Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-24
Not Partisanship But Good Govern
nnent.

ment.
l'he statement frequently made by
prominent Republicans, both in Con-
gress and out. that Republicans will
do anything for partisan purposes to
embarrass the President during the
differences with foreign countries, is
absolutely true, but no more true now
than it has been at all times since Will
son mas been President Neither now
nor at any other time have Republicans
pursued any course for mere partisan
advantage.
However Republicans have said and
done many things that have been en-
barrassirg to the President and they
will probably do so in the future. Their
course in this respect has not been
prompted by desire to promote party
advants ge, but by a desire to promote
the best interests of the country. We
advocate certain things, not because
they are for party advantage, but be-
cause we believe the welfare Of the
United States requires the advocacy of
the policies we support. We have
criticised mary things the Democratic
party has dome, not merely because
thew were done by the Democratic par
tv but because they were done against
the interests of good government.
fnI
iff and denounced free trade. not for
partisan advantage, but for the bene-
fit of all the people of the United
States.
We embarrassed the President by
exposing his violation of his pledge to
support the merit system in the civil
service. That exposure was prompted
not by partisan interest but by a desire
to conserve efficiency in government
service.
We have exposed and criticised the
appointment OF totally incompetent
men in the consular and diplomatic
service, and have criticised such acts
as the attempted promotion of the
Presidents personal physician over the
heads of ia superior officers who are
more entitled to consideration than he.
, And all this has been done, not for
mere partisan advantage, but for the
purpose Of attaining and maintaining
higher standards in public service.
| Undoubtedly. Republicans caused
great embarrassment to President Will
son by insisting upon the leak" inves-
| tigation, which disclosed the fact that
certain spectators obtained advance
information regarding the character of
the Presidents peace note through the
brokerage firm of which the Presidents
brother-in-law was then q member. We
are sorry that this was embarrassing
to the President, and that it occurred
during time when our diplomatic re-
'ations with other countries are
strained. but we believe it would be
disastrous to the interests of good gov
eminent if such things were to be
CLOSED over or disregarded just be-
| cause of foreign complications
A multitude of other subjects that
have been discussed in the past and
that probably will be discussed in the
future might be enumerated, showing
that although many things have been
embarrassing to the President because
discreditable to his administration, vet
| they have been subjects upon which
patriotic Americans citizens could not
be silent without being derelict in their
duty.
Those persons who grow profuse in
their protcstaticns that all Republicans
Will be loyal to the President" are not
Judicious in their choice of words. The
loyalty of both Republicans and Dem
ocrats is to the government of the
United States and its institutions. We
! owe no greater obligation of LOYALTY
than does the President himself The
President is the servant and NOT the
master of the American people, and all
loyal citizens will aid him in rendering
the best service possible. We shall not
however, transform him into a dictator
and ourselves into subjects, merely be-
cause one of his tasks is that of deal
ing with foreign relations.