Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-05
HE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

ME Presidents address, technically de-
I fvered to the Congress yesterday, but
lpe1ihlated in fact as a message to the
V6fid, and particularly to that part Of the
Wtk1d now under the ensigns of our
2 2<nemies, is colored throughout by the
honate idealism which has character
Z - the public utterances of the Chief
\ D2sScutiye since his assumption of office.
uS'Nrst dreamed of new nation and he
ntW dreams Of a new world. In the one
hotS he has not been wholly disappointed
"A, IN the other he will not be. Indeed In
this great era, so atremble with magni'
tu6fnous events that it dovetails into the
1r61hecies OF religions and seers cons old,
aot ne least marvellous Of the many mira
A e1es which abound is the actually of such
8 lssAership as this mans, the idealism of
which is uncorrupted by those fatal mis-
oonoeptions which have confused Russia
ana Snabled garrulous enthusiasts. assisted
" traitors, to seize the paraphernalia of
eovernment proletarians who, having de.
posed one autocrat, now cringe at the feet
az foreign one. There is great gulf
bstween idealism that is statesmanship and
fdoaiism that is half ,cowardice and half
I fnadness.
mong the obvious propositions ad'
laced by the President, that of chief i'm.
cortance is the demand for declaration
of war against Austria-Hungary. This
urooages, we surmise, a movement of
Amefican troops to.the Italian front, prob
ably not in large numbers. but in suffi-
( cltut force to strengthen the morale Of the
kHo9insula, a territory In which the tradl.
@mo8 OF American might and power is very
n4rked. 1t would be sheer folly for US
= refrain from active assistance to Italy
w1en our enemy has launched against her
sh1nknoet terrific ,thunderbolt. We cannot
VI1inble on a second Marne; we must by
Hight assure it.
Fur the great industrial districts Of Phila
delphia and Pennsylvania, aside from its
references to war matters only. the most
important part Of the Presidents message
y found in the reference to post.bellum
trade conditions. THAT dnternationaD
partnership must be partnership of peo
pQos. not a mere partnership of govern.
unfoward circumstances to admit Germany
y ~ the free economic intercourse which
o1ust inevitably spring out Of the other
DaEtperships of a real peace It is evident
K 11aEsthe President is in process of gradu.
G11on from the school of tariff.for.reve-
>4&4Dnly to the university of free trade,
'l4qoDpmic barriers Of any sort are distinctly
4 41m1cal to a close communion of nations
4H4 mis- vision Of a lasting peace is in fact
~ vision of internationalism, of trade as
& Hoe as the winds and the seas.
"a We predict that he has given an inkling
~ the really great post:belum war issue,
~ .in this country only but in other ma,
34e az we'll for he is advancing to a
oition hitherto considered utterly un.
teaable and 10 which, If he is to maintain
o@nself. an enormous number OF converts
lnust be won. The question of reve.
>uG(f already acute, will continue acute
years to come, and If the customs
(og are to be blown to kingdom come,
[1at processes of taxation are requisite
to be raised? But the President is
NV stating a proposition. He is not
etaking. we imagine, to dedicate the
~ by peace treaty to specific internai
1Gnic policies. But he is vesy emphati.
giving this nation and the world
>Ing that he will champion an economic
Meanda of radical possibilities, on the
that war and economies are in
ably interviewer and correlated.
~ previous messages the President
the way for separation OF the
- people from the Government that
1C&s them. Yesterday he thudded
The wedge that is to be driven be.
Bermany and her deceived vassals
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