The Washington herald., 1915-05-16
Political Situation.


Secretary Bryan and Secretary Daniels the fight,
ing spirit in the American people is dead
They arc slow to engage in quarrel. but when
aroused by attack upon the nations honor
they display the same qualities which led their
ancestors to resent British oppression and to
conquer the wilderness from savage tribes They
have always paid tribute to the fighter Wash
ington's command of the army in the Rcvolu-
tionary war led to his unanimous choice as Pres
idcnt; Andrew Jacksons victory at New Orleans
paved the way for his election; the fighting quail
ties Of Zachary Taylor and William Henry Har-
rison landed them in the White House: and
Grants great gcncralship obscured the fact that
he not Statesman and made him as vic
torous at the polls he had been with his
armies. After the successful outcome of the war
with Spain Democrat could have defeated
William Mckinley for reelection There is one
exception to the rule. President Polk was not
reelected after the with Mexico but every
one knows that upon the merits OF that conflict
there serious division of public sentiment.
So that, at present, President Wilson is riding
upon wave of popularity because he has had the
patriotism and courage to firmly rebuke Germany
for the massacre of the helpless passengers upon
the Lustania. The commentator which he is
receiving is nonpartisan. Former President Taft
Gov Willis of Ohio, and many other promine Mt
Republicans, have publicly Endorsed his action
and it may be set down for certain that should
occasion arise for still more determined action,
party lines would be forgotten in the effort to
uphold the hands of the President
But unfortunately for the Democrats, this is
not Presidential year. Twelve months must
elapse before the people called upon to choose
their candidates for President. and the election is
still year and halt distant. This is long time
to wait. Many things may happen within the
next eighteen months.
There is possibility Of political boomerang
in the German situation. If Germany should po-
litely inform that it is none of our business
how she conducts in which we have no
concern; if she should reply that in furnishing
arms and munitions of war, we'll foodstuffs
to the allies, we have aided and abetted her enc
mics; and if she should ask us to use our good
Offices to raise the embargo which Great Britain
has placed upon the entrance of food into Ger
many, the President would have another note to
write One remembers, with some misgiving, the
demand which was made upon Mexico to. salute
the American flag reparation for the Tampico
incident. Has the flag been saluted? Not yet
The army and navy went to Vera Cruz and then
came back again What has been done to protect
American lives and property in Mexico: Moth
ing The murder of American citizens in that
alleged republic still continues, and confscation
and pillage unchecked. The history of the
administrations dealings with the Mexican situ-
alton is of vacillation In May, 1914, in an
authorized interview, the President announced
that he would insist upon the settlement of the
agrarian land question in Mexico and upon the
ousting of the de facto control of the government
Of the republic. In January, 1915, he announced,
in a speech in Indianapolis, that it was nobody's
business how long the Mexicans might be in de-
termnng how they worked out their own saliva |
lion. In the meantime. more American lives have
been lost in Mexico through the failure OF this !
government to demand and enforce observance
Of treaty rights than were lost in the Lustana
tragedy.
1t is with these facts in mind that the Ameri- |
can people arc obviously awaiting the outcome,
and it is because OF these things that the effect |
of the trouble with Germany upon political
situation cannot be accurately predicted. If we
should merely walk up hill and then down
again, as did the famous King OF France. and as
sc did in Mexico, there would be credit to the !
and the people would manifest
heir disapproval at the polls. 1t is easy to see,
therefore,, that the President is treading thin
&C. In other words, he has yet to make good.
70 an impartial observer it looks il he were
between the devil and the deep blue sea. His
,wn inclinations against war, and the men at
he head OF the diplomatic and naval branches of
he government equally antagonistic. He
must know, also, that the country is not prepared
or war, and that it seems absurd to talk OF fight
ne an enemy thousands OF miles away. He must
now. further, that any proposition to send Amer-
an troops TO fight with the French and English
nd BclgianS in the trenches a foreign soil
would be most unpopular. What then is to be
lie outcomco
The answer 10 that important question rests
oIcy with tho future. But upon the answer also
epcnds in very large measures. the result OF the
ext Presidential election. 1t is just possible that
ciorc the campaign i FULLY may be
n serious foreign cntangcments. Should this be
he situation. the usual political issues would be
or gotten. Everything would be swallowed up
Il the necessity OF standing shoulder TO shoulder
n tho uphodnc OF the national honor. But IT,
N the other hand our bluff Germany should be
allied and VIC should meckly lay cards upon
he table, tho present wave OF popular enthusiasm
;ould he succeeded by universal ridicuc, and the
administration world become laughing stock
ycrywhcrc The President, however, has burned
81,