The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-21
The President and his Critics.

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1t 10 always well TO be optimistic In a
time OF war. Confidence in the ability
of our own country to win IS a good
thing for all the people. 1t inspires the
men at the front and the heads OF the
government charged with the RESPONSE
bility of conducting the war to a cue
cessfui finish. The fault-finder, the
pesstmist, the partisan critic who seeks
to prejudice the people In advance
against. the Commander-in-C Chief, who
In this instance Is the President OF the
United States. is no patriot. The cid-
zen who unites with every other citizen
in standing by. the head OF the govern
ment. waving aside every partisan pre-
judice, is as patriotic as he Is when he
applauds the army and the navy, for the
man at the wheel will be held RESPONSE
BILE before the world in history for his
executive acts In the war that is to come.
Do the editors who, now that our
courageous President is facing this ter
rible responsibility with calmness and
discretion. are pursuing a course. that is
calculated to prejudice the public mind
against him. for purely partisan pur-
poses. consider for one moment the post
tion in which the object OF their assaults
is placed? Would any one OF them care
at this juncture to assume In HE stead
that responsibility? Do they realize for
an instant that no ordinary task is i'm
posed upon the President OF the United
States; that he is not accountable TO
sensational yellow newspapers for the
performance OF the momentous duties OF
his. position. but to the people OF the
United States. TO his country, his con-
science and his God?
The head OF nation In a time of war
needs always the united support OF the
people. i Is no time 10 infame the pub
licmlnd by petty. malicious filings, based
solely on a thoughtless disregard for the.
position in which men In authority are
placed. 1t is not to the. credit OF the
Register. of this city, that It publishes.
with an evident relish, and without a
single adverse comment. statement
that portrait of the, President OF the
United States displayed IN theatre.
was Kissed by some 'thoughtless gallery
gods. who possibly gathered their parti-
san prejudice against him from the COL
umns OF that same partisan Journal.
Rather would it have been, to It's Credit
to have injected into the minds OF these
thoushtless ones timely suggestion as
to the duty OF citizens in this critical
period of the country's history.
The newspaper referred to in the same
issue contained an editorial denuncia-
ton OF the President for taking twenty
four hours time to prepare the ultima
tum TO Spain. and Withholding his Sig
nature from the Cuban resolutions until
he could sign both together. while its
news columns contained the e1plana-
tion, perfectly satisfactory to the coun-
try, for this course. In the editorial in
question the false. statement was made
that a day was wasted ard nothing
done. In the news department the
statement was made that, for state rea-
sons, Zine was needed to draft the
ultlmatum In diplomatic FORM" that It
was the desire also ito have complete
plan OF operation for the government OF
the Executive In the immediate future.
before taking the final and important
step Of turning the joint resolution into
a statute"
y No harm can come from occupying q
considerate attitude toward those who
are charged with grave responsibilities.
and who proceed with wise caution.
They know better than their partisan
newspaper critics the situation, and
realize their own responsibility In plac-
ing the just cause of the United States
before the nations OF the WORLD they
knowthe disasters that may result from
TOO precipitate action. and that there Is
future to be considered above the
clnmor of partisan journalistic critics.
The Intelligent, patriotic citizens OF
the United States are standing by the
President In this the hour Of his sevcrest
test, which calls for wisdom, discretion.
cool-headedness. The rantings Of the
carpfng critics hSve no effect on any
save the thoughtless ones. Abraham
Lincoln passed through. the same ordeal
of criticism, mean and malicious. some
OF 1t. because he refused to be hurried by
public clamor. While he was cut down
before ne realizes the fruits of his course
OF elaboration. he did live 20 receive the
applause Of thousands OF those same
critics. Let ua have moro Amcricanism
In this crisis when tho head of the gov
crnmcnt needs united support. and LEGS
OF malicious attempt to create prejudice
In advance OF the task which ls to test
him as few men In history. have been
tested. s i
That was a graceful tribute 10 tho
American people paid blythe Spanish
vice consul at San Francisco. When
asked l: he would leave this country