The St. Joseph observer., 1917-05-12
WILSON is A
WONDERFUL MAN

Great times make great men. The
great man who has come out of these
times is Woodrow Wilson. If demo-
cracy-which is but another name for
Christian brotherhood-make a long
forward stride in humanity out of this
world crisis, more than TO any one in
dlvidual In the world credit should fall
to Woodrow Wilson. He has risen to
big opportunity In a big way He has
used his 10 talents with splendid stew
ardship. A year ago. years ago, 8
years ago, when the war cloud descend
ed upon the world, President wilson
seemed to be the 1 impossible man for
war administration in the country
His talent for phrases; his inconclu-
sive patience; his belief in vague spir-
itual forces, as opposed TO concrete
| physical facts: his disposition to set
tie things with rhetoric-all these
things seemed to make him the school
master at the tournament grotesque,
II pathetic, and wearying to a degree
So Americas hard-headed believers in
action, and action, and always still
more action in crises, chafed and fum-
ed under the Wilson leadership. 1t
|
quixotic. But the passing years have
brought events to a place where that
leadership seems to be the exact kind
of leadership needed. For under the
presidents leadership the whole world
is rallying to the democratic idea. This
does not mean the Immediate coming
of the mellenlum. 1t does not mean
that the world is suddenly to be made
over. 1t does not mean that self-in-
| terest Is to be banished from affairs,
international, national and personal
But il does mean that, because of
| President Wilson's last great note to
Germany, mankind is considering SER
iously whether or not there Is a God
in Israel, whether or not things spir-
itual have not a vital, actual place in
human affairs, whether or not justice
is to be neglected and God to be mock
ed in this earth. The words Of Presi-
dent Wilson have dose for democracy,
for the spirit of Justice in the world,
more than tons of ammunition and
acres OF fighting men. And because
Of the power Of those words in the
world beyond our borders, the Presi-
dents leadership here has been
strengthened. The strength Of that
leadership Is seen In the passage Of the
army bill thru congress with almost
unanimous vote. Here was a new
thing. Here was a proposition unpop-
ular and probably "un-American." as
we read our traditions year ago Here
was a plan to change the relation of
every able-bodied man in America to
his government to sink the indlvid-
ual into the social unit. The plan to
conscript men turns a sharp but ne
cessary corner in our American pro-
gress No other leader now living
could have put 1t thru the American
congress, so quickly, so quietly, so lit
tie battered by politics, as President
Wilson has put 1t thru congress since
congres convened He Is indeed. q
wonderful man. His, talents are not
strongly marked. He is a man OF
small enthusiasms, and of no personal
following. He has not a charming OIL
lovable personality to draw men to
him and to hold men in his service
with hoops of steel. Yet he has by
force OF sheer intellect, drawn America
about him in the leadership of a worlC
combat for democracy, as no othel
! American leader has drawn Americs
about him for years. This is tn,
schoolmasters day. From him the
world is learning some rudimentary
principles of democratic ideals trans
lated into government.-Emp Ca
, ZettA