The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-08-18
LET THE CALLED JADE VINCE
Boston Transcript.)

| NDOSlOll 4lduoSlipt.J
Democrats are desperate. On no
other theory can we explain their
preposterous complaints against Mr.
Hughes destructive criticism of their
laundering. They make no attempt to
answer him, In that they display a
discretion which is almost human; for
he is unanswerable. The absolute
truth Of every count in his indictment
of Wilsonian laundering is impreg-
nable. Denial would be fantastic
folly justification is impossible. But
what says the old lawyers rule? mo
case. Abuse the opposing Attorney
But to follow that rule is to confess
defeat
Their complaints are based upon
two grounds. One is that it is not
good morals nor sound patriotism to
criticize the president, particularly
when he is confronted with grave
problems. TO that we must demur.
There is nothing about Woodrow
Wilson so sacrosanct as to exempt
him from the common and otherwise
universal fate of presidents. The rule
of lese majestic has never prevailed in
the United States to forbid legitimate
and truthful criticism and condemna-
ton of the acts of any public official
save on the judicial bench Venomous
personal abuse and criminal incite-
ment, such as was directed against
Washington, against Lincoln, and
against Mckinley, actually leading to
the murder of the last-named, is of
course detestable. But there is no
NJ
Gus indictment of the Wilson admins
tration. He is as coldly impersonal as
ever he was in framing a judicial de-
cision on the supreme bench. That,
indeed, is why his criticisms so greatly
hurt the Democrats and sting them to
futile fury.
Nor does patriotism require men to
hold their peace when an inept and
lmpotent administration is involving
the country in embarrassment and
humiliation, and is exposing it to
danger of something worse. To do so
would be to compound felony. The
fundamental theory of party govern
ment is that the opposition shall be
a critic of the government, for the
good of the latter and of the country.
legitimate functions and lose its very
reason for existence if it did not offer
such criticism. 1t would be guilty of
moral treason to the nation if it saw
grave evil being done and did not
denounce it.
Equally flimsy and shallow is the
other ground of complaint, that Mr.
Hughes criticises the errors of Mr.
Wilson without telling what he him
self would do, and without formulat-
ing complete constructive policy
such as his administration would pur-
sue were it in office at that time. The
demand that Mr.. Hughes shall thus
advise and coach the present admins
tratlon is impertinent; and the demand
that he shall thus inform the nation is
superfluous. Indeed, it is disingenu-
Gus. Nobody who knows anything at
all about national politics is today in
the slightest doubt as to what Mr..
Hughes would do if he were in Mr..
Wilson's place, or as to what the
policy of the Republican party would
be II 1t were in control of the gov
eminent. The party's record is per-
tectly we'll known and its platform
is comprehensive and unequivocal;
while Mr.. Hughes personal declara-
tons, both in his despatch to the
nominating convention and in his
speech of acceptance. have been de-
cidedly more detailed and positive
than those of almost if not of any
presidential candidate.
The fact is that all this shrill and
hysterical clamor for a constructive
policy" from Mr.. Hughes is utterly in
sincere. 1t is simply the desperate
device of beaten men to dodge the
issue, and to get the country to dis
cussing Mr., Hughs instead of Mr..
Wilson's policies. Mr.. Hughes is not
the issue. The Republican party is
not on trial. 1t is the administration
of Mr.. Wilson that is under consider
alton. 1t is the Democratic party that
is at the bar. Let the CALLED Jade
vince; our withers are unwrung."