Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-08
PATRIOTISM AND pARTIsaSsup


Apropos of the tendency OF Demo
cratic papers to denounce all Re
phbllcans who In Anywise crlticlsc
the national administration. md of
the Intention of Republicans to op.
pose the Democrats In a.ate and
congressional elections tho follow
Ing from the New York Times, u
Democratic paper. exposes the mar.
row vision OF the smaller Demo
cratic spokesmen and newspapers:
The various defections from pa-
lriotism which tho test OF war has
revealed with startling vividncsg
uefections ranging IN degrees from
academic pacifism to overt bro q or
fnanisfn---have clarified the real dl-
monslonA OF that old fashioncd yir
tue loyalty. But In the realization
tfat loyalty Us Fundamental virtue.
II has been suggested that America ia
Veerlng to the other extreme, warn
ing 1t out OF It's true meaning. judp-
ing II by the letter rather than the
spirit
There hos been evident Of lato a
tendency TO denounco an 'dlsiovnI
inc citizen or legislator who criticised
tho Effectiveness of the ndmu.Htrn
toms war policies. II has even bocn
urged by many that during these
war times the political parties should
Ignore their individual organization.
and give their unqualified approval
to candidates for tho Simple roaaon
that they have given public proof Of
thor loyalty"
The Times then quotes with mp
proval Job T. Hedges, one time rap.
didate for governor in New York. |
ITO Ignore party organization in |
tlcse war times more than boo any .
other would be It grave mIstakr.
"A congress reelected on the sole
basis OF bygone service would moan
mat the people whose thought ON
The vital questions of the time has
been growing aud maturing during
the last two years. would be unrcp-
resented.
'Thece has never bcen effective
progreas In state or church without
criticism. Whether or not the crltl- 7
cism IL efficient Ia to be determined
nftor II has been made, otherwise
tho test OF efficient criticism Is tho
approval of the person criticised.
III party action ts eliminated in
he elections this fan 1t will mean
hat we have taken big step toward
he general elimination of partieA.
such n result would mean the prac-
ical destruction OF carefully devised
'alances and counter balances, and
would tend toward anaemic civic
'irtue and tho magnifylng OF execu-
i've form OF government.
mo man ever lived in this country
r ever will live In this country
hose Judgment should surpaits the
0mbinod judgment OF all the others.
nd whenever any man thinks that
- ''N'S ph'N'A MI obt anu luAl tnN
thor should follow with seryile Z
omplacenoy II makes democracy
nsafe for the world.
Democracy must furnish It's own
nentallty and It's own morality from
ls own ranks Democracy Ia with
ut pregnant force II any portion OF
becomes mentally or morally SER
lle and performs the sole function
{ following.
Every one knows that the most
ctlve. efficient, practical. construc-
i've work done since the United
tatea declared war has been done
ince there began to be general criti-
ism by the people Mt large and by
Intelligent, thoughtful leaders of
pinion. As long as that continues
II the right spirit there will be no
ooession In effectiveness. The mo-
nent there ia no c,itioltM its alb
ence can be taken as the measure
Il an Indifference deadly to loyalty.
[ IL as puerile to say that any one
vho oriticises an administrative act
disloyal as II is to say that an ad-
ninistratVo act well intended but UNI
Intelligent is NECESSARILY lovn1H