The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-26


time when war emergency was not
q factor. II was written several
years before q President Of the
United States, describing himself as
servant Of his fellow citizens, in
vited them, on the grounds already
stated, to refrain for the sake Of the
flag from tho expression OF their
political preferences in the choice Of
members Of coordinate department
Of the Government to keep politics
adjourned on one side Of the dual
structure while the other side played
pdiiacs to tho limit
Again he wrote, on page "a:
'Leadership and control midst be
lodged somewhere, tho whole art Of
statesmanship is the art OF bringing
the several parts Of government into
effective cooperation for the accomplish
and party objects at that"
We need not apologize for delaying
comment on yesterdays deliverance
long enough to glance at the Presi-
dents recorded philosophy Of leader
ship and mastery.
But, with all respect for the Presi-
dent and with undlminished appreci-
alton of his eminent services, 80 fire.
quently and gladly by us acknowl-
edged, we beg leave to remind him
that politics cannot be kept adjourned
on one side and In full session on the
other. His theory Of Leadership and
mastery" cannot be extended to the
leadership and mastery Of both po-
litical organizations. 1t cannot be
extended to the extinction, for the
purposes of a given election. Of one
of the great political organizations
of the republic, not even In time Of
war and upon an inadequate and in
accurate plea Of wars necessities.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN could not have
done 1t; he did not attempt It; he
would not have done 1t If he could.
No Executive, however great, seek
ing the chance of leadership and
mastery, can achieve that result in
the United States Of America, so long
as the United States continues to be
safe for democracy.
That President WILSON should
have attempted 1t, at such time
and In such a way, must cause grief,
II not apprehension, to the most loyal
admirers Of his discernment. Are the
exigencies Of partisan politics in the
districts so desperate. are the pros
poets Of a partisan Democratic ma.
jority in the Sixty-sixth House SC
indigo blue, that he has been induced
to come down from his exalted place
and mount the stump for KrrcHIN
for example. with the untenable and
unworthy campaign argument that a
vote for KITcHIS Is vote for his
own Administration, while vote
against KIrcHIN Is vote against
the flag for which a million or more
Republicans are to-day risking life al
the battle front?
".
The immediate effect of this un
necessary debasement Of Presidential
dignity, this unblushing misappro
priation to the vulgar uses of parti
san electioneering, OF a cause tina
knows no craftsmanship. Is bound, II
our opinion. to be different from tina
which the President and his partisan
advisers intended to procure.
The campaign document Of WooD
ROW WILSON is the call for the re
sumption Of politics all around, ant
the proclamation Of emancipation
for the thoughts and words of thos,
who at his previous request hav,
faithfully withheld utterance on sub
jects concerning which they have al
ways had the right OF free speech
If this change counts against tn,
unity of leadership and mastery To-
which he appeals to his fellow citl
zens, the blame is with nobody bu
himself. We can promise him, from
what we know Of loyal American an,
Republican sentiment, that 1t will no
count against unity Of thought ant
purpose regarding the war. That /
will not count against mastery 70
! purposes Of domestic politics, 70
the sheltering of KITcHIN and Den