The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-02
PRESIDENTS CRITICS OFFER NO
CONSTRUCTIVE POLICIES

one OF the soundest and most in
elsive criticisms of President Wilson
critics comes from the New Republic,
a weekly magazine of New York,
which is nothing II not Independent
and unprejudieed in It's views There
is simply no answer TO It's charge that
among all the political fault finders
who seek to pick flaws in President
Wilson's foreign affairs policy, not
one of them offers a constructive pol
icy Of his own, The New Republic
says:
Suppose Mr. Wilson were reading
all that the Republicans have to say
about him, how much good would it
do Linn in his present difficulties?
From which Republican editor, from
which Republican statesman could he
draw a helptu suggestion? From
whom could he even secure the out
lines of a policy? Suppose he felt
that this was the gTayest moment in
generations, that this was the time
H. forget the t,ivi3ulies Cf party pol
tics and personal aniagnnism in or
der TO settle upon friSign policy
which reresented the essence Of pat
riOtic opinion? To which of his crit
isc would he turn?
No Word As 20 Future
Naturally he would turn to Mr..
Roosevelt, Mr.. Root, Mr.. Lodge-the
men about whom there is a legend or
being wise in international affairs,
Having turned to them he would find
criticism in plenty Of what he has
failed to do in the past and what he
should do tomorrow and next week,
not word With all that talent
available for Offering advice, he
would get no advice. When. for eX-
ample. he delivered his adress to Con-
gress, and the country was at the
breaking point with Germany, il was
the privilege of the country to hear
from Mr., Roosevelt and Mr.. Root and
the republican editors few concrete
suggestions as TO the next steps with
Germany. If there ever was a time
when the experts should have told us
what they knew, that was the time.
Mr.. Roosevelt issued a statement Of
iering five members of his family
and possibly sixth, Tor military SER
vice and deplOring the shameful neg
lect of military preparation during
the last year and a half. or advice
as to what to do now, with the facts
as they happened to be, not a word.
Mr.. Root is supposed to be great
diplomat and international lawyer.
The submarine question is a matter
of law and policy but the country bas
still to hear from Mr.. Root what he
thinks about the question of armed
merchantmen, what would constitute
a proper exercise of visit and search
ana whether he would try to outlaw
the submarine or merely limit it,
Emotions Not Craftsmanship.
Behind these difficult points lie
still other greater matters. If we
come TO a rupture with Germany, |
what is to be our policy then? If |
we entered the war, upon what terms |
should we enter it? What arrange |
ments ought We to make with the AL I
lies; ought we to sign their pact; or |
what ought we do? on none of these |
points have we been able to find |
single ray of light from the presi-
dents critics We have heard much |
about deeds, about honor, about pat
about preparedness, but no
)ne seems to have stopped to define
md explain, translate into statesman
ship the emotions which are so pre-
yalent.
We have searched the republican
press in vain for a decisive commit
nent on any immediate issue The
more belligerent OF them, for some
'eason or other, are exceedingly care
ul to avoid saying whether they want
| rupture or a war with Germany |
look beneath the adjeCtives and in
'ectives and you will look in vain for
policy. The editors desire prepar-
.dness, but they will not pause for
me editorial to conform to that ele-
nentary view of statesmanshlp-a
definition Of what the preparedness is
or. as matter of fact, the Re-
publican press and the Republican
eaders are hopelessly at odds on the
most crucial questions. As the New
'Ork Evening Post has said, What
he New York Tribune calls murder,
he Chicago Tribune discusses in a
one which reminds one of a court
f appeals obiter dictum on the right
f factory owners to burn soft coal
nder certain circumstances"
Arrive After Shooting is Over.
1t has been so from the beginning
the war. The critics of the presi-