Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-10-12

The democratic administration is
on trial in the great court OF Pub
lie Opinion. At such times 1T is
entirely proper for every citizen
of the nation to become justly crltl-
cah of his government. To be fair
minded and just is the first essen
tial: but after this, we cam not be
too careful and pains-taking in our
investigation, nor too keen and in
cisive in our judgement OF the EVIL
dence; for We look to our govern
menjt to protect our property, our
liberty and our lives.
Until recently the Journal mas
refrailned from criticising the Will
son administration. 1t has felt that
the more considerate part was 10
he silent regarding those matters
which it could not fully approve
or commend.
However. the time has arrived
when it is proper to discuss inc
merits and shortcomings OF our gov
eminent at Washington. The Jour
nal has been, doing this pretty vlgor
ously the past three or four weeks.
IT. has made no bones OF the tact
that it regards the so-called elght-
hour law as an indefenslble act,
of which the farmers of the nation
are the particular victims. All at
tempts to defend this lnlqultous
law have broken down. More and
more it is standing out as an out
rage against the public Whlon
should really have been protecoeu
and defended by Mr.. Wilson at all
hazards. Yet none can say that lt
was committed in any spirit on de-
Iberate ill-will. Rather it seems
to have been simply a blunder due
+o weakness and lack of knowledge
in nlace where we should expect
to find instead strength and WIS
dom.
Most of us instincutively recog-
nize in this the great, sWeepNnet
charge that can be brought aeatns'
rho present administration. 1t mas
heen weak and short-sighted ana
wayering in too many cases. indeed
If ia hard to recall many instances
i'm which it has shown strength ano
saeacityy---or courage. If there be
an instance where firmness was
shown it was in our dealings with
Germany over the question: OF
submarine warfare; and yet we
cannot forget that during the pre-
else period when this matter was
heine adjusted and war CLOUDS
were lowering over us, the presl-
dent declared in a public speech
Hhat we were 'too proud ito fight.
Moreover 1T was just at this tune
that the Hay Law was ehaoceu
which SO limited our army anu
navy as to leave us completely nelp-
less before my other important ma
ton of the earth; and this Ia" naa
the presidents active support ana
approval.
Facts like these should be care
fully considered by every man at
nresent. What do they mean as TO
the ability of our government to de-
fend itself and to protect It's peo7
nla i'm case THE test came as II
may easily come within the next
sour wears? The test may come OF
not. But let us not forget this:
that the worlds wealth is flowing
tn ia ir unthinkable quant1tles'
that already we have as mucn
gold as al of Europe taken togeuh'
ar and total wealth equal to any
other two or three nations OF the
earth; that when the war Is over
the other great nations will be
bankrupt but still have powerful
armies and armaments while VIZ
shall be rolling in wealth but un
defended and helpless; and thai
we are on really friendly terms witt
hardly one of them at present.
No, dear reader, the above ID
not imagination nor speculation. L
la rathen hist of ominous facts
which we as American citizena
should face fully apd which should
mot under any condition be- lost tt
mind, while we are laying oul
course for the next four years.
IL ever in the history of the
world there was a gold-burdened