The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-11-09
Not a Political Issue

TNHE announcement that the Democratic lead
i ers will soon hold war conference" for
the purpose Of making the national defense plan
of the administration party issue confirms the
belief of those who were confident that the Demo
cratic politicians could not indefinitely resist the
temptation to get in their oar. There is nothing
resembling political issue in the Presidents per-
formance of his plain duty along lines affecting
the interests of the country in connection with the
great European conflict. Any attempt to make 1t
a plan in the partys platform, with or without the
consent of the President will undoubtedly alien
ate large number of hgh-mnded Democrats
who take the consistent view that if the country
needs protecting it must be protected by men
of all political affiliations and that no prospective
soldier or sailor will be asked to what party he
belongs.
II the President should either directly or in
directly countenance this papable attempt to make
campaign capital out of the situation con-
fronting the country he will lose large share Of
the popularity his wise and non-partisan patriot
ism has thus far won for him. AS a matter of
fact, when the people think well of man they
usually magnify his good qualities beyond their
true proportions--and vice versa. The President
has done nothing but insist upon the exercise of
ordinary prudence. To have done otherwise would
have been to be false to the planest obligations
of his office. 1t has required no phenomenal
craftsmanship to steer the middle course through
the troubled way that lies before the nation
Warnings have been numerous the rocks have
been always plainly in sight; the history of the
past the conditions of the present and the in
evtable eXigences of the future have combined
to make the way clear. The choice either en-
gulfment in the world strife or neutrality limited
only by due regard for the maintenance lf the
nations rights and the defense of its honor.
he prPC hoC he iSdO
which his political enemies will not discount by
contrasting it too forcibly with the folly of an
opposite course. For all this he deserves the
thanks of the people, but it is going too far to
say that he should have another presidential term
for tin the light of many other facts which
of vital consequence. He would display the worst
possible taste and commit fatal political bunder
by seeking to hypothecate these good opinions
for delegates next year because he kept out of
war" The good impression he has made would
be quickly forfeited if he should either demand
or accept reward for asking the people to pro-
tect themselves for the future.
Instead of war conference of Democrats, real
patriotism Ito say nothing of statecraft) would
suggest conference of men of all political faiths
to discuss measures which are not only essentially
nonpartisan but which cannot be given a political
significance without having both the wisdom and
patriotism of the Democratic leaders proposing
them seriously impugned. The votes which will
authorize defense measures will be cast by Amer
icans-nOt Democrats, Republicans other par
tisans The people to whom the final appeal must
be made simply Americans not Americans
divided along that issue into opposing political
camps
1t is strange that even the additionally short
sighted Democratic leaders cannot see the situa-
ton in its true light If they do not get this view
they are due for a rather drastic establishment
For the people, saved from the effects of Demo
cratic economic bunders only by the war are in
no frame of mind to countersign any and every
demand made upon their votes merely because
the President has refused to plunge the country
into needless war and has told the people-what
they know full well without being told-that they
must guard against possible danger in the future.