The sun., 1918-12-18

was not matter Of days or weeks or
months merely. 1t endured for years.
1t persisted throughout the entire
period Of the accumulation of the hor.
rors which proved that the German
Government and Prusslan mllitarism
were the enemies and assallants of
nll mankind. 1t was not before but
after the assassination OF the Lusl-
tanla that he demonstrated his su.
perlOrlty to ordinary emotions and
passions by telling the Americans who
were urging him to action:
The example Of America must DO a
special example. The example Of Amer
lea must DO the example not merely OF
peace because 1t will not fight. but OF
peace because peace is tho healing and
elevating influence OF tho world and
strife Is not. There is such a thing as
man being too proud to aght. There
Is such a thing as a nation being 30
right that IL does not need to convince
others that It Is right"
More than two years after the out.
rage on Belgium. more than two years
after the beginning Of the devastation
Of France, half a year after the sink
Ing Of the Lusitania, Mr.. WILSON was
claiming reelection on the ground that
"he kept us out of war" And 1t was
not until April ., 1917, that, i'm
PEELED by forces of public sentiment
in this country which he could no
longer disSipate with phrases or mas
ter by the domination of personal
will, he went to Congress to ask q
declaration Of war against the criml-
nal German Government.
How strangely somev9f the forego-
ing extracts from his speeches and
messages would have sounded In the
Hotel de Vile on Monday, In connec-
ton with ti>e picture he drew, for the
benefit Of NJ. ADRIEN MITHoUARp and
the members Of the Paris Municipal
Council, of the reasons which moved
his heart to ask Congress to send our
armed forces to the aid of France!
BY what warrant, in the second
place, does President WILSON tell
these same gentlemen and all France
and all Europe that his private and
as yet undlsclosed purposes with re-
gard to peace terms represent the de-
sires and purposes of the American
Government and people? This, is his
language at the Hotel de Vile:
you have been exceedingly generous
in what you have been gracious enough
to say about me, generous far above
my personal deserts, but you have in
terpreted with real insight the motives
and resolution OF the people OF the
United States. Whatever influence ex-
ercise. whatever authority l speak with.
1 derive from them. know what they
have thought, ! know what they have
desired. and when have spoken what
l know was in their minds it has been
delightful to see how the consciences
and purposes OF free men everywhere
responded"
How can President WILSON know
that there is Il perfect concurrence of
purpose and desire between himself
and the nation for which he speaks
when he has not even taken that ma
ton into his confidence concerning
his own purposes and desires; not
even the Senate of the United States,
which as the superior and ultimate
authority in the making of treaties
has the very first right to be Informed
OF his motives and resolutions with
regard to foreign policy?
BY what warrant does he assume
to be the spokesman of the American
people when every recent action of
their Congress and their votes has
been negative rather than affirmative
as to his right to speak on these sub
jects in their name?
Apart from the rhetoric of cere-
mony and celebration, the cold facts
are these:
1. A proposed resolution approving
In advance whatever the President
might say or do with regard to the
conclusion OF peace was introduced
weeks ago by Senator LEWIS of Illi-
nois, his mouthpleCe in many matters
at the Senate end of the Capitol. 1t
Is yet in pigeonhole in the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. 1t will
never be reported and discussed, for
the proposal met in no sane quarter
any other reception than the ordinary
forms of rid,cule and even disgust at
the nature of the proposal. The
Lewis resolution cannot be President
WILSON'S warrant of representative
authority. To-day or at any other
time 1t would stand no more chance
OF adoption than a proposal to pay
Germany's war debt or to declare war
on Canada;
2. A resolution directly counter to
the Presidents supposed policy of ty-
ing up his yet underlined project for a
League of Nations with the immedi-
ate business of concluding peace has
been introduced by Senator and for
mer Secretary Of State KNOX and has
the support of considerable part, II
-