Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-17

BEGINNING and Its change Of front ON
preparedness and tnrin revision iS
confession OF It's incompetence. It's wnb-
bling foreign policy II further evidence
TINT It's leaders not biR enough 10
he trusted with power.
WHEN Elihu Root told the New York
w Republican convention that the defects
OF the present Administration arise from the
education and training of the President and
from the general ncapacity of the Democracy
he covered the ground The rest was elab-
grafton.
II grave issues had arisen during his
term the President might have succeeded in
winning reputation for sagacity and states
manship, But he has been confronted by
great world crisis. He Is slowly crumplinE
under the burden Mr.. Bryan gave out in
advance Of Mr. Wilson The problems Of in
ternational law which he had to solve were
too big for him. The grave problems of states
manship found Mr. Wilson unprepared TO
comprehend them. He has changed his mind
both on the question of preparedness and on
the tariff revision within few months and
has completely reversed his attitude OF year
ago.
Yet forward-loo men knew eighteen
months before that the Administration was
headed in the wrong direction. They knew
that the respect for rights of Americans on
the sea could not be effectively protected un-
less the demands of our State Department
were backed by the determination of the
Government to enforce them by arms if nee
essary. They knew that preparation for ma
tiona defense would serve in the existing
emergency as a warning to the beigerents
that we meant business. The belated con-
version of Mr. Wilson from his beautiful plan
of a "cti2enry in arms" to a plan for n
navy equal to the best in the world will have
some effect on the nations with whom we are
in diplomatic correspondence But IL the
long series of notes had been accompanied
from the beginning with vigorous campaign
for stronger military forces it is not likely
that we would be still waiting for settle
ment.
The tariff, which are told was the most
perfect Congress had voted, has needed re-
vision from the moment that the war began.
looking men were aware of the great COM
merca crisis that would follow the signing
of the peace treaties But the Democracy re-
fused to admit that there was any peril. It's
leaders are just beginning to understand the
situation and are founderng around in an
MT
which they killed by starvation, is
to be revived in some form. because they
have learned that if there is to be the proper
kind of a tariff law the advice and assistance
Of experts is needed
1t has been in many ways Government
Of amateurs, learning the art of governing at
the expense of the nation.
The Democracy may blunder through and
retrieve some of the errors that it has made
But Mr.. Root left no one in doubt OF his be-
lief that it had made so many mistakes that |
whatever It might accomplish in the remain
der of its lease OF power it had forfeited the
confidence of the people, 1t is a minority |
Government at best, in power through split |
n the majority party. The majority of the
voters have been opposed to it from the be- |
ginning. They have been most tolerant OF its |
mistakes. Through all it's stupid Mexican
policy they have hoped that something might |
De done TO insure the protection of American |
lives across the border But conditions are /
growing worse there instead of better. They |
have hoped that American lives could be pro-
ected on the seas but the submarine policy !
1f the Teutonic Allies remains apparently n-
1t is inevitable that the foreign policy of
Mr.. Wilson shall be one Of the burning issues
Of the campaign. MIR. Roots speech has lifted !
i into prominence, has challenged its wisdom !
and has indicted those in charge of it for
heir weakness and vacillatlon.
Partisanship stops at salt water only where |
here is confidence in the efficiency OF those
in charge Of foreign relations. As the senti- .
nent Of the nation finds expression during \
-he next few months We shall discover the ex- /
lent to which it trusts Mr. Wilson's dipIo- /
macy, We already know that it does not
have confidence in his economic theories.