Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-05
Fine Years of Wilson.

-
Wilson became President of the United States.
= What drama the time has been! What
epochs and eras for America and for mankind
have crowded into its swelling scenes! Many
long age has Powered and come to harvest without
yielding 1.-THE of the tremendous history those
FIVE swift years have brought. And the foremost
figure the leading spirit of it all, is the School
master who entered the White House March the
fourth, 1913, declaring prophetically: Here mus
ter not the of party but the forces of human
ity."
Humanity has been the guiding voice, the
sion splendid" of President Wilson's entire ad-
Illustration. It was for the restoration of human
ghts which, in period of mad money-making,
dad been heartlessly ignored that he undertook
his remarkable program Of economic reforms. To
his keen insight and his illuminating sympathy,
matters like tariff revision trust control and bank
ing and currency laws were not problems of in
dustry and finance alone but essentially human is
sues affecting the Ifveableness Of life. the freedom
and happiness OF millions. So, too, with the con-
servation and development OF the countrys natural
resources, for which more of substantial aid was
provided within his first Presidential term than
during all the years preceding. To improve the
national system OF agriculture, to protect and at
the same time utilize the forests and streams and
minerals of the public domain to build the Alaskan
tive policies things appealed to the Wilson
stztesmznshfp chiefly because of what they meant
to human progress, to the wen-being of the great
rank and file That same principle and purpose
are borne out IN the federal child labor law far
reaching measures for the betterment Of labor
ditS0ns generally and in numerous administrative
acts OF social service-an of which was accom-
prished. along with host OF economic and politi-
cal reforms during his first four years in the Presi-
deney. Even If he had laid down his leadership
While the world still at peace and before
America was summoned to her highest hour he
SIN would have given rich fulfIment to his prom
tse--Hers muster the forces OF humanity
But those strivtnss and achievements for the
nzsaou,s internal good. momentous though they
we're. now seem but prologue to the vast issues
that followed. the vast burdens and crises of our
foreign Affairs No other President ever faced
such problems Woodrow Wilson has faced,
World problems striking the roots of civilization
and Involving the destiny very soul Of this re-
pubic He has met them with eye single to
That aIIembracing principle OF Americanism, human
freedom and human rights. He refused to be thrust
into vzr against impotent Mexico, because he be-
Rexed that the interests most clamorous for that
adventure were concerned more for money than for
men He refused to be hurried into the European
war Where an opportunity OF a hotspur would
have plunged ahead. he went his way, far-seeing
and calmly resOiute. hated by pro-Germans
sured By many friends of the Entente cause, OPP
posed by time-servfng politicians OF every camp,
but still trusted by the great body OF the American
people still unswervingy true to his conviction and
ideal And when the hour for action finally struck
and he spoke the word that sent America glorious
II to arms, the whole Iiberty-loving world listened
to a new voice. a greater light, was shaken
with a Ioftier passion for its Not for con-
Of ba lead
this nation to war, but for the rights Of man,
for the saving OF that high human achievement
and human hope which call democracy, for
the winning of a world order under which peace
and freedom shall he indeed secure. In that
preme crisis of his own and his country's life, it
was still 1.-The forces Of humanity that claimed
his allegiance and determined his course.
In any land and any time i've years under the
pitiIess glare OF publicity would be test of
q statesman's character and leadership. But how
unspeakabIy severe a test it has been in America
during Woodrow wilson's Presidency! There is
nothing comparable TO it in the history OF the
United States PerpIexities of every kind, emergen
cies of every kind, dangers of every kind have
frOnted his administration from the outset He has