Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-11-15
THE OTHER SIDE.

During the past ten days of the late
campaign, President Wilson largely
through his own choice in urging
a Democratic Congress, rather than a
loyal and progressive Congress, has
been caught off his pedestal. And
then and there being, he has stopped
in the melee certain brick-bats, dor
hicks, and such loose real estate as
fit the hands of an ardent but often
careless opposition. 1t was a pretty
scrap, from an American point of
view, and doubtless the filings and
arrows and dead cats and cabbages
which the President got in the ex-
citement of the moment were good
for his soul. And the subsequent
events, thereunto appertaining, doubt
less will give him an humble and a
contrite heart, which is a good thing
for any ruler.
But on the other hand
We who heaved the rocks, tossed
the bats and were careless with our
rheatorical cats and cabbages, should
not forget how great service to
humanity our President really has
rendered. We Americans have built
up during this war the greatest ma
chine for propaganda in the world.
To all the neutral nations of the
earth by wireless, and to all our AL
lies and to their dependencies, daily
goes great grist of American news
and in this grist always 60 the Presi-
1ent's state papers and addresses. In
remote China, in Central and South
America, in Asia Minor, in the fast
'esses of the Balkans. in Russia, in
;he Scandinavian countries, and hence
surely and accurately to our enemies
themselves, the words of President
Wilson are sent to be printed at al
most the same hour and in the same
amplitude in which they appear in
America. So that all over the world
hese words have gone-to the rulers
md to the weak and oppressed alike
these living words voicing Amer
cas- ideals of liberty. Of international
ustice of human freedom under gov
'rnment. No other man who has ever
rod this planet has spoken to such
vide and various contemporary audi
nee as President Wilson has spoken
n the past two wears. And he has
poken always with power. with con-
yiction and with kindly grace. His
words have had the STRENGTH of an
lrnnv with banners-of mighty bat
alions.
If this war means anything. if it ie
worth while at all-its meaning and
is worth enforce the fact that funda-
mentally, this is not a material world
hat the spiritual forces of humanity
It last, in the slow evolution of the
lges, have become ascendant. Ger
many stands for the faith of the pa
'ans--that faith that brute force
heer physical power, Grass selfish
less, backed by might, have no check
n let or hindrance in the conduct Of
nen and nations. The war is fought |
o deny that thesis forever. And in
he great denial of the powers of I'M
ighteous might, thas been fitting
hat the strongest single force in the
var has been the voice of the people
Who for three centuries of slow
teady growth have stood for free
ON; for the spiritual DEVELOPMENT |
f man ahead of material things
ven though those material things
ave been added unto them also. And
was given to President Wilson to
peak for America to the world. The |
obility of his utterances, the sim
,licity and directness of his appeal. |
re splendid way in which he has
jser to his job as the speaking voice |
f humanity in this world conflict, |
mark him for a great world leader.
"Paint me. warts and ALL" quoth |
,romwell, who had his warts even on
is strong face. President Wilson.
90, has his deficiencies. He is human. |
Ie can be petty, which proves him
nan. and he is partisan. and timid in
ersonal contact with those who diff
er with him. In the past ten days
r two weeks of the passing cam
aign. we have been more or less pre-
coupled with the Presidents human
ide. We have treated him as one of
S, giving him the American compli-
1ent of our bitter partisan broad
ides. Let US hope that now. having had
ur way with him, we may escort him
ack to his pedestal with Yankee
elicitation-and wishing him no
arm-hope he may die there and
ass into blessed and deserved i'm
Mortality.
TIE TAArnCV TnE