Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-05
With Other Editors
The Presidents Trip.
the thing through

The trip abroad of the president and his partici-
patton in the preliminary discussion of the peace
ference will invoke both criticism and commenda-
ton. There TO be sound reason against the
upon which the chief executive has decided
1t breaks all presidents and is out Of the ordinary
But the times and the occasion likewise unusual
and without precedent. The presence and voice of
the president at the peace council njure the
influence of the nation of which he is the head and
for which he speaks
There is a psychological element in the attend
ance the president which will not fall aniss upon
the newborn nations of Europe at this time 1t will
demonstrate them the personal responsibility of
the officials in a democracy. These nations have
been accustomed to the fiction power in hereditary
rulers who either puppets or tyrants. They
need the example of the servant of democracy ar-
tually performing in person the high obligations of
the position to which he has been called 1t will
convince them that the head of democracy is a
yire, working force which must do for all the peo-
pie what they unable to do because of physical
numbers. The contrast between a president sitting
in the council hall and using his brains and voice
TO direct and control the of the international
policies, in contrast with the gaudy an expensive
royalty which is either irresponsible nonentity
which they tolerate selfish tyrant they have
and needed in the decisions which recently freed
peoples of Europe
The United States should be heard and Needed in
the decisions which readjust world conditions 1t
is true the nation the struggle late-after
the allies had borne the burden and endured the SUI
fering for nearly three years-but what America did
and what showed could and would do were large
elements in the final victory. Moreover the nation
offered its blood and gave its treasure with no selfish
motive 1t fought for ideal civilization an ideal
which elevated mankind and at the same time de-
stroyed the reactionary kutur that would turn man.
kind back to the ages in which tyranny and brute
force and autocracy in the hands of the few made
cattle Of the rest of the After maintaining on
the field of battle these ideals after sending the
manhood OF the nation uphold them with its blood
there is no reason why the strongest influence in the
nation should not counsel with those who make final
disposition of the achievements.
The American people do not favor relaxation
Of the course which justice indicates against the
peoples responsibility for the war. They do not
desire that leniency be shown the defeated foe The
councilwhch the president attend is not for that
purpose, 1t is to decide what shall be done with
the responsibilities other than the central powers
which have come TO the allied nations in consequence
or the conflict At the head OF that council will sit
the prehisrs OF the responsible nations of Europe
the heads OF the governments equal in power and
authority with the president of the United States II
Is not less than that to which government of this
country is eHtitiatj to have an equally rebresenta-
live member Of that couneil-ssaE City journal,