Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-31

Gur0 paragraph from NoooEoW
Wilson's History of the American
People" in which he refers to JEFF
ferson Davis has a most significant
meaning. Discussing the leader of
the Confederacy the man now in the
White House said:
He had the pride, the spirit of
initiative. the capacity in bust
ness which qualify men for
leadership; and lacked nothing OF
indomitable will and imperiops
effective. What he did lack was
wisdom in dealing with men,
willingness to take the Judgment
OF others In eritica! matters OF
ognizes ability in others and
trusts 1T to the utmost to play
its Independent part. He too
much loved to rule, had too. over
weening a confidence in himself.
and took leave to act as IL he
understood much better than
those did who were in actual
command what should be done in
too too many things With too femin-
inc a jealousy of any rivalry In
authority.
Just now the American people
will read this estimate of jefferson
Davis and wonder whether another
name might not be substituted for
the leader of the lost cause. 1t
seems to fit another distinguished
American and to describe accurately
certain manifest weaknesses of this
same parsonage now very much in
the limelight OF "pitiless publicity"
More and more as the American
people realize the temper of the
present administration at Washing
ton they understand the danger of
unbridled ambition. The Presidents
partisan appeal on the eve of an
election is. now clearly understood
as part of a well-conceived political
offensive in which not only the man
in the White House but all who
sneeze when he takes. snuff are en-
gagged.
Nor by any twisting of language
or misrepresenting of the facts Will
it be possible for President Wilson
and his apologists to escape the
contempt of an aroused citizenry
without regard to party. Many of
his most severe critics are Demo-
Gratis. These believe that he has
irretrieVably damaged the party in
power.
When a wag in the cloak room
of the House of Representatives the
other day proposed this toast,
Here's to our Car, last in war,
first in peace, long may he waver,"
he was jocularly giving expression
to an undercurrent of public senti-
ment which has now come to the
surface with rush as a result of
the Presidents fatuous appeal for
a Congress of his own selection and
of his own party.
Unconditional Surrender" is the
proper slogan of all patriotic citizens
and to the masthead of the Republi-
can party has been hoisted a BAN
ner bearing the challenge Win the
War Now" There is to be no fur
ther parley and the response of the
people is almost universal. Only
here and there does one hear a faint
apology for the Presidents awful
blunder. Patriotic Republicans are
going to send to Washington men
who will insist upon an American
peace and a peace which will be in
harmony with the sentiment Of the
country everywhere.
Perhaps President Wilson has
done the country a service which he
never contemplated when he uttered
this partisan call in the very crisis
of the war. Instead of apathy and
absolute lack of interest in the cam
paign there is now intense appre-
citation of the Importance of cast
ing next Tuesday an intelligent ball
lot that will safeguard the funda-
mental principles upon which our
Government rests.