The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-17


railways 5Rt country and Observation-Disclosures
test the one t:itsinte centers only in ou7R own road
and region. BY building a tunnel here, by buying a ter
mfnaf there. we shall be putting our competitors eta dis
advantage. Their stock will be OF less value; their pa.
irons will be at a disadvantage in commerce in competi-
ton With ours. / will work only as all-ou= interests are
c~ofnatda1t. or. suppose Mr.. Wilson we're mayor Of a city
and deGlaled that he would not rto ~
and declared that he would not try to better its economic
position unless equal bctterment were made in surround.
ing cities.
Mr.. wilson was elected chief executive of the United
states. He was made president OF a nation, not Of hu-
mainly. II his policy is being shaped to go in" only
where he believes our interests are c%oincidcnt with the
fntcres:s OF mankind, and to come out the moment the
Interest. certers in America. he has assumed a function
which the mass Of Americans did not dream OF bcstowing
upon hiul
II Mr.. Wilson's proposal means anything, it offers a
rule of ctnduct which is not realized or aimed at In the
practical relations OF business or private life. II the ma.
ton is ready to follow it in international relations, its poo
pie are ready to follow it in their daily living, and tho
Millennium has been ushered in with this postprandial
evangel.
Suppose a lawyer in the middle Of a trial were to dc,
clare that, although he had eagerly sought to be retained
by his client in the first place. now he would not argue
his clients case before the tribunal any more earnestly
than he would argue the case of his opponents. 1t might
salve his own personal conscience. but what would his
client :hiuk about him?
Is the natIon reconcilcl 10 come out Of Mexico the mo.
nlGnL OEF presence lneTE " supporter surely ny SOEouGA
alton OF American interests. as. for example. the safety
of our troops and citizens in Mexico or on the border, the
future t:3nquillity and security of our border states, the
due punishment of Offenders against us. and the cstab.
lishmen: Of respect for the property and personal rights
Of our avn people?
Nj. W.son now declares that he feels as high a duty
toward Mexico and MexiCans as to America AID Amert~
cans. This is what VIC have suspected all along. In our
opinion this sense Of duty ON the part Of the president of
the United States is perverted. And Mr.. Wilson has not
only lived III to 1t but gone beyond 1t.
In hs dealings with Mex!cans he has hccn more tender
of their feelings than OF ours; he has been moro con.
ccrned for their welfare than for the welfare OF his own
countrymcn, he has been more patriotic toward d foreign
country than toward his own.
And now IS the nation to go into tho world war because
Mr.. Wilson conccives that our interests arc concidcnt
with til. interests OF mankind, and to come out. il VIC can
get out. the moment GU. interest ccntcrs in America?
The tribune does not slarc this transccndentaI con-
ception Of the duty Of this government and this nation.
The Tribune believes that 1t is the duty of our government
and tho :Ign: of our nation to found its policy on our own
substantial interests, protecting and advancing them with
decent moderation, good feeling, and fair play. We do
not believe It is our duty to act solely in the interest OF
mankind, even if wo could be as certain of that interest
as Mr.. wilson seems to be. And knowing that We neither
should ncr could sustain such rule of policy, we know
it is demrralzing and dangerous to view ourselves as an
cvangcis: agency in the world until we arc brought up
by the Lard shock Of reality.