West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-02-11

Democrats Was nucb departure from
nls policy Of staying in Washington and
laitending strictly 70 the public business
that the indianapolis address viii CON-
kmand much attention. Hitherto Mr..
Wilson has been the opposite OF loquacious
Yin defending his administration; some of
This friends think that lie has been far
too reticent in his relations with the
public in justice TO his own policies.
II the President went fishing for q
sympathetic demonstration in his favor
in that connection, he seems to have
been rs successful in the venture as he
was artistic in throwing the bait. In
general. the country has not regarded
very seriously the opposition by such
persons as Mr.. Hearst and Governor
Colquitt Of Texas to Mr.. Wilson'S renomi-
nation.
The times are such that President of
shrewd less and great ability should enjoy
certain notable advantages over his
political foes. He certainly has the adj
vantage OF the initiative in government
policy and can make positive instead of
a purely negative record. An illustration
is the pending Government shipping bill
II by reason Of the shortness of the
session the opposition is able to prevent
the measure from coming to vote, and
thus is able to kill it, the opposition does
nothing to help American foreign COM
merce move In greater bulk on the high
seas. But the President, even in case
the bill is defeated, will make "A positive
record Of seeking 10 relieve in some
measure the countrv's over sea trade of a
burden which an unparalleled emergency
had unexpectedly placed upon il. In
this event he must gain something, even
II his ship policy is open to grave criti-
cism. At least he did what he could.
His opponents did what they could to
have nothing done.
These are extraordinary times in the
worlds history and scarcely anything in
politics and government policy, even in
the United States, can today be Judged
by precisely the standards one would have
used SIX months ago. Political thinking
needs to be subjected to revision, and
previous conclusions on most questions
in public affairs need to be reviewed IN
the light OF the new conditions that have
suddenly enveloped the world What
one may have thought about the tariff.
or the currency, or tho income tax, or
the army and navy, or Mexico, or the
philippines, or socialism, or world fedora
| ton, or International arbitration, or
public taxation and expenditures, or tile
essential efficiency OF democratic govern
ment-all may not unproftably be re.
viewed in the light OF those two long
battle fronts in France and Poland and
the possible outcome OF this Armageddon
of the nations.
President Wilson finds himself at the
head of the United States Government i'm
this tremendous world crisis i'm an Office
OF exceptional power and political initia-
tive. His opportunity to play the role
OF great statesman, perhaps one OF tie
greatest in our history, will be widened
in so far as he himself appreciates that
opportunity in its unique character, es-
pecially as he appreciates his privilege to
guide his party and the nation with
reference to conditions as they now are
and without slavish adherence to con-
ditions as they we're before the world
broke with its past on August l.
The people as whole, however, mus,
realize that in highly critical period
true Americanism dictates support of
| their government so far sympathetic and
unmistakable as to keep it strong in the
face OF the outside world. No other
government than that of Woodrow Will
son is now possible for two years. At
least he is making it an American govern
ment, not semi-German nor a semi.
British government. but truly neutral
and friendly to all as an American State,
independent and puissant. should be.
During the remainder of his term OF
office the President should benefit from
the desire Of the bulk of the nation TO
cooperate with him along that line
The Springfield Republican (Ind.)
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