Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-23
PRESS COMMENT.
THE PRESIDENTIAL EXCURSION.

Ever since it was intimatcd Mt the
White House. ten days ago, that President
Wilson might attend the pence confer
ence, perturbed readers have urged us "a
protest against Il course which, to their
agitated minds, threatened the safety of
the republic and the integrity of its in
stitutions. But we did not share their
excitement for two reasons. First, we
regarded the proposal as of small mo-
mcnt, compared to the really serious
strains the constitution has suffered
recently; and, second, we were quite
convinced. from close observation Of MIR
Wilson's character and methods. that he
intended from the beginning to go. The
situation wus too suggestive of that old
story OF the pastor who was invited 10
take new charge at a much higher salary.
And will he go?" asked caller of the
J little boy of the house. well, said thc
vouugstcr, pas in the study prayin' for
light but ma s upstairs packin the trunks
II was on November II that Washing
ton dispatches told of "a persistent report
in circulation" that the President was
considering an appearance Mt Versailles
| The source Of the mysterious rumOr was,
! of course. the White House, although the
! correspondents were quite baifled To find
| in that usually well-informed quarter.
already" ran the account, the report
had obtained wide currency in Europe:
| yet, strange to say, no news of lis prev
alence over there had reached this co,in-
try. 1T il suggested" said the inspired
story, that the allied governments might
extend a formal invitation to President
Wilson 10 attend the conference and be-
come presiding officer" This was, to be
sun, thoii privilege, but to this day they
seem TO have failed To exercise it. Neither
formally nor informally, so far as the
public record indicates, have they ey-
pressed the eager sentiment which WAS
supposed to he sccthing among them
Moving accounts were given of STRONG
pressure" which possibly might overcome
the unwilliugness of President Wilson TO
expose himself to cercmonious receptions
abroad II was the cabinet whose dom
ination over him is so complete, that was
breaking down his shrinking reluctance.
'Somc Of the members" it was made
known, take the view that the world Is
practically demanding his presence at
tho peace table"
On the following day the President WAS
giving serious consideration to the idea,
hc might even sacrifice his own inrlina-
tors If no str pnG popular objection de-
vclops But his scrupuous regard for
tho rroprictica would govern him-"the
decision. IL was said. will lie with the
view taken by the press and the public
As that view has proved to be strongly
against the adventure Mr. Wilson has
been compelled not only tn suppress his
own dcsirce but 10 override the scnti-
mcnt Of the country; but he is bearing
up hravelv under the ordeal
Ills mind Is open, was the rragsuring
message What closed il has not yet
appeared: certainly il was not any out
urst Of approval either here or abroad.
III There have been intimations, continued
the bulletins, that the allied govern
mcnts were anxious to invite him To at
tend the conference" The manner in
which they have concealed that anxiety
from tho world will surely he memorable,
like tho Spartan youth who stood silent
while tho fox gnnwcd nj his vltals they
have uttered no public word to hetray
their yrarnngs, According 70 the Asso-
clatC>l Press on November IL urgent
ucssages from high sources IN Europe are
rcnchiDg President Wilson" and 1T Is
understood that prcnners lloyd George
and Clcmenccau both have pressingly
suggested his attendance but even the
stern policy Of 'pitiicss pul licity" which
prevails ii Washington has not disclosed
TO view any ol these appeals
At this time the New York World,
which ful6lls the functio Of court
circular, communicated a hopeful thought.
The numerous suggestions from the
Allies, 1t observed, were very impress
sivr but now that the matter Is being
seriously discussed there will come for
mat invitations Perhaps il was in view
oi the expected cloggrg oi the cables with !
these messages that the administration |
took over control of those means Of com |
but the test OF their capacity |
is stall Ia come The World story, how |
ever added another touch of humor. !
" No decision has yet been made, IT re- |
marked solcmnly, and none will be |
made for the present also il was assured |
that in the end the President would re |
luctantly forego' thus opportunity 10 |
hear the plaudits of the world. EdI- |
turially ii vigorously condemned the |
proposal
Next day, nevertheless. it was com
PEELED TO report that the tide. whatever t
that might be, was irresistibly sweeping
MIR Wilson from his moorings and that |
he. ever the. servant Of public opinion. had |
practically made up his mind to go
But on November II it found the project
still matter OF maybes and perhapses'
II could not believe that the President
would contemplate gong To Europe when
he had Just declined To 20 to New ork
for the British Day celebration, to be
held at the very time Of bis proposed voy-
age 1t IS my plain duty, he declared.
ito be here III " aShngton, for ] can act
more promptly upon matters which seem
to mature every hour and am sure that
can be more true 10 the common cause
Jy staying here If it seems strange that
he dared not leave his post for twenty
four hours, vet could leave it and the
country for several weeks that only shows
how far above the common mind are the
mysteries OF craftsmanship
But ''all doubts, as a writer Of vivid
put il. were set at rest
inallv. President Wilson announced on
November Is the plan adopted long be
ore He would 20 10 Europe early in
December to take part III the discussion
md settlement of the main features Of the
reaty Of peace. 1t was mot likely |
hat he would remain throughout the
cssions Of the peace conference; various
ntinations were that his absence would
xtend for four weeks, SIX weeks, two
months but the latest announcement is |
hat the President plans to remain in
rance indefinitely, or At least until the
na ior portion Of the work Of the peace
conference has been completed This
decision shows how futile
vas the discussion which the newspapers