The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-03-05
COMPLETES
Second Year As President o.
The United States

Washington, ID. c., March Wood
row Wilson today completes his sec
cnd year In the presidential chair. He
has met with disappointments and
triumphs, bitter criticism and high
praise. His task has been heavy
throughout the year, and weight of
Office is today at its greatest.
The end of his second presidential
years finds President Wilson in a per-
picking situation. He is face to face
with questions bigger in our national
life than any which beset the nation
since Lincoln. He is called upon to
steer the ship of state through the
great world storm of war that threat
ems TO engulf all civilized nations.
AS world figure he holds a posi-
tion which no other president has
been called upon to fill. The presi-
dent Of the United States Is looked
TO for leadership by all the neutral ma
tions. The turn of world events has
thrust upon him the heavy human
duty of accepting this leadership. 1t
was a brand new thing for the world
to look to America. 1t is indeed a
momentous situation, and one which
/ calls for all the learning of the pro-
fessor, the calmness of man who
| knows events, the sureness of the
| great thinker and the humanity OF
the heart that knows men.
During the year now passing, Pres
ident Wilson has met with many sore
disappointments. He has lost his
wife and helpmate, and the great
rooms Of the White House have been
robbed Of much of their attraction for
him. He is more alone in spirit But
he has thrust his energies into his
work to Offset this feeling. Then last
November he saw the sweep of the
elections show clearly that the coun-
try was not with him as he had hoped
and expected. Although he had
worked to his utmost, he read in the
returns that the wave of feeling that
had swept him into office had receded.
Regardless of the cause, the result
was surely disheartening to man
! beset by the difficulties which were
growing thicker about him.
And then, still more recently, came
the failure of his ship bill to pass the
senate. This was surely disappoint
ment to the chief executive
There have been many triumphs
during the year for President Wilson,
as there were in his first year. De-
spite the irony of the press on his
"watchful waiting" policy, the avoid
ing of ENGAGEMENTS with the Mexican
revolution is surely an accomplish
ment of the administration. History
will undoubtedly support his policy of
allowing the deluded Mexicans to
fight out their affairs without inter.
ference.
He has seen the revision of the
banking system of the country under
the Federal Reserve act, an important
but quiet event in American history.
That this was big accomplishment
of the administration during the year
now passing, in fact the most notable
event in our national life for many
years, is the general opinion in trade
and finance.
President Wilson's handling of
Americas policy regarding the Euro
pean war has commanded the respect
of all nations. Neutrality was no new
thing. But the multiple of emotions
aroused in the breasts of Americans
have been brought to bear upon the
; head of the nation, and it has taken
many months of patient effort for
the administration to assuage these
bitter factions. First and foremost in
his many duties, was the moulding of
the public sentiment of America into
united thought that neutrality is
sacred thing.
In international affairs, the United
States was suddenly called to assume
world leadership. The neutrals
| looked to washington Tor guidance,
and since last August, Washington
J has been the center of world politics,
even in the eyes of the belligerents
The tender of peace proposals to the
! warning nations was judiciously done
The unprecedented situation re-
garding neutral shipping in the war
zone is by far the greatest question
! President Wilson has been called up
on to consider The awful RESPONSE
bility entailed would unmask weak
man, would crowd him to earth. But
! Woodrow Wilson is facing his world
t"sk IN manlv. American way. He
is not afraid. He Is real American.
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