South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-09
WILSON'S INDIANA
ADDRESS.

last legislature that resulted in the
recent indictments. or that he would
try TO smooth over the recent arrests
OF Terre Haute politicians who seem
20 have overstepped the bounds Of
prOpriety. have. to put it lightly,
found themselves woefully mistaken.
II appears 20 have been very much in
accordance with out view announced
when it was first made public that the
president was TO visit the state. it
had been decided at Washington that
the time was ripe, for the president to
speak out in defense Of mis- admins
tration, direct 10 the people. and Jack
son day, was decided upon as the ap-
propriate time. with indianapolis. In
diana. near the center of population
Of the country. as the appropriate
place
National issues were the ones dis
oussed by the president. All that he
said to the Indiana democracy was in
the way Of counseling it to maintain
the high ideals of the party. and in
this he was rather critical than con-
scling. That the democratic party
must continue the progressive party
Of the country IL it is to continue in
power. was made unqualifedly plain.
With this he went on to show that
the democratic party is progressive,
particularly in national affairs. and
sanely so. Even it's critics have to
resort to subterfuge. bombast. and
well-nigh political brigandage. in
order to make anything Of a showing.
II was good for Indiana to hear an
intelligent discussion Of the workings
OF the tariff. Of the federal reserve
bank law. the administration Mex
lean policy. its European war policy.
and the reasons for the revenue
emergency act, this directly from the
presidents own lips. These are the
measures out of which the opposition
20 democracy appear to be trying TO
make political capital. 1t is a pity
that the whole country could not have
heard the president II is a pity that
certain newspapers should SO persist
emily incline to coloring and misrep-
resenting what he did say. Surely
one man in the country should be en-
titled to respectable hearing and hon
orable treatment when he talks. There
ought TO be at least one man in the
whole realm, free 10 step out in the
open and explain a position that he
has taken. without having his motives
discounted. or the sincerity of his pur-
pose challenged.
c1rrb frpa TIM ont from an ON
position press ana partisan SPELL
binders. as is being heaped upon
Pres't Wilson, that encouraged J.
Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham
Lincoln; that maddened Charles
Guiteau 70 kill James A. Garfield;
that put II into the head of Leon
CzoIgolz TO slay William Mckinley;
that even. only two years ago. in
spired an attack on the life OF ex-
Pres't Roosevelt In every one of
these cases the cranks thought they
were performing a patriotic service
10 their country. They had been given
TO understand by inference, at least,
from both yellow press and platform.
that the nation would be well rid of
Lincoln, Garfield, Mckinley and
Roosevelt. and it was to remove such
"mooted traitors" that the assassins'
bullets were put into action
And if the things charged against
these men; the demagoguery. the am
bilious purposes. ct cetera. had been
true. the swapping out OF their lives
would 60 a moral extent at least, have
matter is that the assertions that
prompted the action were false just
as the things said about Pres't Wilson.
questioning his motives and conduct.
are false. The devil seems 10 need
these things however. 10 assist him
IN fitting his candidates for their most
devilish work In these times of
semi-deprcssion. misinterpretation Will
be lucky if it fails 70 bring history up
10 the standard of repeating itself.
The psychology of the imbecne is in
very appropriate condition of sus-
eeptibility, and the tempter was never
more busiiy engaged.
No one could listen 10 Pres't Wilson
at Indianapolis and question the hon
esty and sincerity of his motives
whether agreeing with his principles
CT not Grant him that much, how
ever. and the opposition knows that
its ammunition is all gone Ii was
Pres't Wilson's first direct address TO
the people of the whole nation since
ne entered office. and ne acquitted
himself like statesman and a man.
AS the nations CHIEF executive he
should be treated accordingly. il is
placing patriotism above partisanship.
10 be sure. but there should still be a
little room LETT for il i'm this land OF
tire square deal"