The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-09-03

the full power Of that enormous, but
unobstrnsive patriotic tots which, IN
time OF war, cannot be reached BY A.
peals to partisanship.
No one convsrsant with the history
OF the Civil War will dispute the state.
ment that the persistent opposition to
the administration, especially during
the time these two campaigns wers
carried on, encouraged the foe, pro,
longed the war, and cost many thou.
sands of lives which could not be re-
stored snd many millions Of bonds
which weBe ultimately redeemed at
double the price for which they had
been sold. For the benefit Of thought.
less, but patriotic, men who may con.
template opposition to the pressut "a.
ministration. It might be pertinent b
ask whether any living mAA who
voted against Abraham Lincoln N
1864 is now boasting OF It; or whethek
any man. whose father or grandfathe,
SO voted, is cherishing that memory
as source Of pride In his ancestry?
The verdict OF history will be as re-
morseless with the anti.administra.
tion electors Of 1918 90 It 10 with
those Of 1864. 80, - = Ae So ~.
The same sort Of disastrous opposi.
tion to the administration. existed in
the Revolutionary War and produced
the same result. From l77s until the
end Of the war Washington was the
head and front OF the patriot cause
and, without him., there would have
been no government at Gll. Neverthe-
less constant intrigues and eabals
were carried on against him by people
who considered themselves to be
loyal This was especially the case
in the Continental Congress which,
during the dark days at Valley Forge
and long after, was one of the most
despicable bodies that ever posed as Q
gathering Of loyal men. The injury
done to the country by. their. opposi
ton to Washington almost ruined Ne
in France whose help al that time, rs
the sequel showed, was our sole pos
sibility Of success. Even Lafayette,
our most ardent friend and influential
ally, was apprehensive and discour
aged.
Here. again. history was repeating
itself-the opposition to the war ad
ministration prolonged the horrors Of
the conflict and came perilously near
wrecking the cause.
II such has twice been the deadly
effect Of the attempt, in time Of war
to discriminate between the support
OF the cause and the support OF the
administration charged with its main.
tenance, would not the same result
follow now? This question is asked
because, In the August number OF the
Forum, under the title of THE Repub-
lican Position Mr. VIII II. Hays,
Chairman of the National Republican
Committee. seeks to array his party
against the administration. Before
quoting from this essay of Mr. Hays,
It should be distinctly understood
that the great mass OF Republican
electors are exOnerated from sym
pathy with It. They are, in every
way, in the field and at home. doing
all that is possible for loyal and pa.
triotIc men to do; and they are not
likely to be dragooned into question.
able attitude toward their country.
Neither is the Republican party here
criticised for maintaining Its organiza.
tion. At present II is out Of the run.
ning--nationally At least-for the rea.
son only that the other party hap.
pened to be In power when the present
doubtless will, resume Its former mill
tant position unless Mr. Hays sue,
ceeds in his foolish efforts to align II
against war administration. Even q
superficial acquaintance with the his
tory OF his country would have taught
him that the Federal Party opposed .
war administration in 1912 and died
that the WhiE Party was killed by It,
opposition to the administration which
carried on the Mexican War: and tha
the Democratic Party was banishe,
> for twenty.four years because II op
posed the administration in the Civi
War.
The attack Of Mr.. Hays upon the I'D
. ministration IL. to sOme extent, In
+ direct and insidious. He says. Nv,
propose to bring the government bacl
w tuo Auu pTluClpI06 "
tho constitution In time Of peace" y:
D innuendo he thus accuses the presen
: administration of conducting q de-
spotlc and unconstitutional govern
mont which ought to be-. Overthrown
| No reply Is needed to such an abspr,
I accusation. He also states that, wv,
L will stand ever vigilant against IN
; violation Of American rights. interest
i ard honor that would come withaAl
inconclusive peace" leaving the int~s
: ence that the present admiRistratiol
: viii not do SO. This IL said In IT,
a face OF the whole world which impIie
I ity trusts President Wilson's dsclArp
; tion that there shall never be an II
o conclusive peace. or an abandonmeH y
q OF American rights. interests an
l. honor" Mr.. Hays further says tina
u though this country IL today ridin
. the high tide Of \ gigantic war prepl
q ration, II is nevertheless under It's pre-
ent government watchfully waiting.