The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-12-05
THE PEOPLE RESERVE JuDcMENT.

without the united support of the American people 1t is
much that some of the people are opposed to Mr.
Wilson's plans it that they ignorant of them
He had opportunity yesterday take Congress and
the people into his confidence on the amporant sub
ects comprised under the head of peace plans but he
did not choose to discuss the matter. Consequently,
while Congress and the people have only the best of
wishes for Mr. Wilson in the fateful journey that he
taking they reserve judgment as they must do in the
absence of information the matters with which he
will have to DEAL They familiar with the fourteen
points, as all the allied and enemy nations in prn-
cipe but between the principle and the application of
the principle to distracted and dsorganzed Europe there
is world of for difference of opinion or even for
bitterness and arrangement
No other American has ever assumed quite as heavy
going to Europe At least the responsibility shoudered
by others has not been pregnant with big
1t not at the suggestion of the people that the Pres
dent decided to go abroad In fact the people were at
once disqueted by the of his decison and it was
most natural that they should eagerly await his state
ment of intentions in representing them intimately
in errand vitality affecting them, They expected
from him an outline at least of his views and upon his
statement of them they would have gone far to acqesce
in his views, they seemed somewhat utopan for
the sake of showing a united front to Europe
Instead of discussing this subject the President chose
to discuss the railroad question and other domestic sub
eets, which, however interesting they may be- are nee
essary subordinate to the overshadowing plan of ar
ranging the worlds peace Thus the public must remain
in the dark concerning Mr. Wilson's specific deas and
being in the dark, the people will be extremely cautious
before they commit themselves.
When the President goes into conference with the ex-
ecutve heads of the larger allied governments he will
find that each of them is supported like stone wall by the
people of his country Mr. Lloyd George has shrewdly
called election for December 18th in order to receive
fresh from the British people mandate to stand firmly
for the interests of the British empire in the peace nego
tiations. Premier Cemenceau is the living voice of
France and Frances aims are thoroughly understood by
every Frenchman. Premier Orlando is backed by the
people of Italy in clear-cut program Thus each of
these leaders enjoys what Mr. Wilson now lacks; that ~
the united and sympathetic support of all the people
P"U'AtS ANA'H NASal-SuC lAatVHdl program.
Mr.. Wilson unquestonably looms far above any other
statesman in expressing the aspirations of the free and
freed peoples of the world His opinions will have i'm
mense weight in the preliminary conferences notwith
standing the fact that the allied premiers are not under
any illusions concerning American politics. They are
as well aware anybody that Mr.. Wilson was unfor-
tunate at the November election and that his spokesman
ship for America therefore impaired. But they are
quite ready to yield him the first place spokesman of
the enlightened sentiment of the world 1t is only when
specific peace arrangements begin to be considered that
1.-THE allied statesmen will be slow yield in matters di-
The variety of questions covered by the peace negoa
tons will be great and their Importance so transcend
ent that the people of the United States cannot refrain
from exercising their judgment the best of their
ability before they place themselves unreservedy in the
hands of their ambassador They would have exercised
their judgment fully if they had had more nfor
nation. If Mr. Wilson's power in the conferences should
be lacking because of the lack of consolidated national
support it will not be entirely because of political differ
in this country but partly because the people do
not know Mr.. Wilson's Observation-Disclosures Post