New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-05
THE INAUGURAL.

President Wilson is TO be congratu-
lated on The scope and tenor Of his In
augural address. There may be more
o. less dissent from some Of the changes
which he purposes making in the exist
ing political order. But the one change
which he has already made in shorten
ing the address on the portico of the
Capitol after assuming office will be APP
proved unanimously. Outlining de-
tailed political programme at an out-oi-
door ceremonial likely TO be shorn OF
its dignity and impressiveness 10y a
tieacherous March blizzard is an abuse
% judgment which deserved cataloguing
with the sins of the past Mr. Wilson
was right in saying that IAN inaugural
ought not TO he programme and III
giving his brief speech yesterday an air
Of austere reflection and generalization.
Yesterday was the day for the Presl-
dent TO be Soberly contemplating. broad
Is philosophical and rhetorically brill
liant. He spoke a. party leader nrmN
planted on the highway 10 success. re-
calling the experiences OF the struggle
which had preceded and looking at long
range upon the problems ahead. Vague
ness was appropriate under such cir
cumstances and should not be attrio-
uted To the disposition which Mr.. Will
sCn has shown AT times 10 seek refuge
in ambiguity when hard pressed 10
make his position on current issues
plain and definite. The Tribune thought
the Democratic candidates speech Of
acceptance altogether too ingenious in
its avoidances and felt obliged to note
an his later campaign addresses two alb
solutely contradictory lines of sugges-
ton. Nor did that fault in Mr.. Will
sons campaign reasoning escape gen
eral notice. Only the other day Il
friendly English critic. The WeStmin-
ster Gazette" said Of The New Free
dom" q publication coliatiDg the Presi-
dents campaign addresses that English
readers would he disappointed in 1t.
not because it lacks vision and Ideals,
but because there is such reluctance
Ito get down to the cold. hard fact that
something quite precise and definite
has TO be done
The inaugural. in 80 far as il touches
lightly on the precise and the definite.
labors somewhat under the same defect,
since il speaks in one breath Of alter
| ing "a tariff which cuts US off from our
proper part in the commerce OF the
world. violates the Just principles of
taxation and makes the government q
"facle instrument in the hands Of pri-
.'vate interests" yet in the next an
nounces that the alteration must be
undertaken With extreme caution. lest
the economic system as ii is be de
ranged and injured. But in the pas
saces less affected by the emergencc OF
concrete problems the speech is credit
ably full of vision and ideals II
breathes a sincere desire 10 help the
country forward. TO protect and upllf'
the weak and those Of narrowed oppor'
iunity and 10 give free scope to the
| feelings Of the new age which seek TO
bring into the conduct OF human affairs
larger measure Of mercy and justice
! The President will not carry spear OF
! iustice which knows no brother. Rather
he would make the Judge and the
brother one. 1t Is in this high-minded
and undoubtedly genuine expression OF
his hopes and ideas that the Inaugural
is most appealing and most significant.