Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-29
tReprnted from The Washington Post Of April IS. 1919

To the Editor of The Washington Post-Sir:
Mr. Wilson lately revived the ancient Federast custom Of
speech to the assembled Representatives in Congress-
ally nstructng them upon their duties and obligations to the
Administration
that the significance of this Presidential per-
Torrance has been largely overlooked.
Is not worthy of that the last President to indulge
this formal procedure was John Adams the Federast
President and that the first President dispense with this cere
PRESIDENT
In the early days of this Republic there distinct
lines Of thought in the politics Of the country and two distinct
BODIES o. citizens supporting these lines o. aOugHt !.
eved both in the letter and in the spirit Of the Declaration OF
Independence who were convinced that new order OF things
both advisable and advantageous that the old established
systems Of government by superior class failures and
that government by all the people not only the most just
and righteous but the most practical and successful form OF gov
eminent that could be devised.
On the other Federasts regarded rad
cal innovations less dangerous and be-
heved that for the American be entirely safe
and sound must be modelled largely upon the established forms
Of government in the older European countries.
This division Of opinion and policy among patriots at
that early date entirely natural and temperamena Men
eved in the established order of things Men of original and
adventurous thought like Jefferson believed and bet
ter order of things and dreamed Of greater and nober nation
than had been known built the firm foundations of jus
tce and equality Of liberty and opportunity.
These dreams have true but in those early days there
not sufficient experience in popular to guide
all to confidence in the order Of things and the
Federa with their belief in the established order Of things
At this day Federasts still exist but not in sufficient
bers to form separate party and they found scattered
through the other parties and sometimes in commanding posi-
tons in one Of the other parties.
The distinguishing mark of the Federass from the be-
ginning has been their special admiration for and confidence
the English system Of Hamilton the real creator
OF the Federas party carried an inclination to incorporate
the English procedure into American form Of government
far that he by Jefferson Of desire make
the United States q monarchy.
We hardly believe that even the most extreme Federal
list would willing 60 that length
ainly the Federasts whole apparently unable
understand and appreciate the beauty the simplicity the hui
mainly and the pracicabty of Jeersons dsnctvey Amer
ideas and turned invariably to the autocrac and
aristocratio methods Of the mother country.
The Federast method Of speech by the President to Con-
gress adaptation Of the British usage Of speech to
Parliament from the Throne
The arstocratc Adams approved it and practiced it.
Thomas Jefferson founded Democratic
and introduced into American political life the simplicity which
has characterized it. adopted modest democratic method
OF writing message Congress- expressing his views and Of
fering suggestions for legislation.
It is singular thing that for hundred and thirteen
years great Democrats from Andrew Jackson Grover Ceve
land and great Republicans from Abraham Lincoln Thee
dore Roosevelt should have followed the simple modest and
democratic method Of Thomas Jefferson and that only the
Democratic administration of day return made in this
speech to the ceremonous and somewhat spectau
lar procedure of the close Of the eighteenth century
President Wilson in the introduction of his speech to
Congress explained his somewhat sensational performance by
stating that he wished to show that President human
being.
Since the time Of John Adams there has been no one in
public e except Mr. Wilson who believed that President
could possibly be considered anything than human being
IT, however Mr. Wilson's suspicion is correct and there
has lately arisen among independent and intelligent American
citizens belief that there something superhuman and
natural about President Mr. Wilson has effectively dispeed
the purely human weaknesses including vanity and craving
for newspaper notoriety
The significance and Importance however of President