Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-04
PRESIDENT PRAISES HIMSELF

MO more fulsome praise of Presi-
IN dent woodrow wilson and his
administration has been written
than that by President Wilson himself
in his speech of acceptance. delivered
ct Shadow Lawn on Saturday after
noon. Well written in the Presidents
best style, convincing to those who
are already convinced, summing up
the accomplishments OF the admins
tration in glowing terms and CLOSING
over, misinterpreting or altogether
nes!ecting mention of its many short
comings, the address is all that any
Democrat could ask of it and precisely
what every Republican familiar with
the methods and habits OF thought Of
the candidate expected it would be.
Nobody will deny the President
credit for his Federal banking act,
although the country owes more of the
provisions of that law to the late SEN
ator Aldrich than to any Democrat,
nor will it be denied that the rural
credits act is a measure of which the
administration has a right TO boast.
But when he asks the country to ac-
cept the Underwood tariff law as
constructive measure he puts a severe
strain upon even his most ardent ad-
mirers. The very fact that the Presi-
dent himself is championing the
creation of a tariff commission is proof
positive that he secretly realizes the
| shortcomings of the Democratic tariff
measure. Nor can he expect any
but wilfully blind Democrats to accept
at their face value his defense Of the
administration policies with respect
10 Mexico and Europe.
so long as the power of recognition
rests with me, the government of the
United States will refuse to extend the
hand OF welcome to anyone who OBJ
tains power in a sister republic by
treachery and violence" he says in
explaining his refusal to recognize
Huerta as president of Mexico. But he
recognized Villa. who treacherously
murdered United States soldiers, to
make no mention Of countless Ameri-
car women and children slain by his
troops, and he is even now dickering
with Carranza. whose officers under
orders ''by treachery and violence" led
American troops into ambush where
they were moved down by machine
guns. Huerta the President would not
recognize because he slew Madero. but
the President is willing and anxious to
/ be friendly with Carranza, who did
nothing more Objectionable than put
to the sword and the bullet number
less helpless Americans.
The Presidents address is full of
such inconsistencies. 1t is more re-
morkable for what it does not say than
credit to the Democratic party for the
passage of big army and greater navy
bills, but the country at large knows
that the President was forced to the
advocacy of a preparedness program
by public sentiment and that only a
few months before his swing around
the circle" in his fight to make his
fellow-Democrats pass army and navy
measures he had openly declared we
were amply equipped for national de-
fense and needed no great increases in
either branch of the service.
This has been the Presidents great
est fault-that he has swung with the
vino of doubt and expediency. He has
talked in language calculated to i'm
press the nation with his firmness and
patriotic devotion. and he has behaved
with the constancy of a weather vane
in a November gale. Accepted at its
: face value, his speech of acceptance
would win his reelection beyond
! doubt. Judged in the light of the
past, it is a high-sounding essay as
meaningless when applied to what
Mr.. Wilson may do or may not do il
re- elected as were his own campaign
speeches four years ago as applied to
the developments of his term now
J drawing to close. For example, note
, these two extracts:
We favor a single Presidential
term. and TO that end urge the
| adoption OIL an amendment to the
Constitution making the President
of the United States ineligible for
reelection, and we pledge the can
didate of this convention to
this principle.-Democratic Plat
form, 1912.
The people of the United States
do not need to be assured now that
the platform is a definite pledge, a
, practical program. We have proved
to them that our promises are made
! to be kept.-President Wilson's
acceptance, 1915.
| This is sample of the Presidents
good faith and of his accuracy Of
statement. In one breath he tells us
that the emoeratic platform was moi
meant to govern his own individua
actions and in another that "our prom.
ises are made to be kept" He boasts
of the fulfillment of the pledges of hi.
. party and by his own candidacy proves
: that the Democratic platform was moi
the things he has omitted rather thar
by the boasts he makes of past accom-.
plishments and his fine promises fol