Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-06-01
MR.. WILSON'S CRITICS.
1.-THE New Republic.)

CThe New Repubic)
Suppose Mr. Wilson were reading all that the Republicans
have say about him. how much good would it do him in his
present difficulties? From what Republican editor, from
which Republican statesman could he draw helpful
ton? From whom could he the outlines of
policy? Suppose he felt that this the gravest moment in
generations that this time to forget the rvialities of
party policies and personal antagons order to settle upon
foreign policy which represented the of patriotic
opinion. To which of his critics could he turn?
Naturally he would turn to Mr. Roosevelt Mr. Root Sena
odge-the about whom there legend that they
affairs Having them he would
find criticism in plenty Of what he has failed to do in the past
but of what he should do tomorrow and next week not word
With all that talent available for offering advice he would get
advice When, for example, he delivered his address to
Congress- and the country at the breaking point with
Germany the privilege of the country to hear from Mr.
Roosevelt and Mr. Root and the Republican editors few
crete suggestions to the next steps with Germany If ever
there time when the experts should have told what
they knew, that the time Mr. Roosevelt issued state
ment offering five members of his family and possibly SIXTH
for military service and dplorng the shameful neglect of
military preparation during the last year and half OF a
vice to what do do with the facts they happened
be- not word Mr. Root is supposed to be- great diplomat
and international lawyer The submarine question is
ceedngy complicated matter of law and policy but the
try has still to hear from Mr. Root what he thinks about the
question of armed merchantmen what would constitute prop
exercise of visit and search whether he would outlaw the
submarine merely try to limit it.
We have searched the Republican press almost vain for
decisive commitment immediate issue The more
begeren of them for other exceedingly
careful to avoid saying whether they rupture
with Germany Look beneath the aectve and the nvecve
and will look in vain for policy The editors desire
to that elementary of craftsmanship definition of what
the preparedness for AS matter of fact the Republican
and the Republican leaders hopeess at odds the
most crucial questions AS the New York Evening Post has
sad What the New York Tribune calls murder the Chicago
Tribune discusses in which reminds of of
appeals obter dctum the right of factory burn
soft coal under certain circumstances
1t has been from the beginning of the The critics
OF the President foreign policy have consistently arrived after
the shooting Mr. Root and Mr. Lodge in the
Senate when nvaded-they discovered America
duty to Belgium than year later Mr. Roosevelt dis
covered it publicly three months after the invasion Mr. Root
attacks the President have all referred the pas-they
have told what should have been DONE Mr. Roosevets
magazine articles historic events in China the
sort of settlement after the which ought
Mr. Wilson has often been accused of failure leader
ship But his opponents have record of leadership that
they proud Of Except the question of preparedness
they have been wise after the event. they the
gonsts of post facto policies They have been critics of
history critics of personality not leaders of thought They
have stirred feeling but they have not formulated opinion If
foreign policy is the failure of the Wilson administration it
less the failure of its critics There Roosevelt
Republican foreign policy at this No say
what they believe We know their temper devo
ton to honor to patriotism to national assertion but
do not know what they wish DONE what they
believe the policy America ought pursue in the bewder
ing facts of the present moment
No would wish to Mr. Roosevelt Mr. Root stand
ing beside the President in front of him. What everyone
has right to wish that Mr. Roosevelt would cash
the egand of their knowledge of foreign affairs
would recognize that Mr. Wilson will be in office least
months that those ten months likely peous
as any IN fifty OF history that the past past that
spilled milk spilled milk and that the creating of workable
policy the next ten months the duty of those who
are proud to be patriots.
PRESIDENTS FOREIGN POLICY
We have recently been told in connection with the pre-