The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-12-22

hat reveals the great man. Lincoln
grew as the difficulties of his posi-
ton increased, and President Wilson
il more and more measuring up TO
the demands of the momentous times
in which we live, No other presit
dent has had 20 grapple with such
problems (problems upon which
hang, the fate of nationsl as he has,
and his utterances have become more
and more adequate, till he finds him.
self not only the spokesman OF the
whole allie cause but OF the great
democratic movement, throughout
the world. The people have waited
for his messages and speeches as
they never before waited for utter
ances from the White House, They
have wanted guidance; they find
themselves confronted by unwonted
questions; they find themselves try
ing to push their way through q
maze OF bewildering world problems
and they look to him for leadership,
and they get it. Not for mere politi'
cal leadership, but for leadership in
great thico-international issues.
For a long time myself question
ed whether or not the president
could break through the timidity and
hesitation which heset the scholar
when he is put in a position that
calls for leadership, but that doubt
need trouble us no more. He can
read his title clear as a great leader
in times of storm and stress.
Can we make ourselves believe
that the fiery words of Patrick
Henry and the closely reasoned argu'
ments of Tom Paine did not help the
caTise OF the revolution more than
those men could have helped with
muskets in their hands? 'Is life so
dear and peace so sweet as to be
purchased at the price OF pains and
slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!
| know not what course others may
take, but as for me. give me liberty
or give me death" We but declaim
these words when we repeat them
after the great orator. but be assur.
ed there was something more than
defamation in them, when they
came hot from his lips.
Woodrow Wilson is rhetorician
only in the best and noblest sense,
as St Paul was. as Napoleon was,
as Lincoln was. There is nothing OF
mere sound and fury III his sentences
his words are blows they are bay
onets and swords, they are branding
irons. They have made the tough
hided and thick meated Hun writhe
and foam at the mouth in impotent
rage Their placidity does not con-
ceal THEW high seriousness; their
burning irony does not blur their
broad humanitarianism His SEN
tence about the "intolerable Thing"
the irresponsible German govern
ment---is worth whole army corps:
This intolerable Thing of which the
masters of Germany have shown us
the ugly face. this menace of conf
bined intrigue and force, which we
now see so clearly as the German
power a Thing without conscience
or honor or capacity for coyenanted
peace, must be crushed
The duty of each of us is to fur
ther the sacred cause of world de-
mocracy by word and deed wherein
and wherever we can bring our
power to bear The high function
of the president of the United States
i sto meet the onslaughts of the lin
tolerable Thing with words that
are a trumpet call to battle.
In these crucial times let US forget
that We are either republicans or
democrats, remembering only that
we are loyal Americans. -Pittsfied
Eagle