Evening journal., 1913-03-04
TUESDAY. MAR. a. 1913.
PREsTDENT WILSON'S INAUGURAL.

N RESIDENT Wilson's inaugural address is
L scholarly and patriotic utterance. II will COM
mend itself to millions of American citizens who are
in sympathy with the political creed Of his party.
other millions, who know the past history Of that
party no doubt will take the view that President VIII
son has placed his policies upon such high plane that
the party of which he is the acknowledged, leader
will be able to approximate them, much less at
tain them. We think the prevailing opinion Of those
who read the message will be that is far likely
that the Democracy of the nation which neveT has dis
tinguished itself for wisdom in legislation or state
craft will drag the President down to its mediocre poll
tcal level than that he will be able to elevate II to the
high plane of political conduct that he has established
IN his inaugural address,
At the very outset President Wilson makes It clear
that recognizes fully the fact that the people Of the
nation will hold the Democratic party to strict account
what may befa them In the next four years. With
the Democracy in full control Of the executive and
legislative machinery of the nation, there will be no
division Of political and governmental responsibility
The party must stand fall by its own record. He
says It is the duty OF the Democracy to cleanse to re-
consider to restore, to correct the evil without impair
ing the good to purify and humanze every OF
our life without weakening sentimentaliz-
ing IT, That is all very WELL but the first work that
be is for the Democratic party to cleanse
and purify itself and thereby reinstae itself in public
respect and esteem. It must remember that it has
not been restored to by great OF public
sentiment in its favor but by political earthquake
that, for the time being shook the Republican party
to pieces and enabled the Democracy TO avail itself
of that unnatural period of Republican helpessness
The election returns show conclusively that have
enough Republican sentiment in America to sweep the
Democracy from power two and four years hence
should It fail to to its present opportunity
and produce results both beneficial and apparent
President Wilson recommends tariff revision; changes
in our banking, currency and industrial systems and
action looking better returns from agricultural
activities II Democratic work along those lines brings
disaster instead OF benefit 10 the people the Wilson
administration will pass out of existence and into his
tory something OF which the country is we'll rid
and its record will be placed side by side with those
Of the two Cleveland administrations
The Republican party pledged to revision Of
the tariff downward and to revision of the banking
and currency system The Democracy declared the
tariff for revenue only and also for revision of the
banking and currency laws It will be interesting to
see to what extent the Democacy will go in its work
Of letting down the protective bars OF the tariff.
There already evidences OF discord among the
Democratic members Of Congress the tariff ques-
on With the Democrats firmly in control that discord
is likely TO increase rather than diminish local
interests affected by the tariff make themselves heard
in Washington. President Wilson doubtless has his
views with respect what tariff bills should be
passed, but when it comes to enforcing those views
upon Senators and Representatives from States and
districts in the prosperity Of which the protective tariff
has played such important part, have doub
that he will encounter difficulties which he does no
now anticipate
AS the tariff the main issue the Democratic
side in the November campaign. it is in his address
and it will be in Congress. II the Wilson admin
istration be wrecked. it doubtless will be upon n
tariff rock