The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-10
The Cause Of 1t All

The American voter has registered his choice
for president of the United~states and named
Woodrow Wilson, giving him a victory such
as has never been registered since the election
Iof 1852. 1t is a vertahle landslide in which
New England did not fail to participate, only
one New England State remaining in the Re-
publican column,
OF the forces that conspired to bring about
the overwhelming defeat Of President Taft and
the equally overwhelming victory of Governor
Wilson it is not necessary to write, nor
is it necessary to analyze the meaning of the
surprising result of yesterdays election. Suf-
fee it to say, that at the bottom of President
Tafts defeat are broken promises. The cleo
torate at the congressional elections two years
ago gave emphatic notice of what could be
expected in the national election of 1912 un-
less the Republican party proceeded at once
to keep the promises made during the canvass
OF 1908. Heed was not given to the warning
Hence the present results.
The issues that give to Woodrow Wilson his
place as the twenty-seyenth president OF the
United States are economic rather than politi-
cal. The same thing Is responsible for the
Democratic successes in the congressional cleo
tons The results of the election are the cul-
mination of the unrest that for a number of
years have gripped the country and that have
demanded relief from economic conditions that
have been throttling the American people in
times of apparent prosperity. The Democratic
party through the recent canvass had prom
ised this relief. In selecting Woodrow Wilson
its candidate it was fortunate. For one
thing, he able to explain clearly and logi-
cally the fundamental principles of Democ-
racy. which are after all the fundamental of
our form of government, so that all men got
a clear conception of what Democratic poll
cies mean. There were no detrimental side
igGUaS theories n IN
or anything Of that sort to hamper either the
party or the candidate in gaining the public
confidence. Governor Wilson promised at the
beginning. and he emphasized that promise at
every opportunity, that nothing would be done
to disturb business, but rather would he seek
ito foster the kind OF prosperity that gives
every man an opportunity for participation
therein. The election of Woodrow Wilson is,
therefore, a vote of confidence in him a
man, In his promises to the policies of his
administration, and in the obligations yolun-
Itarily assumed by the Democratic party in it's
Baltimore platform.
Governor Wilson will 60 into office under
the most suspicious or circumstances. He has
Ia congress almost entirely of his own politi-
cal faith. He has the confidence of the whole
nation He has every reason and every oppor-
itunity to make record that will stand almost
unparalleled in the annals OF the chief execu-
tives of this country.
Governor Wilson stands committed to tariff
reform, but he is not free trader, and his
promises are more in the nature OF fair and
honest adjustment of schedules to meet the
demands of the times and the needs of peo-
pie in the throes of evolution from one
stage of greatness to another These tariff
promises are not dissimiiar to the ones made
by President Taft in his canvass of four years
ago and which he failed to keep.
IL he keeps to his promises and heeds the
VOICE Of the masses which elected him and per-
mits no special interests to coddle close to him,
remembering always that he is the president
OF all the people and that partsanship ended
with his election. Woodrow Wilson will 60
down into history OF the greatest states
men who ever occupied the presidential Office.
II he fails and his party fails in its work in
congress along the promised lines, the repudi-
alton that will come will be Of the bitterest
and blacklist on the pages of American his
tory.
No man ever called to the presidency has
had greater opportunity for usefulness offered
him than now confronts Woodrow Wilson.
The whole nation wishes him well and in pro-
portion to the measure Of his deserts will give
him IT. loyal support - Hartford Post,