The Washington herald., 1918-10-22

l ~
Regardless Of what ones religious
beliefs may be-and we are echoing
, what nearly every member of Con-
eress has spoken Of at one time and
another in the past four weeks
there is much TO the argument that
fear has done more than fits share
in perpetuati ting the influenza epidemic
IN this city and In the country.
"e wish IL were possible TO trace
all the cases where fear brought on
the disease and where, II fear had
not been present. the disease would
. not have obtained its hold. But II Is
! not possible TO do so. We can only
speculate.
The banishment OF fear must be
sustained and supported by some
force-that force is provided in what
ever bencfs the person entertains
toward the ruling powers OF life and
death. That ruling power is Christ.
of course. and IL a little more Of
Christ were brought into our daily
equation and little less Of fear the
results would be beneficial to the
race. we know.
This Is a subject that not even the
| nighuest lawmakers can legislate
upon-but a subject which the low
| Hest OF our citizens can legislate upon
for his own life. He can banish fear
and look forward to divine love ana
this is what we hope will be done in
all the days TO come by those who
read this column and those who come
in contact with those who read It.
The bars are down now and the
political campaign is on in all its
ferocity over our country.
There Is one main issue upon which
II will be waged. This is support for
our nation in the present great crisis
through which it Is passing.
/ Democrats claim that because Of
their natural sympathy with the ad-
ministration, and because the admin
istration must remain in power two
years longer, Il would be best to elect
their party candidates 20 the House
and Senate.
Better support for the war, II Is
contended by the Democrats, viii be
given IL this course is followed.
9 The Republicans claim they can give
best support to the administration
and TO the war.
Each party points to its record
since war was declared and claims
that its record justifes the action
IL wants the voters TO take.
Voters Of the country will elect
both Democrats and Republicans TO
each House OF Congress. Perhaps
the Lower House will be Republican
in makeup and the Upper House
Democratic. Perhaps both Houses
will be Democratic But there sp-
pears TO be little chance that both
Houses will be Republican
1t 10 expected that the Presidents
expressed preferences in each State
will have considered BILE TO do with
the result in that State. In some
States. however, the Republicans
claim that this force thrown into
the balances will not be suficient
to elect the Democrats. Instances
OF this hope are Illinois where J.
Ham Lewis is running and Bansn S
where William Henry Thompson is
making the race
Voters Of the country are apS-
thetic, so the political organizations
insist, but the voters themselves. II
they are approached individually.
in what they are TO do on Novem-
Der S.
| We have learned from many Of
the leading members Of Congress
that no particular fear exists on
the hill that America will not meet
the problems OF peace promptly and
eficaciously.
! The transition from war TO peace
Is not nearly as great as from peace
20 wsr-particulRrly from the SOM
nolent peace state we were in be-
fore we entered this wRr-snd the
members of Congress believe that
We will rise TO every emergency
which will confront US in post
bellum days.
Members professediy do not want
the impression TO grow. however,
that plans are not being thought
over and outlined for our peace
program. II is known on the hill
that the President has many stages
OF peace performances already
charted in his big book or Things
for Our Country TO Do and he will
adhere to that program quite close
lily and if necessary persistenuy
when the time comes. The Presi-
dent however. knows when mo-
ments are propitious for great
moves-no great ruler OF the world
has ever surpassed him in the prin-
ciples Of psyCholoEy-and he may
be expected to reveal his proposals
when the proper time comes.
Support ior these proposals., oi
! course. will come largely from the
party 10 which the Presiient be
longs. for it is kinted that from
some discussion OF what he may pro-
pose. there will come pronounced %.
position f:Jn the Republican parry
So far as the mere citizens OF tho
Tepubhc are concorHn1--snd We count
ourselves in this lot-there Will be
entertainment IN the battles-to- ne
over SOM Of the -roI ~ ais. We Vv'L
have to act in the long run. OF course.