The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-01-02
Wilson at Eifty-SeNen.
Charleston Post.

SnaTleStOn tOSt.
President Wilson Saturday cele-
brated the fifty-seventh anniversary
of his birth-the observance present
ing, by the way, an interesting con-
trast to that marking the birthday of
General Huerta, the putative presi-
dent of Mexico, a few days ago. The
occasion moves once more to refiec-
ton upon the amazing political as
cent of this new figure in the nation,
who he's taken permanent rank as one
of the great statesmen of his time.
1t is but a little more than three
years since Woodrow Wilson first ap-
peared in the political field, and
now, at the age of fifty-seven he sits
as easily and assuredly in the highest
office of the republic and administers
the great government and directs the
policies of a party and of a nation
as if he had been trained for that
particular work throughout his ca
reer. Which, doubtless, is much the
truth, for it can not be disputed that
his rich scholarship, his deep stu
dies of the history of his country and
his profound reflections upon the
character and constitution of it's gov
ernment, are the equipment which
bears him so effectively in his eXalt-
ed office. Though, considered as
whole, Wilson's political preferment
within a course of public service of
but three years duration will remain
one of the political sensations of
American history, there has been
nothing even remotely spectacular
about it. He has not burst upon the
imagination of the people by any
splendid or brilliant deed, but has
won the regard and confidence and
,fgsg.f Of 1n hN.C CT, 10
and clear exposition of principles and
evidence of an ability to translate
them into practical effects.
The younger Pitt was prime min
lister of Great Britain at twenty-four,
but he was born, as EngliShmen of
his class were and still are, to
public and a political career, and he
had the glamor of great name to
set him on his way, though he sup
ported his progress by his own high
merits. Therefore Roosevelt was
President of the United States at
forty-three, but he had been a seeker
and holder of Office from the mo-
ment he quilted college until he
came to the highest place through the
tragedy of McKinley's assassination.
Woodrow Wilson had never even
remotely presented himself upon the
an age six years beyond that at
which Pitt died and three years be-
yond that at which Roosevelt had re-
tired from a second term as Presi
dent Perhaps he owes something
of his remarkable efficiency to the
fact that he came upon the scene ripe
in reflection rather than wary from
experience, at period OF life when
his talents were at their best and
his Judgment matured. The fact,
though, is interesting enough, with
out speculation upon its significance,
that at fifty-four man, without the
slightest previous experience in poll
tical affairs, practically unknown to
the general public, with a we'll de-
fined and successful career behind
him and, apparently, a brilliant
course as the head of great educa-
tional institution berore him, should
have stridden so straight to the lead
ership of the national thought and in
depreciation OF national purpose as
President Of the United States, and,
moreover, that he should have
achieved, before the first year of his
term had closed practical reforms
that experienced and assiduous poll
ticians had either failed to bring
about with much striving, or had
shrunk from essaying.