Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-26
Honest Opinions Differ.

A careful study Of the comment
upon tho Presidents last message to
the new" government and the people
of Germany, shows US that we are
not in accord with some of the lead
ing ,ojnds of the country, notably.
United States Senator Lodge. who Is
often credited as the ablest man In
Convr ess, our former Presidents,
Theodore Roosevelt and William
Howard Taft, Senator Poindexter and
others. OF course it would have been
complimentary to the editorial opin-
ion Of the Kennebec Journal to have
been ir full agreement with the most
distinguished men Of the nation, upon
a matter of such momentous import
ance. and yet We feel that it is not
uncoEiplimentary to us or to them,
that we have not interpreted this
great state paper with the same UNI
derstanding Of the Presidents ex-
pressions or with the same expectancy
of their effect upon the fortunes OF
all the nations involved, as have
they. On the other hand. if our
comment had been written after
reading the expressions Of the above
named distinguished gentlemen. our
FIRST Impressions might have been
changed or modified in such a man.
ner rs not to reflect to the full our
own honest convictions and purpose.
While it is not our desire to con-
vey to our readers that we are right,
that Col. Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft and
Senator Lodge are wrong, or even to
suggest that we would measure our
judg ncnt with that of men Of wider
expe fence and greater grasp upon
nat .onal and international affairs, yet
we claim to be Necessary part of
what is known as public opinion" Of
the United States, and that it is our
duty % our readers and to the coun-
try e. express our own views in our
own way, without seeking to be in
nuenced in any direction by follow
ing without question those whom we
admiie and trust.
From that standpoint we take our
course and shape our hope of useful
ness and respect. We claim, and
take the right to criticise freely and
forcciully the President or any other
official of the national or any other
govern ment, but in claiming such a
privilege as a part of our mission, in
Justice to those whom We. criticise
and out OF respect to our own con-
science, we feel just as strong an
obligation to give credit where credit
Is due, without regard to political,
creedal or other considerations. 1t
has been our policy to frankly ap-
prove the admirable state papers Of
our President when they have ap-
pealed to us as voicing the convic-
lions and the best interests of the
American people. and We have just
a. frankly disagreed with our Presi-
dent when we believed that he was
wrons.
In the instance referred to our con-
victt,ns a. to the sanity and in
genuity Of the Presidents utterance
wcrc formed as 1t came in broken
bits from the Geographic wire, and
our convictions have remained the
same. In spite Of the able analyses
offered by men of world prominence
and world-accepted greatness Of
mind. Thus we fulnll what we un.
derstand a. a part Of our mission in
helping to form the opinion Of a
clientele. our honest recognition Of
things that are bigger than politics,
denominations or creeds in which
minds should express themselves as
they are. becoming a part Of the
great whole. known as the voice Of
tho people.
A