The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-28
THE WILSON DOCTRINE

At the time President Wilson dis
patched. his peace note The Intelligent
Ger modestly observed that the Wis
dom OF such a move on his part was
doubtful. and that nothing would
come of it. It's reception by all Of the
parties concerned justifies our COM
ment. Accomplished though he is in
psychology Mr.. Wilson miscounted
the hour when it struck in this IN
stance.
In this connection the Louisville
Courier-Journal processes to have hit
on a paragraph in the note which fea-
lures a significance that has escaped
the scrutiny of the press. The astute
Kentucky editor assures us that the
meaning of the note is no longer puz-
cling to him. as he argues from this
overlooked paragraph that the Presi-
dent means we are a world power;
that the worlds affairs are our al
fairs; that never again in any great
war CONFUSION shall we be a neutral;
that with the coming Of peace In Eu-
rope will begin our new responsible
ties as a guarantor of peace, backed,
of course, by our resources in men,
money and arms. 1t means, indeed,
that the President Of the United
States in view of the assumption OF
those responsibilities would not be
arerse to having a voice in shaping
that peace, if not actually sitting at
the council board which shall draw up
its terms.
But are we ready for such an ad-
venture as the President would set
out on The Courier-Journal with a
fine delicacy intimates that it is rath-
er assumption on the part of Mr.. VIII
son not to have taken others into his
confidence in projecting such a
scheme. While not discussing the new
policy on which the President would
launch the nation. it points to the evil
dence of it and to the additional fact,
made possible BY mistake Of the
constructors OF our constitutional sys'
tenn, that one American who happens
to be President can. in the secrecy OF
his study and the counsel only or ms
typewriter. go so far to revolutlonlze'
in a single night. the character OF the
Government that has been nearly a
hundred and fifty years in building
All of which makes delicious reading,
coming as it does, from such an au-
thoritative Democratic source.
OF course all this looks to definite
abandonment Of our isolated posi-
ton which has long been considered
our greatest protection. But the i'm
portant conclusions our Louisville
contemporary draws from its analyt1.
cal journey through the Presidential
note are found in these concluding OBJ
servations:
Is it not the Presidents purpose that
we shall have i Wilson Doctrine as we
have Monroe Doctrine-a Wilson Doc
trine OF far greater scope than the Mon
roe Doctrine: for whereas the latter
committed the United States to me
regulation of certain affairs in the
Americas. the Wilson Doctrine would
commit us TO participation. with
strong hand. in the regulation OIL the
affairs Of the world?
There are resolutions before Congress
for the Endorsement by that body of this
note of the Presidents. 1t might DC
we'll for Congress. before taking that
action. TO go slow enough to be sure OF
Just what il is indorsnS.
Timely warning. The country is
properly alarmed and Congress Is
well advised. The Wilson Doctrine is
exposed.