The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-20
State Editors.
MR.. WILSON, A MENACE.


Mr.. WILSON, a MENACE.
In some respects. Mr.. Wilson Is a
man to be admired. His private life
has always been above reproach. He
Is a strong. forceful, virile man. He
uses beautiful English and Is a vog.
orous writer, but as President, he Is
q menace. The fact that he Is a
strong, forceful man, makes him all
the more dangerous. Through the
laundering of his administration on
the tariff question and other domes.
tic policies, he has literally paralyzed
the business OF the country and has
brought upon the nation greater dis.
aster than any other president whom
the White House has before! sheltered,
and the end Is not yet. To the little
business that is left, as a menace he
looms up larger and more threatening
with each day that passes.
He Is q menace to constitutional
government. The men who laid the
foundation OF our goyernmenteand
they laid 1t broad and deep-con.
ceived the idea that a more perfect
union could be established, that jus.
tice would be promoted, that the gen.
eral welfare and the blessings OF
liberty would be better secured to the
people Of these United States bya gov.
eminent divided into three depart.
ments the Legislative, Executive
and the Judicial-and so it is written
in our national Constitution. Up to
this time Mr.. Wilson has not laid
violent hands on the Judiciary, but
so far as the national legislature is
concerned, congress has ceased to
exist as an Independent department
OF government. MI. Wilson has as.
sumed autocratic power over con,
gress and his word in that body is
law. a majority Of the members are,
more servile to his commands than
the Duma of Russia to the Gear. II
proof be needed, look to the spectacle
of the house and the senate voting
at his command, for the Panama canal
toll bill, though they hung their heads
In shame when they did it, because
they knew it was an open and brazen
violation of their platform pledge and
a base betrayal OF their party. II
more proof is wanted, seek it In the
devious history Of the ship purchase
bill.
MI. Wilson is a menace to- the
peace of the country Notwithstanding
he proclaims himself champion Of
worldwide peace. His desire for
peace is like unto the word of&God.
ut passeth understanding "A pro.
fessed friend Of peace. he made war
on Mexico, captured her chief sea.
port, killed her people and sacrificed
the lives OF more than a score Of our
own countrymen. then withdrew our
forces without having accomplished
the thing he gave as an excuse for a
hostile invasion Of a friendly coun.
try. BY hts course in the Mexican
embroglio he Inundated his country
in the eyes Of the whole civilized
world. By his acts, he confessed that
he had no Just cause to make war, Or
II he did have. he preferred that his
country should submit to a humilat-
ing insult to the flag rather than
pursue a war already begun.
By attempting to force congress to
pass the ship.purchase bill, he is en-.
deayortng to force upon our people
q measure fraught with moro danger
to the peace OF this continent than
any measure that has been before the
American congress during the last
century. The arrogant interference
by England with our privately owned
ships Of commerce has been exasper.
ating to the. American people. Their
patience has been sorely tried al.
ready, but II hostile hands should
ever be laid upon a government owned
ship and. as a prize. towed into a
foreign port and subjected to the
jurisdiction Of a foreign court, their
rage would brook no bounds. II
would be surpassed only BY their
deep and everlasting humiliation IL
the stain on their country's flag was
not washed out with human blood.
Let the news be flashed over the
wires that England, Germany, France
or Russia has seized q government
owned ship Of the United States or
has blown her up on the high seas
and we would witness Q repetition OF
the excitement AID hurried prepare.
ton for war that followed, when on
that morning in February, 1898, the
American people woke up to read In
their morning papers, that the United
States b%attleship Maine has been
blown up and destroyed in Havana
harbor with the loss OF more than
three hundred American lives.
The ship:purchases bill is dangerous
las dangerous as o coal Of fire In a
powder magazine. Wilson Is q
Misunderstanding State Journal.