The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-05
The felicitOus Revision Of Prcsiden-
tial Opinions.

The felicitOus Revision Of Presiden.
tial Opinions.
Tho President has returned from his
expedition to the middle West having
achieved In the short space Of six
days Il new reputation for devotion
to the cause If preparedness and for
the forcihlc uttrruncc of those truths
about defence which seem to Us the
Immediate corollaries Of patriotism.
We congratulate him.
THE SrN frll"itates itself. likewise.
on the circumstance that II WIS pos
sihly the first non American news
papers 10 point out 10 Dr. VII o the
absolut" necessity "f n profound re-.
consideration of his former opinions
han II year ago. in his address Ia the
senators and Representatives of the
Siyty.third Congress. M the opening
Of the third session of that Congress.
the President dismissed in almost
pcremptorN fashion the idea that any
extraordinary efforts in the way Of
puired 10y the existing situation. The
tone az his references to prepared
ness was inpatient. almost sarcastic.
He then said:
"The subject is not new. There is no
new need to discuss II. We shall not
alter our attitude towsrd T. because
some among rs are nervous AID excited
We shall EASILY and sens.biy agree upon
q policy Of defence. Tile question has
not changed It's aspect because the times
are not normal let there he
no mlsconcept.on. The country has
been misinform-d. We have not been
negligent Of nationa. defence
A week ar NOR" before the assem-
bling Of The SiNii fourth Congress in
December last "" NenIurch I" advise
the Chief Magistrate /" eNpunge from
his memory and from his rhetoric AL
pcrniciouS ideas like the foregoing.
We went :" far ~ I" suggest the fol
lowing form nt recantation. or rather
revision of the untenablr sentiments
Of his earlier speeches:
"Since these words Mere uttered by
mo a great light mas been seen by the
country. and my own eyes have not
been blind. There is new need to dis
cuss the question % national defence.
The country has not been misinrormed
~ to the urgent reed for acton. We
Aore been negligent Of national defence.
We hare heen u]uu,udful Of the great re-
spons,bility resting upon US.
Elm all humility and without reserve
dictated by the pride Of personal opinion.
said. assure YOU that upon "A near
occasion | shall bring to Your attention
specific recommendations for r~emedying
the dangerous conditions which we now
all recognize and shall invite YOU To CO.
operate with me IN securing for our be-
loved land adequate insurance and safe
guards hoth military and naval
That is precisely what President
WILSON went forth into the middle
West 10 say. That is precisely wha,
he has been saying Ia the country, in
style incomparahly more elegant and
with a rhetorical skill vastly more
effective than was exhibited in THE
suns humble suggestion To him on
November ~.
Nevertheless. We may he pHrdonrd
for recalling III" fact that TIM SuN's
perception Of the noble Inconsistency
required of him by patriotic duty was
moi inaccurate.
Even that other patriotic advocate
of preparedness. cN-President THEo-
ORR ROOSEVELT. can scarcely find
fault with the one and spirit of these
recent celebrations to the middle
West. however widely his views may
differ. as 10 the details of the policy
Of preparedness, from those 50 re-
Gently adopted and now entertained
by his eminent successor.