Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-07
A CORNER ON PATRIOTISM.

Tho idea still obtains with some
people that In making party politics
subsorvlent TO loyalty TO the govern
ment, the proper thing TO do is for
voters of all parties TO Jay aside their
preferences and political principles
ind unite In ratlfying electins
tho choice OF the party now in
power. Foremost in this contention
nre some Democratic organs. who
Htrive to spread the Idea that to be a
Democrat Is to DO presumptlyely
faithful to the Stars and Stripes, and
that to vote any other ticket liz pre-
pumptive evidence of disloyalty, Ac-
cordlng to their narrow construction,
patriotism means that 1t Ia proper
Tor Democrats to cling to party but
that anyone who dares to differ po-
Iitically from the party In power Is
treadlng ON the border line OF sed-
tion. in short. TO be a good Amerl-
ran we must necessarily be a partl-
san Democrat. They claim for the
Democratic party corner on loyalty
ana patriotism. and insist that those
who would retain respect as loyal
citlzens must forget there Is any
other ticket and vote the Democratic
ticket.
Another cry from the same source
is that criticism OF the adminlstra-
tion is disloyalty, ang, as the admin
istratlon Is Democratic, opposition
to the Democratic party, or daring to
have an opinion contrary to the
president. Is little short of treason
Those who hold 10 this view are but
playing politics. and are themselves
the country's most dangerous ene-
mics. As far as past actions hear
evidence, Republicans have shown
themselves a little more loyal than
the Democrats, and have supported
the President time and again when
he was unable to rally the support
OF his own party. In fact, II Mr.. VIII
son had been compelled to rely alone
upon Democratic votes in congress to
carry his measures OF war efficiency.
without aid from the Republicans,
we would not yet have started on tho
work of making the world safe for
democracy. And, now. after all this
Fidelity, we are told that II Is a mark
of infidelity to the administration.
and the nation, TO vote for anybody
who does not wear the party stamp
of Mr.. Wilson's party-the party that
refused to support him when IT came
10 the pinch of war This Is situa-
ton where actions speak louder than
professions, and it is not Democrats
who would subordinate party inter-
est to the interest OF the nation.
Republicans have stood Loyalty
by the president, yet they have not
servilely approved of everything he
has done. They have forgotten party
lines in urging war efficiency, but
they have maintained their party or
ganization and retained its basic
principles. Democrats have succeed
ed In being effectively loyal only
when they have followed the lead OF
Buch men az Taft. Hughes and
Roosevelt lnasflr aa they have
adopted or copied Republican ideas
they have made progress, but wlsre
they have stood pat on the Old trAdi-
ticns Of the party OF indeclsion and
procrastination they have hindered
the high purposes OF President VII
son and delayed the redemption OF
the world from the thrandom OF
ka!serism.
The idea Of eliminating party al
together is delusion. IT would be
backward step. Partisauship would
be subdned. but partisanship and H.
deity TO principles may be quite dlt-
ferent things. SO. also. the 'eriticism !
Of kindly helafuIncss ana that OF