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countrymen, we believe the unspeakable
sorrows, the immeasurable sacrifices,
the awakened convictions, and the
aspiring conscience of humankind must
commit the nations of the earth to
a new and better relationship. It
need not be discussed now what motives
plunged the world into war. It need
not be inquired whether we asked the
sons of this republic to defend our
national rights, as I believe we did,
or to purge the Old World of the accumulated
ills of rivalry and greed. The sacrifices
will be in vain if we cannot acclaim
a new order with added security to
civilization and peace maintained.
One may readily
sense the conscience of our America.
I am sure I understand the purpose
of the dominant group of the Senate.
We were not seeking to defeat a
world aspiration. We were resolved
to safeguard America. We were resolved
then even as we are today, and will
be tomorrow, to preserve this free
and independent republic. Let those
now responsible or seeking responsibility
propose the surrender, whether with
interpretations, apologies, or reluctant
reservations from which our rights
are to be omitted. We welcome the
referendum to the American people
on the preservation of America,
and the Republican party pledges
its defense of the preserved inheritance
of national freedom.
In the call
of the conscience of America is
peace. Peace that closes the gaping
wound of world war and silences
the impassioned voices of international
envy and distrust. Heeding this
call, and knowing as I do the disposition
of Congress, I promise you formal
and effective peace so quickly as
the Republican Congress can pass
its declaration for a Republican
executive to sign. Then we may turn
to our readjustment at home and
proceed deliberately and reflectively
to that hoped for world relationship
which shall satisfy both conscience
and aspirations, and still hold
us free from menacing involvement.
I can hear
in the call of conscience an insistent
voice for the largely reduced armaments
throughout the world, with attending
reduction of burdens upon peace-loving
humanity. We wish to give of American
influence and example. We must give
of American leadership to that invaluable
accomplishment. I can speak unreservedly
of the American aspirations and
the Republican committal for an
association of nations cooperating
in sublime accord to attain and
preserve peace through justice rather
than force, determined to add to
security through international law,
so clarified that no misconstruction
can be possible without affronting
world honor. It is better to be
the free and disinterested agents
of international justice and advancing
civilization with the covenant of
conscience, than to be shackled
by a written compact which surrenders
our freedom of action and gives
the military alliance the right
to proclaim America's duty to the
world. No surrender of rights to
a world council or its military
alliance, no [actions] mandatory,
however appealing, ever shall summon
the sons of this republic to war.
Their supreme sacrifice shall be
only asked for America and its call
of honor. There is sanctity in that
right which we will not surrender
to any other power on earth.
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