TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-02-14
HAVE CHANGED
pRO-BRTISH PRESS DECIDES THAT IT IS NO
CRIME TO DISAGREE WITH The PRESIDENT.


longer treason to disagree with the
president. oh no. it is patriotic 10 dc
so in fact. you are dut' bound to
criticize the president i he should do
or attempt to do anything that could
aisplease the British, but you are q
traitor, a hyphen, an undesirable Cit
izen ii you criticize the President Tor
doing something which, in your opin-
ion, is not neutral, perhaps prohibit
ish!
Poor American people, we feel in
clined to say, how miserably nave
you been fooled by a set Of hypo.
critics. the slyness and ingenuity Of
which would shame the devil him
self
The pre-British press had not yet
fully recovered from the shock that
MFR. Wilson's peace note gave them
when the speech Of Mr.. Wilson be.
fore the Senat threw them into q
new fit of anger and i%patrictic indig-
nation" We are surprised that the
papers, we alluded 20, have not yet
demanded the impeachment Of the
President. VIC may expect that at
any moment. For is it not q crime
tn demand the freedom Of the seas
Is ii not injustice 10 propose equality
of the civilized nations, IS it moi enc
tirely improper to propose govern
ment BY the consent Of the gov
erned? Is it not, with other words,
unpatFiotie, un-American for an
American president 70 propose .
change in the general policy OF the
world without having asked the per-
mission of Great-Britain and her
press agents in the United States?
We are willing 10 admit that there
are some points in Mr.. Wilson's
speech which need a clearer inter-
probation than they have found up
to now and we do not believe shat all
Of his proposals. are entirely practical
as no proposal OF such far-reaching
effects possibly can be entirely
practical under al circumstances and
acceptable to all parties concerned,
But the fact stands out, that Mr.
Wilson, as the first person fitted with
authority, has spoken the great word
that must finally lead to a better
understanding among the civilized
forces Of the world. And the day will
come when the world will thank him
for this word. We are quite certain
thai MI. Wilson viii find more sup
poFters in Germany than in England.
The Cleveland Leader feels very
much chagrined By that part Of Mr..
Wilson'S speech IN which he pro-
poses the freedom 81 the seas. After
some consideration, we are quite eer-
tain. the Leader will change his
attitude. for the Leader" was one Of
the papers which helped to invent
the new dogma that the president
must be supported in Ms interna-
tional policies and that it Is worse
than treason to disagree with him
Or should Il be possible. that the
Leader, all Of q sudden, has dis,
covered, that this dogma was wrongs
Certainly not; the "LeaderF-he has
said SO himself-is always ready 10
support the president in his inter-
ntioual policies. Why make an }
eeptioH nowl The fact that one Of these
policies Of the same president could
displease England certainly is no
reason for the Leader" 10 contradict
himself, for the Leader is, as far
as we know. an American paper and
believes, as we DO, in eAmerieG first
last and all the time.
The Leader Is not, we hope, in
the least interested in English DOM
inafion Of the Seas which, uHques.
tionabiy IS harmful to American in.
terests, and VIC are ready 70 believs
that il was mere rashness that csusee
the Leader % attack such a splem
lid American principle as that Of thl
l"freedom OF the Seas"