Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-17
BY PHILIP PAYNE
Editorial writer. the Miunsapoif. Journ.l
Pen name. 'Proxinus rhnstsr.''
Winner Of Second Prize. $500

Winner Of Second Prize. $500
august hrst. 1914. closed an era out OF
the wars travail II being born q new world
Tor us as for Europe. The next Adminls-
uauoh WIN confront novel hazards II
must adjust the United States TO grave
computations amidst furious competitions
We will be able 60 AFFORD few mistakes ana
wide errors might wreck US.
The question therefore Ia not whether Mr.
wilson upon his record deserves reelection
~ IN an ordinary time. but whether he and
ms party are competent 10 cope with tho
very perilous responsibilities certain 20
eroNu the four years to come.
we can be fair to Mr.. Wilson. Perplexed
70 the extreme by extraordinary events he
mas done as well perhaps as was permitted
nus academic understanding and as the
Democracy's non.contact with twentteth-
century reality allowed.
He has kept US out Of war" Meaning
that Ike the British army he has managed
70 muddle through. But 10 muddle Is not
70 master, and Mr. Wilson's negative sue
cess mas as good as demonstrated his in
e-paSty 70 grapple' the greater dIfficulties
Nnlcn loom. SO serious are the problems
promised that they are certain to confuse
rresiuent IN any wise weak and to con-
round party that is essentially ignorant
The war has terribly tried poor Mr.. Will
son Nevertheless. except for the war he
wouiu now be political bankrupt. his
eehe WIN inc people. The war
furnishes Mr.. Wilson his stocl-in-trade and
excuses the Democratic party their error
But for the wars interposition between
inc Wnson-Underwood schedules and their
inevitable consequences. the injured and
eAhsperated voters would now be awaiting
election day TO avenge their nearly three
years endurance Of few jobs. and small
pay.
What the war did was to apply instan-
taneously the reverse lever TO the country's
Autoruck which the first seven months
OF 1914 under the Democratic tariff saw
skidding down the steepening slope of De
preston Into Catastrophe The saving jerk
nearly dislocated our anatomy but the
miracle. special dspensation in our fa-
Nor' preserved our financial life. Wars
spontaneous huge demands stimulated us
To extra production. and European sus-
pension improvised an effective substitute
Tor the protection Of which our Industries
had been stripped.
The prosperity resultant. which we have
with us stilL is not q Wilson prosperity.
IL exists despite Mr. Wilson, In contra
diction OF his tariff. Indubitably the pros
perity Is war prosperity, dependent upon
war conditions, doomed TO lapse with the
wars cessstion--unless. indeed. the wars
end shall ind us reprovided with n pro-
lection more adequate than Mr.. Wilson's.
such. In fact, as the Democracy have neither
the wit nor the viii to devise
Thus II comes about that by the wars
grace alone Mr. Wilson remains a possible
candidate But for the war the name OF
his party would now be anathema in every
mans mouth. Shall that man. then. who
was singularly prevented from wreclSing the
country's prosperity have conhded TO his
ineptitude and that OF his partisans the re-
construction Of our economic defenses--a
reconstruction imperative before Europe's
competition shall have revived?
No. Al. xs.ot.atlxw ,.kfok Al.
invokes, which Mr. Wilson and his Demoe-
racy are incompetent 20 construct, confined
to economic defense. Under II is compre-
hended also the physical security of Amer
lean soil. the guardianship OF American
lives. Moreover. II postulates the assertion
OF American rights. the vindication OF
Americas honor.
II is such protection as a great nation.
not dispossessed in any OF its functions. dis
penses in the interest OF its citizens for the
welfare Of it's people. and enjoins the whole
world. every part. 70 respect
II Is nationalism, II Is Americanlsm, for
lack Of which we are destined to deliques-
cence, desicication, dislntegration, decline.
Unless II nourishes. no accidental pros
perity. howsoever lush or prolonged. can
save us from ultimate shame and the final
despoiler.
OF southerners, by southerners for Souther-
ners. can bestow. Nor OF a constitutionaIiy
Jeffersonian President can II be had For
such nationaiism Is not consistent with
their philosophy. and such Americisnism is
either too broad for their sectionallsn or
too narrow for Bryanistic pnn-humanitar-
ism. Yet this century will be one to compel
the United States to think-not continen-
tally as Alexander Hamilton entreated--but
double-hemispherically in terms OF world
import. Come 10 that we must presently
or drop out Of the procession.
The four years 70 come are likely to be
more critical for the United States even
than for those nations who have repaired
their faults and annealed their strengths
under the hammer Of war. Whereas Am
erica, inconsistent In policy divided in
sentiment. economically unarmored and In
negligent. drifts. a vast hulk.
amidst battleships stripped for action and
sager for prize
As pilot for the ship OF state through
these dangerous seas Woodrow Wilson Ia |
no more competent than was James Blu |
rhansn. whom Lincoln succeeded by the |
mercy OF God.
Even that domestic record OF which Mr. |
tunities that were shrewdly embraced For |
,ome Of them the time. long preparing was |
ripe. Others recommended their own en- |
,ctinent as clever politics. Few in their in |
,eption were Democratic. while those
Wilsonian are Of doubtful utility /
Especially vicious is tho Presidents last
.ct Of esregious opportunisfn whereby, hin- /
'eif coerced BY a minatory. minority, he In |
urn coerced Congress TO an abdication Of
heir function.
The nature OF the times. their revelation
o US OF ourselves, require this nation in
new and serious sense 70 be saved
rrin ana our people 10 be born nfreah \
nto q CONSEQUENCES Of their spiritual
,erftage. their essential unity their vifaI /
mission. Mr. Hughes. a convinced American.
> a man consecrated 70 his task. ordained
" peculiar ability, intssrity and strength. |
rhe cIi isis discards Afr. Wilson. who Is not
Qusl TO A.