The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-31
Accomplishing the
Impossible

Nobody will begrudge holiday to president
of the United States who has accomplished the
i'm possible.
1t was impossible that the Democratic party,
with its long record of folly. fooshness and
faction. could be transformed into an effective
Instrument of government.
IT was impossible that a president who had
had experience in national politics and no
personal acquaintance with the leaders OF the
party could work tremendously with congress.
1t impossible that an unwieldy majority
such as the Democrats had in the house could
be held together
1t was impossible that narrow majority such
as the Democrats had in the senate could be pre-
vented from surrendering to privilege and Civ
ing the country another example of party
perfidy and party dishonor"
1t impossible that the Democratic party.
In the light of its history for fifty years, could
carry out sane constructive policy Of gov
eminent
Yet all of these things have come about Not
since the Civil war has any administration writ
ten much history within brief period of
time the Wilson, administration has written
since March Attn.
As for the president and congress, Mr. Wilson e
leadership is unique He has not only had as
much influence over congress Mckinley or
Grant welded. but he has obtained none of
this influence by the bribery of patronage, and
/ he has been able to exert 1t for public, par
tisan, purposes.
Mr. Taft never led the Republican party. He
was led by the leaders of the Old Guard Mr..
Roosevelts domination of the party was the
domination OF brag. b1uster, demagogy fIattery,
jobs and mpromise. In spite of all his rantine
and roaring, he never failed TO surrender to the
Hannas. the Platts, the Quays. the Aldriches
and the Cannons when he found they were in
earnest
Reversing the rule of Frederick the Great
Mr.. Roosevelt allowed to say what he
liked. and they allowed to do what they
liked.
The Mckinley leadership was the leadership
of administration without ideals 1t was
easy for Mr.. Mckinley get what he wanted
from congress, for he wanted nothing that con-
gress and the Republican organization did not
that confronted his administration were more
serious than the difficulties that confronted the
Wilson administration. But Mr., Cleveland had
no faith In his party, AS president he rarely
missed opportunity to make enemy, and
the friends he failed to sacrifice for the
mos. part the friends he ought tn nave sacrf-
feed In the end he wrecked his party, and left
the country at the mercy OF the silver issue.
Thanks to President Wilson, there is not
gap in the Democratic ranks at Washington
Thanks to President Wilson, the party Is faith
fully carrying out its promises For the first
time In a generation national platform Is
proved TO what 1t said. and the way is
cleared both to a new freedom and a new pros
perty
Two years ago any would have been
laughed at a fool II he had ventured TO pre-
dict that a Democratic president and.a Demo-
cratic congress could accomplish in four years
what this administration has accomplished in
nine months The 'schoolrnaster'-th pro
fessor'-as his opponents sneeringly dubbed
him has given the country a lesson in the
art of government.--New York World