New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-25
l.. W. NIEMAN,
In The Milwaukee Journal.

Washington, May 2O-In this a nation?
This is what the men and women of the coun-
try are asking. 1t is the one thing in their
hearts and therefore the one issue that must
he met by the political parties this year This
is no oneman judgment; it is putting into
words the result of long and careful study Of
conditions from one end of the country to
the other 1t is situation that puts the
Republicans into the running, but makes the
job at Chicago one for statesmen rather than
political schemers and trcksters Surely
there must be in the G. o. P. men capable
Of reaching the heights There were in the
COS. Opportunity so often reveals them!
To meet the demand of the country the
Republicans must make the feature of their
platform a pledge to undertake the work of
establishing the nation. 1t would not do,
perhaps, to break the hearts of the little fell
lows By ignoring their hoary headed friends.
but the tariff, Mexico and the general cussed-
ness Of those Of the other political belief
could be Jumped and subordinated so as not
to becloud the issue.
Disintegrating Forces
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler the president
Of Columbia University, put into words what
hundreds of thousands of Americans are
thinking, when, speaking before The Asso-
ciated Press, he said
at is at this moment. with a world war
raging about US and a Presidential campaign
opening in front Of US. with years full of fate
stretched out for US to walk in we are not
sure of our national unity Of thought and
feeling and purpose because Of the presence
Of disintegratng elements and forces which
weaken our sense of unity at home and
which deprive us of the influence abroad
which attaches to unity at home. The grave
problem before the people of America to-
day is that Of completing the process of ma
ton building. 1t is the problem of setting
our house in order. 1t is the problem of in
teeiating America
This idea is being expressed in a thousand
different forms throughout the country. In
most eases fierce resentment is being shown
against the conditions which have grown up,
and, as in all such cases, the party in power
is blamed, whether it is bameworthy or not
The alternative to the Presidents patience
was break attended with possibilities which
no man can guess. The great Republican
leaders say a decisive course would have
been right and the complications growing
out Of it fewer. That is their view as they
go to Chicago. viii it prevail there?
Every delegate who can be got into a cor
ner admits that no other issue is spoken Of
anywhere except IN the most perfunctory
way In fact. preparedness and all the other
questions that are pressing would appear but
as incidents. Let our naJondlism. our unity
Of purpose. be made clear, and all the other
things necessary 10 the country will follow
naturally. There are. Of course politicians
who have not yet seen the light and are still
pettifogging in accord with the good old Gus
tom. But the leaders count on their getting
their eyes open to the fact that this is the
beginning Of a new period in the politics o.
the nation, that this time at least, the old
games and tricks will not be eifectual.
The Great Work Before Is.
What is true Of the political parties is true
OF the United States. 1t has a new place ~
the world and 10 get its due in the new field
In which it finds itself calls for the highest
order OF s,atesmanshiu. The period follow
ng the world war will be more trying than
.he period We are now passing through.
" hat the next administration does will az
feet this nation for generations 20 come. We
need the best brains and the greatest eN-
perience i'm public life that we can command.
It will be a time OF building and even as to
our interests we are not TO have full say, as
In the past. We must come in contest with
the best minds Of the world. and great will