THE RIGHT OF THE CITIZEN TO OPPOSE WAR AND THE RIGHT OF CONGRESS TO SHAPE WAR POLICY

by Robert M. La Follette, Republican Senator from Wisconsin, 1917

"Every nation has it's war party.
It is NOT the party of democracy.
It is the party of autocracy.
It seeks to dominate absolutely.
It is commercial, imperialistic, ruthless.
It tolerates no opposition.

In times of peace, the war party insists on making preparation for war. As soon as prepared for war, it insists on making war. If there is no sufficient reason for war, the party will make war on one pretext, then invent another....possibly more effective pretext after war is on.
Before war is ended, the war party assumes the divine right to denounce and silence all oppostion to war as unpatriotic and cowardly."

Sound familiar?