, this theory of state, this
last great hope, this fruition of one
hundred and thirty years Of struggle and
toll shall not perish from the earth.'"