forgetting that the great purpose of the League of Nations was
to band the world together in a great brotherhood against war.
We were to lead the nations back to peaceful ways but through
our own wavering we actually, by reason or a small coterie of
men, we think wrongly advised, have drenched Europe and Asia
with new wars.

"The great heart of America has always been right upon this
great issue. There has never been a time when associations of
men and women, independent of partisanship, have turned from the
League proposal. America gave freely in alms to every war-torn
nation in the world. She sent her devoted bands of workers to
relieve distress. She sent her nurses to heal the sick. She sent
her contributions to feed the hungry. She opened her warehouses
to clothe the naked. She willingly gave her talent, through
private auspices, to help bring life back to normal. Her men of
finance gave counsel; they offered credit and we applauded. We
were touched by the works of associations and individuals to
lessen war's terrors and to refound the wrecked civilization.
But foolish men, vain men, envious men forbade our government to
do in larger form the same sort of acts which, done by private
auspices, we applauded as evidence of Christian purpose.

"And the good that we sought to do was lost in our larger
neglect. Weak fears that in helping the world, fantastic
forebodings that in taking our stand for peace everlasting,
imaginary perils that in service we might be surrendering our
birthright of independence restrained our more noble impulses.
While famine stalked and the world cried to heaven for our help
we debated selfish questions. Our nation became a silent but