The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-09-03
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.


President Wilson's speech Of acceptance
marks the passing of Little Americanism,
with its narrow horizons, parsimonious
craftsmanship, and protective nursing OF
infant industries The age OF commercial
greatness has dawned, and Wilson, like
Waterman on a tower, is the first to see
the glow that promises so much. 1--WE can
no longer indulge our traditional provin-
cia1ism," said the president. I'VE are to
play leading part in the world drama,
whether we wish it or not. We shall lend,
not borrow; act for ourselves, not initiate
or follow organize and initiate, not peep.
about merely to see where we may get in.
There rang the true spirit of Ameri-
canisnl.
The president INDUCES in no high-sound-
ing, glittering promises. They are not
necessary Rarely have people been adj
mitted so intimately into the confidence of
a man as Americans have been received
into Wilson'S; we know his every hope,
his every ideal and what we know is guar
antee absolute that he will continue the
work of progress and Big Americanism
which has fulfilled the democratic pledges
of four years ago, and has come very
near to CARRYING out the platform of the
progressives," says the president
While protection" was the only plan the
Republicans had to assist business, Wilson
has stimulated it by revising the tariff to
encourage, not repel, foreign trade; clarity
ing the laws against trusts and creating
Trade Commission; by the Federal Reserve
Act rendering elastic the supply of currency
at the disposal of active business; by Great
ing, extending, and improving the parcels
post; and by taking effective measures for
the recreation of an American merchant
marine.
For the farmers commercial credit has
been created; speculation in futures regu-
lated demonstration work widened
Placing the Federal Department of
Labor at the disposal of the workingman
in search of work is the least of the great
things accomplished for labor. AS the pres
dent says, "The workingmen of America
have been given a veritable emancipation
by the legal recognition of mans labor as
part of his life and not mere marketable
commodity" Children too have been
emancipated
Then there is the system of national high
ways, the equalizing of taxation by an
equitable income tax; then too there is ade-
quate' provision for national defense
These great deeds President Wilson
mentions as mere matters of course. Far
from boasting, he valves all credit and says
the democratic party has merely done its
duty. Knowing Wilson as we do, we can
understand that he would rather leave the
tale untold and mentions these facts merely
by way of illustrating what the Republican
party cannot do because it has never done
them.
His foreign policy, Wilson describes in g
few words. The principles indeed are sim,
pie and in accordance with American ideals
'sWe have been neutral not only because it was
the fixed and traditional policy of the United
States to stand aloof from the politics of Eu-
rope" said the President, "but because we had
part either of action of policy the infu-
which brought on the present war, and also
because it manifesty duty to prevent
the indefinite extension of the fires of hate
and desoation kindled by that terrible conflict
and seek to serve mankind by reserving our
strength and resources for the anxious and
difficult days of restoration and healing which
must follow when peace will have to build its
house anew"
Referring to the rights of our own citi
zens when they became involved, the presi
dent defined his guiding principle in thes,
words: Property rights can be vindi
Gated by claims for damages when the wa
is over" This is ten thousand times bet
ter than fighting it out. Damages can b,