Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-07
WAR OR PoLITrCsa
Chairman Hays, of the Republican National
Committee, Reads Lesson to Repub.
licans and Democrats Alike

Committee, Reads Lesson to Repub.
licans and Democrats Alike
w difficult art--or difficult science.
Much that is petty and mean in the con-
ventional party argument is losing value
or being burned out under the pressure
of the sternest sort of realities. The
boundary lines between parties have
sometimes disappeared. Every one who
is not hardened and hopeless partisan
is thinking of the country first and of
politics afterward.
Chairman Hays, of the Republican
National Committee, sensed the general
convictions of the country at large when
he spoke recently to gathering Of emf
nent politicians at the New York Repub-
lican Club.
"We," said he, speaking of the Republi-
can party and it's doctrines, in the light of
the war, "denounce any criticism of pub
lie officials, high or low when such criti-
cism is inspired by partisanship malice
or disloyalty. Our policy is one of assimi-
lation and not elimination. There is far
more involved in the matter than party
successes"
There is far more involved in the mat
ter than party successes. 1t is plain that
the people, in these days of sacrifice and
inspiration, have lost patience with many
of the things. thoughts and illusions that
used to fascinate and sway them in
lighter and more cheerful times.
The great mass of the people are not
usually articulate. Sorrow has already
made many of them wise. They have
seen Europe afiane and they have had to
think of the causes. They have heard
the passionate voices of whole nations
cry out through the tumult for principles
of honor and justice and decency. They
are not in the mood, therefore, to listen
to pffle at home--no matter how it
may be sublimated or in what rhetoric it
is disguised.
The campaigners who wish to
strengthen their parties will have to
speak intelligently. They will have to
speak truth. Mere denunciation of an
opposing candidate will serve no end.
And the sort of criticism of the Govern
ment that used to serve in other national
campaigns will receive little favorable
response now. The people must trust the
Government. They must have faith in it.
They must believe in its high motives and
in its ability to realize its exalted pur-
pose.
Otherwise existence would be intoler-
able for the millions whose sons are now
associated for life or death with the Gov
ernment.
In other words, politicians who want to
survive will have to be sincere. They will
have to be honest, because the country
is in mood to sense and hate dishon-
esty. And they will lave to be able to
think in other than party terms.
How many of the lesser politicians
realize this? How many on either side
realize that the nation itself is growing
wiser and more acute than they?
In Mr. Hays's address there is a moral
for many conspicuous Republicans and
with knowledge of the purpose and
operation of free institutions of govern
ment would suggest that any party or
any government should be immune from
free and honest criticism. But criticism
that is merely destructive and the result
of spite, dislike, suspicion and selfshness
will nowadays be answered by the con-
tempt it deserves.
The right of free speech is sacred
right, of course. That is all the more
reason why it should be respected by
those who claim it. There is an even
nobler privilege available to Americans
at this time. That is the privilege of
helping the Government in every moment
when it is not proved to be at fault and
of giving strength to hands and minds
and souls heavily burdened.