The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-03-09

Woodrow Wilson yesterday complet-
ed his first term as President of the
United States.
No other four years except those of
Lincoln have been so eventful and no
other four years except those of Lin
coin have made so much history of
first importance.
One may like Mr.. Wilson or dislike
him, approve his policies or detest
en-, but nobody can deny him place
among the masterful Presidents who
have stamped their genius for all time
upon the government of the United
States. The courses of American his
tory have been changed nightly by
the fact that Woodrow Wilson was
President, and because he has been
President the processes of American
Government will never again be quite
what they were In the past.
Whatever the verdict of history may
be upon the various policies of the Will
son Administration, no difficulty will
be experienced In fixing the RESPONSE
bility. Since March 4, 1913, Mr.. Will
son has been the Government of the
United States in as great degree as
Jefferson or Jackson and in even a
greater degree than Washington or
Lincoln.
Mr.. Taft was never President during
his four years in the White House; the
Republican Party was President. Mr..
Roosevelt was President part of the
time during his two terms; the Repub-
lican Old Guard was President part of
the time, and there were glorious in
tervals In which Wall Street reigned
supreme, after the manner OF Freder-
ick the Great, who did what he pleased
and allowed his subject to say what
they pleased - Mr.. Roosevelt playing
the role of the garrulous but obedient
populace.
The President Of the United States
during the last four years has been
yoodrow Wilson, and no other-but
the Democratic Party, not Wall Street,
not the Cabinet, not Congress, but
Woodrow Wilson and he alone. What
is good is his, and what is bad is his.
Never for moment has he relaxed his
grip upon the Government. Never for
a moment has any other mind and pur-
nnaa than hiu tha pplioiaq
of his Administration. He has yield
ed to nobody. He has compromised
with nobody except the American peo-
pie. Abused and villlfied as few Presi-
dents have ever been, denounced by
his enemies alternately as a weakling
and q despot, coward and dictator,
he has gone his way if not serenely
at least with "A sure and certain step.
His critics are fond of pretending
that they cannot understand what he
Is trying to do, but no doubts assail
him. He knows what he wants to do
and how he wants to do 1t. When he
cannot reach his goal by one path he
NhHibpp hio toui DC anu ioi
lows another path, but always with an
eye single to the goal itself.
No other President ever so complete
ly controlled Congress or made so lit
tie ostensible effort to control Con-
gress He has shaped legislation by
none of the old and familiar devices.
Nobody has been bribed by patronage
to support his policies and measures,
nor has anybody been punished by the
withholding of patronage for opposing
the Administration. There has been
no denunciation OF Congress or OF indi-
vidual members of Congress. Yet on
every important issue, no matter how
violent the opposition, the President
has managed to have his way. He has
ruled by the sheer force of ability-be-
cause his is the biggest brain and his
the broadest vision in Washington. His
victories over sullen and reluctant
Congress have been verltable triumphs
OF mind over matter
Even his hittereSt enemies are com
uelled to acknowledge this eXtraordin
airy intellectual power, When Mr.
Roosevelt INDUCED in his outbursts Of
foam and fury at the general reluct
ance OF the American people to plunge
blndly into war he could give no rea
son for this state of public opinion ex
cept that President Wilson had "chloro
formed the conscience of the country.
In other words, 100000, 900 people ha'
been so hypnotiaed by the Presiden
that they thought only what he wante,
them to think, believed only what h
wanted them to believe and did onl
what he wanted them to do. A super
man, indeed, II this be true-' supel
man above all other supermen In hi
tory yet II Is not true.
MIR. Wilson's influence over publ
opinion lies In the ability to unde
stand It, and give 1t adequate expire
sion, not In the ability to dictate
nations sentiments.