http://www.ck12.org Chapter 8. World War I
Abide
acceptRedemption
save from evilQuestions:
1.Sourcing:Who is giving this speech? When?
2.Sourcing:What do you predict he will say?
3.Contextualization:What else was going on at this time?
4.Close Reading:What word would you use to describe the tone of this speech? Provide a quote to support
your answer.
5.Close Reading:What do you think is Wilson’s strongest argument for the League of Nations?League of Nations Speech –Henry Cabot Lodge
Source: A speech given by Henry Cabot Lodge in Washington, D.C. on August 12, 1919. Cabot Lodge was a
ferocious Republican opponent of the Democrat President Woodrow Wilson. Deeply suspicious of any attempt to
unnecessarily involve the U.S. in international political matters Cabot Lodge campaigned against U.S. participation
in the League of Nations. Cabot Lodge’s viewpoint eventually won and the U.S. never joined the League.
Mr. President:
We hear much of visions, but when words describe a present that doesn’t exist and future that no man can predict,
they are as unreal and short-lived as steam.
Our first ideal is our country. Our ideal is to make her ever stronger and better and finer, because in that way alone
can she be of the greatest service to the world’s peace and to the welfare of mankind.
The first step to world service is the maintenance of the United States. You may call me selfish if you will,
conservative orreactionary, or use any other harsh adjective you see fit to apply, but an American I was born,
an American I have remained all my life. I can never be anything else but an American, and I must think of the
United States first.
I have never had but oneallegiance- I cannot divide it now. I have loved but one flag and I cannot share that devotion
and give affection to themongrelbanner invented for a league. Internationalism is to merepulsive.
The United States is the world’s best hope, but if youfetterher in the interests and quarrels of other nations, if you
tangle her in theintriguesof Europe, you will destroy her power for good and endanger her very existence. Leave
her to march freely through the centuries to come as in the years that have gone.
No doubt many excellent and patriotic people see a coming fulfillment of noble ideals in the words ’league for
peace’. We all respect and share theseaspirationsand desires, but some of us see no hope, but rather defeat, for
them in thismurkyplan. For we, too, have our ideals, even if we differ from those who have tried to establish a
monopoly of idealism.