The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-04-28

legislative programmes can be enact
ed into law without the Presidents CO.
ercing Congress or bribing it with pat
ronage.
They would point to his prepared
ness measures as full atonement for
past derelictions on the part Of the Re
publican party, and as an example Of
leadership that knows how, in times
of national peril, to bring irreconcil-
able political elements into harmony
for the public welfare.
They would point to the Administra-
tion of Wilson as second only to the
Administrations of Washington and
Lincoln in the record of mighty
achievement in behalf of the American
people.
All this and more would Republicans
say of Woodrow Wilson if he were a
Republican President Why should the
fact that he is Democratic President
preclude their saying it?
They have no Presidential candidate
of their own who measures up to the
situation, and they do not know where
to find one. They have no issue. Why
not nominate Woodrow Wilson, as the
Democrats are going to do, and to give
the world the most impressive demon
stration of American unity in a great
crisis that it has ever known?
We do not mean that the Republican
Party should shut up shop or make it.
self an annex to the Democratic Party.
That would be calamity, for party
of opposition is essential to republican
institutions. The Republican Party
could nominate its own candidate for
Vice President. 1t could name its own
candidates for Senators and Represen-
tatives in Congress, its own candidates
for Governors in the various States
and for all local offices. Only the
Presidency would be excluded for the
time being from the arena of partisan
strife.
No other nation with leader like
Woodrow Wilson would be crazy
enough in the midst of world crisis
to change or to tolerate any attempt to
bring about a change. We know of no
reason why the American people
should be less sane than other people,
or why they should permit their vital
interests to be bedevilled for the edi
fication of ambitious professional poll
| ticians.
1t will always remain to the discred
1t OF the Democratic Party that in the
strain and stress of the Civil War II
nominated a candidate for President
against Abraham Lincoln and sought
for partisan advantage to discredit the
Lincoln Administration Surely the Re
publican Party at time like this can
not desire to emulate that miserable
example of Copperhead Bourbonism
1t cannot desire to weaken the infu
ence of the United States Government
abroad by partisan campaign agains
the President at home.
Republican politicins talk mucl
about patriotism, American prestige
and the national honor. Do they be
lieve what they say? If so, they ought
to welcome the chance to nominate
President Wilson. That would be 6
supreme manifestation of patriotism
1t would strengthen American prestige
in every capital of the world as moth
ing else could do. 1t would put the ma
tional honor beyond the possibility o
stain. 1t would reveal to civilization {
united Republic, eager for peace, un
afraid of war and determined to main
tain the glorious traditions of service
to mankind which it inherited from
the Fathers.
What say you, gentlemen of the Re
publican convention? Is the part!
whose proud boast Is that 1t saved tn,
Union great enough and patriot,
enough to help give to American dem
o6racy a new Union in this day whel
civilization itself is hanging crucifiet
on cross Of European Imperialism?