The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-06-10
WILSON'S HEAVY BURDEN.

1t was holiday in Washington.
Flags We're flying and bands were
playing. Curtains were drawn in de-
partment offices and officials and
clerks hied themselves to tennis
courts, golf links and baseball parks
or sought pleasure spots along the
Potomac. Thousands attended the
games between the Senators and
Yankees and cheered their favorites
every time they offered the slightest
excuse for an ovation. Some of the
more reverentially inclined visited
Arlington and other burial grounds
or elsewhere found surease from
their little personal cares in COM
munion with nature. 1t was a holt
day in Washington.
In the White House lonesome
man lacking even the comforting
companionship of the helpmeet
whom a few short months before he
had brought with him to Washing
ton, put in the day in deep thought
and his thoughts were not of Sen
ators and Yankees or even OF his per-
sonal woes. In his set face might
have been discovered burrows that
were not there on March 4, 1913, and
his hair was streaked with gray lines
that likewise had come into evidence
since that time. 1t was holiday in
Washington, and throughout the
United States, but only because by
fate's decree the burden OF. IA nation
might be laid upon the. shoulders of
single individual Flags fluttered,
bands played, fans rooted-and
Woodrow Wilson looked out across
the White House lawn and pondered
over What he ought to say to the i'm
periA1 government of Germany and
to%the warning leaders in Mexico in
execution of his sacred obligations to
his own people, to humanity and to
God
1t has been suggested that, with
the exception of Washington and
Lincoln, no other president has been
called upon to carry such burdens OF
statc-to face such epoch making re-
sponsibilities. Tasks which have fall
en- 10 the lot OF many of our presi-
dents seem to have been almost trivi-
al in comparison with those which
have confronted Woodrow Wilson al
most from the beginning of his ad-
ministration. He has been a modern
man Of s0rrows-but at the same
time Of modesty and patience. 1t has
not been his habit to call attention
to the exceptional responsibilities
that have been thrust upon him. Nor
could he have been fairly criticised
for giving way to his humanity to
that extent Even the Industrious
Lincoln was wont to compare his
own burden with that Of Washing
ton. Wilson is deserving the deepest
respect for his dignified, courageous
and manly attitude in a period OF
travail. He has kept his head and
maintained his poise and showed
himself to be a, true American.
In one particular Wilson is more
favored than was either Washington
or lincoln. He has the sympathy,
the backing and the support OF the
whole American people. Washing
ton was president of an infant repub-
lie in which the tory was still llv-
ing, breathing, moving factor, hope
full that time would make short work
of the new government and willing
to do whatever might lie in his pow
er to hurry along the dissolution.
Lincoln was president Of disrupted
union and lacked even the united
support of the people of the north,
who shortly after electig him seemed
to repent of what they had done and
narrowly missed discarding him at
ter his first four years in the White
House. Wilson may at least count
on the undivided loyalty OF 100000
1000 Americans.-Sio City journal.