Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-22
Friday. November %, 1918.


ing ", on any mission Whatever anu
w. believe the President is fully
aware Of that sentiment. He adroitly
pat out fcelcr for public expression
and the verdict was prompt and plain.
lie elects To follow his own inclina-
tons Ne viii once more shatter pre-
cedeut. as he has on ut least one oc :
casiun and that time received public
approval II was this country's af-
fair and stood for strengthening IF
the spirit on which our government
Was founded.
To our view this Is quite "A different
matter W. wish TO avoid touching
" pprttsanly bat g do " sh TO regis
tcl disnpproval of the President
proposed ,oursc. and believe that VIC
speak for the maJo.ity of our readers
reasons for our objections and our
reasons are not private.
FIRST. We do not like the implication
that this country holds only one man
competent to represent IL at a con-
ference OF nations dealing with prob
l,ms closer and more vital To those
others represented than to US.
Second. we do not agree to the man.
L.. H. 90
President that this country has no
problems Of its own that cannot be
safely delegated to others. so far as
the Constitution permits. and al
lowed to go hang. II otherwise.
We question tho pretext that the
American part In an European peace
congress cannot be directed by cable
" the VERY AnLEST delegation
,outside the man Of the White Housed
this nation affords Is present at the
peace table.
And our ground is the perfectly
sane. practical and sound one that
our foreign affairs can be handled as
we'll from Washington as our domss-
tic affairs can be guided from, q for.
e,sn city.
We have neither seen no. heard an
irresistible call from European gov
ernments or peoples (outside the bu-
ieaucratic dvagations OF George
CrceD for the presence OF the author
Of the unfortunate IA foundations, at
the peace conference. On the con-
trary. we have both seen and heard
strong demand for the presence Of The
American executive at home and on
his job during n session OF Congress
that OUGHT TO be one Of the most
significantly important in the history
of the nation.
Our conviction that the extra haz-
ard Of n journey outside American
boundaries. even for the earlier dis
Cusuions' Of the greater outlines" of
peace settlements. Is reinforced by his
later announcement that he may"
remain throughout the sessions Of the
formal peace conference.
An administration supporter, has
tening to convince its readers of the
duty and wisdom Of the President
decision, says: He cannot divest
himself OF his authority. He can
not well delegate It,"
But can he so readily divest himself
cf the duties to which the people del.
Grated him? And can he delegate
THAT authority and its constitution
ally provided duties at home a. crit
teal period in national affairs?
The above qloteH again says: 1.-THE
prime ministers OF the allied nations
Will be there. 'rerica elects her
prime minister am calls him Presi-
dent II Is fitting tina. he should be
there" "Britain's premier
will cross 30 miles of salt water to the
peace conference: Americas will
cross 5000 miles
Britain's premier has several tim IS
crossed that 80 miles Of salt water
during the war. ir his tireiess efforts
Ia prosecute the war to the only erd
which civilization could accept. He
VIII assume his part and no more In
the peace table battles. II was not
necessary that the American Presi.
dent visit Europe to drive the war to
~ successful conclusion: why the sud
den necessity for attempting to DOM
mate the peace?
The American people will ask these
and many more questions and the
answer will he as decisive and uni
versal as was that upon President
Wilson's laundering play for Demo-
cratic oliearchy. The verdict will not
he so hurried and direct but it will
end this person Il ACKNOWLEDGMENT era
and the Demo autocratic party.
The crossing Of 30 miles of salt wa
ter by David Lloyd George does not
remove from Grca: Britain one entire
branch OF Its government. and II the
problcms of peace are 40 much great 4.