Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-08-27
The Presidents Crushing
Burden,


The Rural Weekly, an independent
newspaper published at St. Paul Mimi,
prints the following editorial which VIZ
are sure will appeal to every patriotic
and right minded man irrespective o.
politics:
Think of Woodrow Wilson and thu
burden that he has borne for you sinc'
you made him your President.
His own party leaders are secret,
hostile to him because his theory O
public service conflicts with theory O.
public jobs.
The opposition party leaders are IN
scrupulous in fostering enmity between
the Democratic chiefs and the Presi
dent.
The former President, Roosevelt, hal
been ungenerous and unjust in purely
partisan attacks upon his successor.
In the face of this Mr. Wilson hal
all but completed program of con
structiye legislation more sweeping
than any American President ever un
dertook. And he has won his way il
spite of secret intrigue and plotting
both within and without the ranks Of
his own party.
The domestic problems were enough
to tax any mans strength. But there
| -, n. I L.
In the face of the sneers of thu
world and of certain element among
his own countrymen, the President IN
dertook to deal with the Mexican prob
lem. For months he prevented armed
Intervention. Then his hand was al
most forced by the unauthorized med
ding of an American naval officer al
Tampico.
Even with battleships and an army
actually inside Mexico's door, the Pres
ipent prevented war and his much ridi
culed Mexican policy now stands il
sharp contrast beside the conduct o.
the great nations of Europe.
AS these burdens piled upon hi:
shoulders great sorrow entered the
Presidents life. His beloved wife be
came sick unto death.
In the midst of this personal agony
he saw worldwar burst upon US. Oul
financial world staggered. Agricu
ture. commerce and industry stood
alright.
The financial problem was grapplec
with and quick plans were made t.
keep our channels of trade open, mo-
only to save our own prosperity. bu
to bring food and clothes to che strick
en- millions of Europe. In this latter
plan he is being opposed by selfish in
terests-as he has been all along.
In the midst of this the Presiden
finds time to turn aside to avert I
great civil war that threatened u
when the western railroads and thei
employees could not agree. A genera
strike was imminent. He averted tina
disaster, which would have been o
Unreasonable harm to the nation, ant
especially to the middle west.
Add to these things the ordinar.
and usual cares, troubles and dutie
that go with the presidential Office ant
you will begin to realize the tremen
dous stress under which Woodrow vii
son is serving you
Realize this, and you will see tn
quality of courage and seIf-sacrific,
that enabled the President to under
take the thankless task of peacemaker
All Europe is war-mad; blood is flow
| ing and the blood-lust of wholesal,
murder has become "a frenzy. Arm.
is hurled against army; feet agains
fleet; cities are being battered dow
and fields trampled under foot. Int,
this arena of blood-smeared maniac
the American President yentured. HI
offers his services to mediate the quar-
rel; to negotiate peace; to stay the ruiz
of war until Europe can resume tn
habits of mind and heart that are ;
part of civilization.
Whether Americas offer is acceptet
or not, the President played man
part. they said the schoolmaster wa
a mollycoddle because he wouldn't lie
our great battleships batter the rag
ged poems of Mexico, but he has shown
courage that is infinitely higher thai
the brute courage that would lead
charge or fire a broadside.
Staggering beneath burden of care
and actually at the bedside of his dy
ing helpmate, the schoolmaster Offered
his shoulders to the. further burden o
mediating an alien quarrel, to the ent
that the women and children of thu
world may not become race of wild
ows and orphans and that our CROP
may not waste while the world starves
If there be higher quality of courage
devotion and patience we have mo-
seen it,
If Europe will only accept the offer
America will have rendered supreme
service to humanity and will have put
back into the worlds vocabulary the
word civilization.