The Alaska citizen., 1916-01-31
PATRIOTISM THAT IS TAINTED

PATRIOTISM THAT IS TAINTED
 In 1882 committee of ci | called at the White House - "N press it's dissatisfaction with Prr#i dent Lincolns conduct of th" war After Ii>tanin2 patti ntly To t"" e n nlaints of the delegation. President lincoln said
 "Gnntemcn. suppose all the prop ,1ty you were worth was in gold md you had put it in the hands Of 3londm to carry across the Niagara river on rope. Would you shak" the cable. or keep shouting after hna. Blondin, stoop a little more go a little faster-lean a little more 70 the north--lean little more 10 the scuth2' No you would hold ycu" breath as we'll as your tongue. and keep your hands off until he was safe over The Government is car lying an enormous weight. tntO'd treasures are in their hands. They are doing the best they can. Keep silence. and We will get you safe over"
 President Wilson could well an swer his critics in the words ot President Lincoln. Most of tho criticism of the Wilson Administra ton resembles the criticism of the Lincoln Administration In that il is small and partisan and aimless IL resembles the criticism of the Lincoln Administration too in that most of it comes from seconi and third rate men and newspapers.
 Practically nobody who rails gain.' the President has a policy of his own to present. Even the most rabid of the critics is afraid to come out and frankly declare for war Back of most of the assaults Is d petty and childish desire to lind fault for the sake of finding fault.
 Whether the President has made mistakes in handling the foreign affairs of the United States we do pot know. nor can anybody know at this time. He has succeeded thus far is keeping us out of war without surrendering any of our rights under International law Whether his policy works out well or i'll can be determined only by it's ultimate results in the light of his tory But one thing is certain Ther" Is no record of a serious blundel on the part of any President of the United States who combined patience with high principle.
 It is significant that Americans who are best qualified to crticise the foreign policies of the President have done nothing to embarrass him. Former President Taft is an avowed supporter of the President. Elihu Root. one of the ablest Sec retaries of State the country eve had has never allowed partisanship to lHleTltIe "llli pau ioliSlii IT same may be said of Phlander C. Knox. who was Mr Roots success sor as Secretary of State. It may be said of most public men who are in the habit of appealing to public reason rather than public passion.
 Events over which we have no control have placed the United States in a critical position in re cpect to Germany and Austria, The situation Is not of our seeking Or of our making. and the outcome may depend quite as much upon the sanity and loyalty of the American people a upon anything tho PraSi- dent may do. Private opinions are pitifully unimportant in comparison with the grave issues that are at take.
 The sort of patriotism that is in sufficient to stand together and up hold the hands of the Government at such a time as this is tainted from the start Heaven help the country that had to plunge into war with that kind of citizenship behind