Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-07
After All Isn't Il Better 60?

tory. with hands grimy from contact
with leather and blacking. breathed a
Ugh Of resignation as she murmurad
to her seat companion:
Well. he has went"
She referred to the President. The
country as n whole opposed his going.
and We have felt that he had seriously
,rred, as we believe he has at other
times But all this is Of the past; we
cannot change 1t, but We can do the
next tcst--we can accept it grace
fully and look fot the better side Of it
all.
Let is hop- that the President is
right in his course, and that natural
resentment by the people of his aloof-
ress. seClusIon. and determination to
gardless Of public opinion, is wrong.
Let US convince ourselves that he is
. right and help him make it so. for il
IAN bring no good TO fuss about il.
1T US hope that thu President was
m spircd In h.s course and compelled
.Sainst his natural reasonings, to re-
gard "a personal share in the peace
regulations as the highest service he
could perform Tor this country ana
Cor the world.
II has seemed TO US that the Presi-
dent was making serious mistake.
We have honestly believed that if his
ppeal for Democratic Congress had
l"en made for a Patriotic" Congress.
nc would have entrenched himself
behind the loyal American heart. And
We have felt that if he had instead of
going TO Europe and coolly dishonor-
ing the prcceden's and traditions of
this country, sent former President
TAFT or former Justice Hughes as the
head OF the American peace delega-
ton, be would have established him
solf in the eyes of America at least
- bigger than politics. bigger than
his party, and that out OF the war he
had developed four square to the size
81 the very ahlest OF his great docu-
ments OF state. We believe that such
Woodrow Wilson as that would
rave been idolized by ALL the
American people.
There Is yet another side to il. and
big one. IL it is a sacrifice for the
American people to see their Presi-
dent leave the land at a time when
he was needed at home. such sacrifice
only follows that of war and may be
the browning effort Of the war. The
President evidently so believes. He
goes TO fulfil the part that he deems
OF more importance than the winning
of battles-the cllnchng Of a peace
for ali the generations to come. We
sincerely hope he will succeed.
Perhaps no other. not even former
President Taft. who is the head of
The American League to Enforce
i'eace. could so we'll perform the part
as the President himself with back of
him the full prestige Of his high Of
nee and the glamour of his accepted
leadership toward peace in the last
Few months fun upon the other dele
oates and the peoples of every nation
rejoicing in the end OF wars horrors.
Accepted legal authorities disagree
as 10 the Presidents right to pursue
n course in defiance o: traditions and
protest. Thoy also disagree as to the
course the other branches OF govern
ment should take in such 4 dilemma.
Perhaps out Of 1t may grow a consti-
futtonal provision that will define an
executives preroga.ives. at least dur.
ing the sessions OF Congress. and de-
Sine what constitutes availability" in
these days of annlhilation OF time and
space by the marvels of science.
So far as the rider TO the de-
fciencies appropriation bill OF 1918,
discovered and widely circulated in
the last few days, is concerned we feel
only contempt for such petty adding
il President Taft signed II, as al
.eged. he must have been in a trance
We do not believe that Congress has
any power to dictate in such bald
and childish manner to the Ex-
ecutive. II nothing more than that is
TO embarrass the Presidents course.
he can devote his entire time to sail
ing the seas at the opposite side of
the earth and snap his fingers at the
duties OF ONCE.
Let US examine the situation
broadly. in full acceptance of the
Presidents absence and his right to
absent himself as he sees fit. Let us
ccept his measure Of the duties con-
fronting the Executive department.
Let us forget that he ignored the L.
s. Senate's right to a part in treaty
making and approval of, or rejection
OF. peace delegates. Let us convince
ourselves, II we can. that President
wilson has been chosen ito speak the
>oirn NJ huns nifro md than Ia< -.